G.A.S.P.

We completed our ride through the North Cascades NP by mid-afternoon the next day (8-11) following stops at Gorge Creek Falls and the Visitor Center in Newhalem.

At Gorge Creek Falls, I was a participant in a "world class" coincidence. David and I had stopped at the falls, taken some pictures, then decided to walk a few hundred yards to the scenic view of the Gorge Dam and reservoir. We had just returned and were unlocking our bikes from the railing when two other bicyclists rode up. When we exchanged the usual bicyclist’s pleasantries (where are you from, where are you going, etc.), I told them I was from Ohio. The one nearest me asked where from in Ohio, and I responded "the Akron area." He proceeded to tell me he was also from Akron, and his friend was from Stow (near Akron). I added that I was actually from Barberton, then mentioned that I was riding around the country visiting all of the National Parks. He paused briefly, then asked for confirmation that I was the guy from Barberton who was spending a year riding around the country. I responded that I was, now thinking that he must have seen and remembered the article about me that had appeared in the Barberton newspaper. However, he shocked me when he said he had received a letter from my Mother (regarding my trip), and had just written an article about me for the Akron Bicycle Club newsletter. It turns out that he (Bob Iden) is the editor of the newsletter for the Bike Club, which I had joined just before starting on my journey. His friend, Jim Williams is also a member of the Club. There are about 300 million people in this country, and author and subject run into each other at a scenic overlook in North Cascades National Park about 3000 miles from home – WOW!

The Visitor Center provided a lot of good information about the Park. For instance, there are over 300 glaciers in the North Cascades NP – more than any other area of the United States outside of Alaska. Also, the snow loads on the West slope are among the heaviest on Earth. On of the Park Rangers told me that the snowfall on Mt. Baker this winter was the heaviest ever recorded anywhere – over 1200" (100 feet of snowfall). I also learned why the beautiful mountain streams such as Granite Creek and McDonald Creek have a green tint. The glaciers grind bedrock to fine silt, and the meltwater carries this "glacial flour" into steams and lakes where it refracts light passing through it. To our eyes, this then appears as a surreal turquoise green (or "coke bottle green," as I see it).

My overall thoughts on the North Cascades NP are that this is one of the most scenic places I’ve ever been to, comparing very well to Glacier NP. North Cascades isn’t nearly so well known as Glacier, however, and outside of Washington must be one of America’s best kept secrets. It’s a wonderful place to visit, and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the Northwest. Most of the Park, however, can’t be seen from the one main road (Rt. 20) that passes through the middle of it, and I really suspect someone has to do some serious hiking to see some of the best parts. Someday, I want to do just that – take at least a couple of weeks and do some hiking here.

My overall thoughts on the North Cascades NP are that this is one of the most scenic places I’ve ever been to, comparing very well to Glacier NP. North Cascades isn’t nearly so well known as Glacier, however, and outside of Washington must be one of America’s best kept secrets. It’s a wonderful place to visit, and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the Northwest. Most of the Park, however, can’t be seen from the one main road (Rt. 20) that passes through the middle of it, and I really suspect someone has to do some serious hiking to see some of the best parts. Someday, I want to do just that – take at least a couple of weeks and do some hiking here.

There is just one more aspect of the Park that I must mention. Electric lines (lots of them) run from the dams west toward Seattle (I was told that about 25% of Seattle’s power comes from these dams). They are unsightly and spoil much of the beauty of the Park along Rt. 20. In fairness, the dams and power lines were there long before the Park was created (1968) and have every legal right to be there. I’ll just say it would be very, very nice if they were to be taken down.