Road Trip Series
The North Cascades of Washington was a place I always dreamed of visiting throughout my childhood. The countless snowy peaks, mountains surrounded by more mountains, and the chance to see Washington's only Grizzly Bears. It was a place that dwarfed the area surrounding mv hometown, which made it seem like the Himalayas of the PNW. A place that seemed like an eternity away, but was only a few hour drive.
This all changed in August of 2022, when I finally got the opportunity to explore one of the many gems that Washington has to offer. As part of a weeklong trip, the North Cascades of my home state was the first destination of many. This was a trip that had little to no plan, just exploring and living the voyage of life. Little did I know that this part of the world would change my perspective on many things in life. The journey was just beginning.
"The North Cascades are definitely one of the more exotic corners of the globe", said a man that we briefly passed on trail. I had known of this area being another one of the states staples, but nothing to the extent to how he described it. We continued on our first hike of the trip not knowing what lied beyond the seemingly never ending switchbacks. Running low on water and nauseous feelings starting to rise due to a poor lunch before, moral was very low. That was until our breath was taken away. With panoramic views of Glacier Peak to the southeast, Mt. Baker to the northwest and hundreds of mountains in between, this was the point where the word "exotic" perfectly fit.
Like a fairytale in a book, these viewpoints were a gateway into a new land. A destination I was so new to, and yet I still felt at home. This feeling of comfort and tranquility would follow me throughout the rest of the trip. Very good things were ahead.
Waking up on the side of a highway isn't so bad when you're way up in the mountains. The night before we struggled to find a place to camp for the night, therefore decided that a pullout next to a waterfall was the most viable option. I guess I could say that the title "nomadic" came right around this point of the trip, as the lifestyle of car-life started to sink in a little more.Brushing our teeth in nearby creeks, eating cheap and nutrient lacking meals, wearing the same pair of clothes for days and exploring every minute of the waking day, this is what we signed up for.
The North Cascades brought this sense of wildness into our hearts, a feeling that resembled being lost and so far away from any type of responsibility. A nostalgic feeling that felt like childhood resemblance. We were already halfway through the North Cascades on our second day of the trip. A place I dreamed of going to my whole life felt rushed and merely like a trip at all. It felt quite overwhelming, as I knew that this area had so much more to offer. Staying present and smelling the roses was my main focus from here to the journey's end. I didn't want that lost feeling to end.
Blueberry muffins and a weird excitement to be in Grizzly country filled my body on the first hike of the day. Not knowing what the day would look like, a short walk to an alpine lake seemed like a good way to start. I can’t recall how long I stared out towards the waterfalls cascading down into the lake, but having the view all to ourselves made it so much easier to get lost in the moment. Idaho was in our sights, and I wasn’t quite ready. This area of the Cascades was completely winning me over, and I couldn’t stop imagining spending my future here.
I can’t emphasize enough how spontaneous this whole trip was. Just minutes after leaving Rainy Lake, the immediate plan was to storm through Northeastern Washington and make our way into Idaho by the end of the day. As we were leaving North Cascades National Park, a sign that read Washington Pass appeared around the corner. Hearing that name once or twice before, I took the turnoff to see what was there. Needless to say, the spontaneity type of mindset almost lead to missing an absolute gem. The overlook that capped the scenic highway all off. The jagged peaks reminded me of the Dolomites in Italy, and the soft dome peaks brought images of Yosemite. It was a mix of two worlds that I’ve never been to, but it was almost like I was experiencing both at once.
Mountain chipmunks swarmed us as we said our goodbyes to the might North Cascades. A place that will be heavily revered for its ability to make you feel so small.
Our sights were now on Idaho and preparing for the long journey across the high desert. There was much more to see and much more to experience. One chapter ended, another one began.
After long hours of driving across Northeastern Washington, we finally entered a new state. Idaho instantly brought this strange and distant feeling, a perception I didn’t think I was going to have about a neighboring state. We entered the border town of Newport and soon followed that up with some forest roads that lead to the nearby Priest River.
Not knowing if we were going to find a campsite or not for the night, we aimlessly started exploring the forests with all the light we had left. Out of pure luck, a campsite just off the river eventually found itself filled with two adventurers longing for a solid rest. Little did we know but this spot was going to be the first real relaxing time that we would have on this trip. Because it was so early in August, the river was Luke-warm, a perfect swimming temperature. We swam and enjoyed the beautiful Idaho sunset. No moments were taken for granted, as we knew this was our one and only night in Idaho. The big sky was ahead.
A rush of adrenaline ran through me as we crossed the Idaho/Montana border. So much excitement for a place I’ve dreamed of going to my whole life, and everything looked different. From the way the pines stacked on top of each other, to the groves of birch trees that I never got to see in Southwest Washington, I really was living the life of a traveller, and it felt amazing.
Glacier National Park was an obvious destination for us, and within a couple hours of crossing the border, we were there. As we got to the West Glacier entrance of the park, we looked back on how far we’ve come and the distance between us and home (about 700 miles). The odd thing was, life on the road was starting to feel like home. This journey embodied so many values of mine that I couldn’t help but think that this is what I wanted for myself in life. Constant adventures, thousands of stories. Life was good.
The last light started to shine as we were nearing the end of the infamous Going to the Sun road (one of the sketchiest but rewarding scenic drives I’ve ever completed). It was one of those August nights that just felt perfect. The warm mountain breeze and the stunning views were just what we needed after a long day of driving. We ventured off on a few side trails to see what we could find, but the thought of dusk walking Grizzly’s kept us high on our toes. It was these feelings of alertness and not knowing where we were going that made us feel so alive.
“I can’t believe I’m in Montana”, I continuously thought to myself. This place has always seemed so wild to me, and to have the opportunity to finally be here was very… special. I couldn’t be more grateful.
Here we were, overlooking the last major viewpoint on the Going to the Sun road. A time for reflection and ponder. There were very few moments of stillness on this trip. What with people everywhere and the busy commotion that a national park brings, it was hard for us to find the spots that felt “undisturbed”. This spot though, this was one of them. Nothing but the wind and the crashing waves of the lake beneath us sang in our ears. Nothing but the blades of the last light and the roaring peaks filled our eyes. It was these details that seemed so easy to pick out in a place so peaceful like this.
In a national park that we’ve never been to before, it was going to be hard to just coincidentally stumble upon quiet moments like this. Although we were new and at a disadvantage, this was now our ultimate goal, to find peace.
The last sunset. The next day we would wake up, do a quick hike, then start the long 13 hour drive back home. This sunset was one of the most elegant I’ve ever seen. The lighting on the trees, the warm glow on the snow, everything was perfect.
I had no words as I was watching this sunset, therefore I don’t have many here. Let your imagination wander, and let this snap in time do the little justice it can.
The end, what a ride it’s been. Before leaving for this trip I had no clue what experiences we would have as we ventured to places we’ve only dreamed. From witnessing some of the most beautiful slices of wilderness I’ve ever seen, to magically driving by my favorite hiker who was thru hiking the PCT, this trip was full of surprises.
This trip would’ve been much less exciting alone though. Luckily, I was able to have a great companion with me the whole entire way. To Makenzie, who got to experience all the highs and lows of the long journey, I thank you for everything. For your endless enthusiasm and being my best friend, I will always remember all the memories we shared on this very spontaneous holiday.
I will never forget this trip, and it won’t be long until I make the trek back to these magical places. Grateful for the journey I had, I’ll now be able to tell tales about this adventure for the rest of my life. To all the destinations on this trip, I will be back one day.
