North Cascades Timed Right

October means fall and time to celebrate our anniversary.  We decide to head up to the North Cascades for a couple days while we have good weather before the big storm hits. Timing is everything.

The first day we stop for lunch at a restaurant in the small town of Marblemount and enjoy the views of the nearby Skagit River. Hundreds of bald eagles will arrive here this winter as they do every year,  to feast upon spawning salmon. It is one of the largest such congregations in the United States.  I make a note to self to come back in January to see this feast.

Next up is the small town of Newhalem, owned and operated by Seattle City Light, whose employees run the generating plants that produce cheap hydroelectric power for Seattle. There are 3 dams on the Skagit River: Gorge, Diablo and Ross. Because of this the river seems to disappear from sight as it is diverted through the powerhouses. Further up the road we enjoy the views of Diablo Lake, the reservoir created by Diablo Dam.

Continuing east on the Cascade Loop Highway we enjoy many fall colors on display.

At  Washington Pass Overlook we stop to enjoy the views of Liberty Bell Mountain. While always beautiful in the summer the mountain is even more dramatic this time of year when the golden larch trees provide contrast to the dark evergreens. There is a fresh dusting of snow on the ground as we walk the short trail to the overlook. The brilliant views of the mountain and surrounding area reminds me of cold steel and burnished brass all set in October ice.

After a short walk my fingers are frozen from taking pictures and it’s time to move on. We cross over to the east side of the mountains where all is golden again.

We spend the night in Winthrop where we find these views of the Methow River from our hotel room.

The next day we pass through the small towns of Twisp and Chelan, then follow the Columbia River into Wenatchee, the apple capital of the world, to spend the night. We stop by Cashmere on the final day of our short trip to buy fresh apples and kettle corn from one of the many fruit stands in the area and to pick up souvenirs at the largest antique mall on the west coast. Time to head back home over Blewett Pass.

All in all a lovely trip to reflect upon as we are snug inside our home listening to the heavy rains and gusty winds. Timing is everything.

~ Susanne