Easy Pass, Thunder Creek — Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Easy Pass was clear as of Sunday. The trails through Fischer Basin and Thunder Creek are completely clear, due to good trail crew work. Very minimal snow on trail. Very cold in the morning, ice in a few parts, but nothing requiring equipment. Might be different after this week. Absolute heavenly once we got going, with fall colors, a dusting of snow from previous week on mountains, and partially frozen streams with waterfalls. Larches are in full gold on Pass. Brilliant reds and yellows in brush. Mushrooms are starting to fade, but good purples and log types. Trees are still big. Lost my hat in the Fischer Creek Valley. If anyone finds it, please email WTA to get my contact--a special USMC marathon hat with family significance. The whole route was 28 miles--did it as a one day run with friends, which is very doable for a serious trail runner, but safety first, of course.