Yesterday, wildfire personnel performed a controlled burn on the side of Highway 97 near Loon Lake in British Columbia, Canada. However 15 minutes after the back burn began, shifting winds pushed the fire over the highway thus spreading beyond the team's control. Now over 80,000 hectares are burned and by 7 p.m. yesterday evening the entire state of Washington was under a plume of smoke.
I woke up to go see North Cascades National Park this morning, but quickly drove headfirst into a grey haze that had blanketed most of Seattle. The North Cascades is split into two parts (north and south). I had headed to a beautiful trail called the Hidden Lake trail, but was disappointed to see that visibility was so poor even up high in the mountains. So I turned down to the north part of the park, near Diablo Lake, pursuing the Thunder Knob trail instead.
One of the things several park rangers will tell you this time of year is that the blackberries are everywhere and are ripe for the picking. Thus, several black bears and grizzlies have been spotted in the park by the lake. Luckily I still had my bear spray.... This region is known for many beautiful elements as was stated by the Enabling Act of 1968 "majestic mountain scenery, snow fields, glaciers, alpine meadows, and other unique features."
The short 2 mile ascent to the top of the trail overlooks Diablo Canyon with a Mount Shuksan towering in the distance .I was surprised despite hiking in the smoke how beautiful it all was. Gorges with water falls, lakes, and snow capped mountains. Even the warm smell of burning wood greeted my nose like I had entered into a Seattle Starbucks and the aroma of Pikes Place roast was all around me. While several people complained on the trails and at the visitor center, I thought it kind of reminded me of my time in Beijing in someways. The thick haze, the smell of burning, the intense heat, and the ability to see the sun without sunglasses on at midday. Hopefully things clear up by Friday.
