Trough the North Cascades to the Mettow Valley
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
11
23
Trip End
Sep 12, 2008
Winthrop,
Washington,
United States
Friday, August 29, 2008
Again we passed deception pass but then just left the area. It's not april or june, so there are no tulips to admire.
After a last quick stop in Sedro Woolley we fueled up, got another snack (the muffin and almond cookie Nikki bought us on the Organic market the day before were soooo yummie but just not quite enough for two grownups) and started our trip on the WA20. We stopped in New Halem and in Diabolo. And at that point it hit me why I could not found anyplace to stay the night in that town. There were only six houses ;)
The North Cascades highway was build in the early seventies
The North Cascades
. You can see that it was build with modern tourism in mind. It's one of the most beautiful roads trough one of the most snowiest places in the States. Even now, the end of august, some snow was still not melted. The highway is mostly closed from November to April btw because of the snow.I listened to some rangers in the Visitor Center ( now I know a lot about black bears, glaciers and the North Cascades themselves). We followed the River Loop Trail to the blue river. I was curious how this river got his turquoise blue color. Actually it are the glaciers which mill the rocks and this residue turns the water blue. It's just all an illusion, but what a magnificent illusion.
At the other side of the Mountains we arrived in Winthrop. I had booked a place at the River run Inn and Cabins. I totally forgot about the hype around Labourday weekend. So when I asked if we could stay for another day (after inspecting the environment and room) it was 'no, we are fully booked'.. So tomorrow, if we cannot find anything, perhaps it will just be a roadmotel.
We had dinner at the Old Schoolhouse. Another microbrewery.
