Skyline Divide — Friday, Sep. 20, 2002

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

With a trip into the Enchantments coming up quick, I decided I best get out and test the ligaments in my ankle which I tore in July. But firt, a warning: I fell victom to car vandals, as many other overnight hikers did at the TH. I got lucky with minimal damage, but others did not. A car from B.C. not only got broken into, but every single window smashed, tires flattened, the hood popped and the engine department completely vandalized, etc. There was no way they would be driving home after what I'm sure they assumed would be a relaxing backpack in our beloved wilderness. I was disgusted, as many others were. Between two rangers, I learned that this particular TH has witnessed vandalism the past 3 weekends in a row. The Heliotrope Ridge TH has been experiencing this twice a week on average. Also unsafe are the Hannegan Pass and Canyon Creek TH. Beware. The good news? The county sherrif's office is now taking advanced action (I am not at liberty to disclose and neither should you be until they are caught) against these perpetrators. With that said, this was an incredible hike with fall colors just begining to show themselves. I suspect we are on our ""October 10th"" schedule for the climax, as coined by another contributor. The sunsets from this vantage are a photographer's delight, and highly recommended to the non-toting camera enthusiast as well. Pics will be posted soon at http://www.mountainscenes.com Don Geyer