Independence and North Lakes — Thursday, Jun. 19, 2003

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Went to Independence-IL/North Lake-NL trailhead, with intent to go to NL. Rainy weather with low visibility (none of the ridges were visible). Switchback up from IL to ridge was clear and well trimmed. We brought machetes anticipating needing to do some brush cutting, but the shrubs along the west facing rockslide switchbacks were well cleared (only place it ever grows over with weeds on the way to NL). Reached first snow at about 4200' in the shadows and depressions. Visibility lessened and snow started falling about 44-4500'. No good views of the ridges at all and no downward visibility into the NL valley or its surrounding ridges. Since we went for the views, we turned around at the ridge as the snow increased, returning to rain after descending a few hundred feet. Rain all the way otherwise, but mild temps. Ours were the only tire tracks to the trailhead that day.