Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Outdoors - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 75

Hiking & Mountaineering
The Pacific Northwest is blessed with some of the most sublime hiking landscapes and
terrain imaginable. Summer sees crowds at their peaks, but the warming spring is the
perfect time to witness gushing rivers, while fall is a splendor of foliage colors with tem-
peratures remaining perfectly mild. In winter you'll practically be by yourself.
Ranger stations and visitor centers are excellent resources for permits, fees, safety and
trail conditions.
The Cascade volcanoes and jutting spires in Oregon, Washington and British
Columbia present climbers with an unprecedented number of choices, from easier day-
long up-and-backs to multiday technical challenges.
Inexperienced climbers should seek out guide services, as bagging these peaks can be
a hazardous proposition. Professional guide companies include American Alpine Institu-
te ( Click here ) in Washington, Timberline Mountain Guides ( Click here ) in Oregon and
Canada West Mountain School ( 888-892-2266, 604-878-7007;
www.themountainschool.com ; 47 W Broadway; 9) in British Columbia.
Oregon's Mazamas ( Click here ) is a nonprofit mountaineering organization that offers
hikes and climbs for both members and nonmembers. In British Columbia, the BC
Mountaineering Club ( www.bcmc.ca ) also offers climbs, courses and programs for
members and nonmembers.
Washington
In the Olympic Mountains you can hike deep canyons and alpine meadows, and the
glacier-carved valleys and towering ridges of Washington's North Cascade Mountain
Range offer dramatic and unforgettable landscapes. For spectacular views of glaciers and
peaks head up 3.7 miles to Cascade Pass, and either return by the same route or continue
19.3 miles on to High Bridge, where a shuttle bus runs to Stehekin (a tiny settlement at
the head of Lake Chelan with no road links to the rest of the state). There are many other
wonderful hikes in North Cascades National Park.
In the Southern Cascades, you can explore the foothills of Mt Adams, or trudge up the
steep trail to smoldering Mt St Helens. To leave the crowds behind, try isolated Glacier
Peak, which offers a sparkly lake and alpine goodness to satiate your inner hiker. The
classic Wonderland Trail circumnavigates the snowcapped behemoth Mt Rainier, but it
takes a commitment: it's a seven- to 10-day hike.
For climbers, the peaks to tackle include:
» Mt Rainier - the imperial landmark of the region