East Bank Ross Lake — Sunday, Apr. 11, 2021

Matt and Gia drove out and met me in Marblemount, we proceeded 32 miles to winter closure of Highway 20 at Ross Dam Trail.

Our destination was East Bank Trail 5 miles up the road, we brought our bikes and made quick work of the up and down ride.  We had hoped to ride some of the trail since no one else was there but it was littered with debris from the long winter.  Ended up stashing our bikes about half a mile in.

At the junction with Little Jack Trail we headed toward Hidden Hand Pass, nice climb through forest.  Snow got about a foot deep right at the top, 2500' or so, disappeared as we dropped toward Roland Point, lots of trees down in this stretch.

We decided to turn around, and back at the junction we took a right for Hidden Hand Camp, just .5 mile, mostly flat.  Nice sunny rocks to warm up our wet feet, great views across Ross Lake.  

Took a long break and headed back to our bikes, fun to ride the short bit of trail we had mostly pushed them up on the way in.  Then the 5 mile ride back up the Highway to the car, stopping at the overlooks this time.

Total trip about 20 miles, half on foot, 8 hours.  We passed 2 people walking on the road with their dogs, otherwise had the whole place to ourselves.  I feel like the WTA should have "rode your bike" as one of the travel options, and "crowds" as one of the things to "beware of". 

The Highway past the gate is closed to walkers/bikers Monday - Thursday from 5AM to 6PM while crews clear the passes further up.  There will be considerably less snow next weekend when this is open to travel again with the ever increasing high temperatures we are expecting.

Still time to book a cabin for this rare spring heatwave at Glacier Peak Resort in Marblemount, so close to everything North Cascades.  With the good wifi the boss doesn't even need to know you left home.  I'll see you here tomorrow!