North Cascades

Despite living in western Montana 13 years and having traveled much of the Northwest, we had never been to the North Cascades. (The Bitterroots, the Tetons and Winds were much closer). And so, having elected a more westerly return to Menlo Park over the next month, we decided to cross the Cascades, not once but twice, doing the Cascade Loop, which consists mostly of Washington route 20 and US route 2. With a long stop to see friends in Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, this took several days. Below are pix from the westbound crossing of the range. We thought we might stop for a short hike along the way, but the snow level--route 20 had just been opened--convinced us to stay in the RV.

Approaching the North Cascades, Roosevelt (as in FDR) Lake
and Grand Coulee Dam

At 555 feet, the highest of US dams

Crossing the Depression-era bridge

Excellent signage on the bridge

Passing through Winthrop, WA, a cute, westernized New England town

Now at 4,000-5,000 feet, in the middle of the Cascades

Lots of peaks and pinnacles, though the altitude isn't that much

We stopped for lunch at a turn-out at just over 5,000 feet

At Rainy Pass, about midway between Winthrop and Newhalem

Now on the downward side, at an overlook above Diablo Lake;
helpful map

Diablo Lake and North Cascades