Cascade Pass part 6. Photo 1: We're above the clouds now. Photo 2: panorama of the top with glacier. Photo 3: an unexpected visit from a Search and Rescue helicopter alighting on Sahale Arm as I was descending. Fortunately no one was hurt; it was a practice maneuver.
This is one of the prettiest places in the Cascades; visit if you can (mid July-early October). But go on a weekday as it's very crowded especially in high season (August).
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Cascade Pass part 5. It's autumn now and up in the meadows the blueberry foliage is turning red (photo 1). Photo 2: A lone scarlet paintbrush flower (Castilleja coccinea) is still holding out against the fall, surrounded by Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacia). Corn lilies are fading fast (the big leafed plant, Veratrum viride). Photo 3: there's a grouse in this photo, believe it or not. Sooty grouse? Ruffed grouse? I'm not sure.
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Cascade Pass part 4: At the top of the pass you can look East and see the Stehekin River which flows into the Columbia, while the water behind you flows West into Puget Sound. The clouds will burn off around midday and let you see the mountains. But the real fun comes when you ascend the Sahale Arm, leading up to Sahale Glacier and Peak. It's only two more miles (3.2km), but an additional 2200 (670m) feet elevation gain. Let's go. 4/7
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Cascade Pass part 3. Cascade Pass is like a vast funnel where moist air from the Pacific gets squeezed and pushed up into this gap between the mountains. It's right in the clouds and most of the year it's socked in like this. It's also quite windy, which you can tell by the way the way the trees lean. photo 2: Cascade mountain ash tree (Sorbus scopulina) in the fog. It's a close relative of the Rowan tree native to Europe and Asia. 3/7 #hiking #PNW #mountain #getoutside #nativeplants

Cascade Pass part 2. Some plant life: photo 1-2: Parnassia fimbriata, new to me. Growing off a mossy rock, it's watered by the constant drip of water off the bluff above it. Sorry I missed the flowering stage. Photo 3: A saxifrage called Leptarrhena pyrolifolia, a favorite that I spot in cool damp rocky places all the time.
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Here are some of the beautiful views that I had while hiking to the waterfalls today. Beginning of hike had full view of mountain ridge that I was hiking to, as well as the meadow that contained the stream that flowed from the falls. The falls were near the base of the ridge shown in upper left pic. #Colorado #mountains #hiking

In the spirit of #WaterfallWednesday, I hiked into the mountains outside Vail today to a series of cascading waterfalls! Here is one of the waterfalls (left pic). To take the pic, I needed to scramble down a steep class II/III rock formation (pic on right by Lori H.). A beautiful hike including views of an expansive meadow and mountain ridge. #Colorado #mountains #waterfall

Hiked up to a ridge outside of Vail today. The meadows (top left) at lower elevations were just as picturesque as the views from the top (top right). With rain clouds moving in and with the sounds of distant thunder, we hurried down the trail (bottom row). Only caught a few drops of rain this time! #Colorado #mountains #hiking

With the wedding activities behind us, we’re on to Vail for several days of hiking and horseback riding. Took this pic at a roadside stop. As many times as I’ve been to Colorado, I remained amazed at the beauty wherever I look, even from the road. #Colorado #MountainMonday #nature