Backpacking in the Cascades
On the weekend of October 18th-19th, Josh and I guided a National Park Trust backpacking trip through the stunning backcountry of North Cascades National Park, along with another Outdoor Center (OC) trip leader named Bridget. The week before, our crew of nine participants gathered for a Pre-Trip Meeting at Western Washington University’s OC, where we sorted out details like the packing list, gear rentals, and expected weather (rain in this case). Between rounds of icebreakers and shared laughs, excitement for the upcoming adventure built quickly. Before we knew it, Saturday had arrived.
Early that morning, everyone trickled into the Outdoor Center, some with coffee in hand, many buzzing with anticipation. We packed up our group gear, which included stoves, tarps, and bundles of food tucked into bear cans, and swapped stories while the last packs were cinched tight. Once ready, we loaded into cars and set out for the Marblemount Ranger Station, the gateway to our weekend in the North Cascades!
The drive east was full of chatter and music, peppered with moments of quiet as fog lifted from the Skagit Valley. At the Ranger Station, we filled out our backcountry permits from the self-issue kiosk and took a few moments to talk about the park’s layered history–its people, the land, and its enduring wildness. From there, we hit the highway again, winding deeper into the mountains.
As we curved along the North Cascades Highway, the scenery transformed. Forests of amber and gold swept across the hillsides, and sharp peaks cut through the sky. Waterfalls cascaded from cliffsides high above the road, drawing anticipated excitement from every car window. At last, we reached the East Bank trailhead, shouldered our packs, and stretched out our legs before taking our first steps down the trail.
The day was calm and luminous, and the forest seemed to glow. For many in our group, this was their very first backpacking trip, and the magic of the North Cascades set the perfect stage. Around midday, we stopped for lunch near the vivid turquoise waters of Ross Lake’s Ruby Arm. Vegetable and hummus wraps never tasted so good with that view! Across the lake, steep, striated cliffs told stories of shifting water levels and deep time. Energized, we continued on, trekking another few miles through mossy woods and fern-framed switchbacks until we reached our home for the night: a group campsite beside Roland Creek, where the steady sound of flowing water welcomed us into the evening.
We spent the late afternoon setting up camp, dividing into small groups to learn the essentials of backcountry living. One crew built our tarp shelters and practiced new knots, another fired up the MSR WhisperLite stoves and prepped dinner, while the last team filled water bottles and filtered creek water for the night. Just as the final tarp corner was tied, the first drops of rain began to fall (perfect timing)! Laughter rippled through camp as everyone donned rain jackets and embraced our classic Pacific Northwest forecast.
Dinner that night was a cozy masterpiece; pasta with a hearty homemade sauce full of beans, carrots, and onions. We huddled beneath the kitchen tarp, trading stories, cracking jokes, and sharing gratitude for the day and for one another. The rhythm of rain on nylon joined our conversation as darkness settled in. Before bed, we filled water bottles with boiled water to keep tucked in our sleeping bags (instant portable heaters and the ultimate backpacking luxury).
Morning arrived slowly and quietly, wrapped in mist and the scent of wet earth. We brewed tea and coffee, stirring oatmeal with apples and cinnamon as light filtered through the trees. The golden larches and scarlet heather glowed under the soft sun, while blueberry and huckleberry leaves burned bright crimson in the underbrush. After breakfast, we packed up camp, shouldered our gear once more, and followed the winding trail back toward the trailhead.
By the time we returned to the cars, boots muddy and spirits high, everyone was both smiling, slightly wet, and definitely exhausted. Many shared that it had been the highlight of their quarter so far, and for some, their first spark of lifelong love for the outdoors and backpacking. The trip wrapped up with gratitude for the land, new friendships, and a collective promise to return. It was the perfect send-off to autumn before the rains and snows of winter sweep through the mountains once again.
