SKAGIT AUDUBON SEPTEMBER
HIKING SCHEDULE
By Joan Melcher
Great fall hiking begins this month. However, weather conditions, forest fires and smoke, logging, construction, or other unexpected circumstances may cause changes in the following hikes. Call JOAN MELCHER, 360-424-0407 for information on or questions about the following. All of the September hikes are on a Wednesday. The Forest Service work party is on a Monday. Dogs are discouraged on Audubon-sponsored hikes. If dogs are on a hike, they must be on a leash at all times.
September 3
CUTTHROAT PASS
Do this hike on a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail as either a round trip, 10.0 miles, or as a one way to Cutthroat Lake trail head, 10.5 miles with shuttle cars. 1900 ft. el. gain. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion parking lot. Northwest Forest Parking Permit required. 4 p.m. return.
MONDAY, September 15
ADOPT-A-TRAIL WORK PARTY
With Dan Rogers in the Okanogan National Forest. Work on puncheon about 0.25 mile in from the Easy Pass trailhead near milepost 151 on HWY 20. Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion parking lot.
September 10, 17, 24
WILDERNESS HIKES
See below for details.
October 1
RAILROAD GRADE
6 to 8 miles RT, 1900 to 2100 ft el gain. Significant streams to cross by rock hopping. 7:30 a.m. Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion. Forest parking permit required. 4 p.m. return to trailhead.
WILDERNESS HIKES
Note: The meeting place for the wilderness hikes in the following table is the Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion parking lot and the time is 7:30 a.m. Audubon-south are those who live south of Mount Vernon (Seattle, Camano, Stanwood); Audubon-west are those who live west of Mount Vernon (LaConner, Anacortes, Whidbey Island); Audubon are those who have Mount Vernon addresses or live to the north or east (Bellingham, Sedro-Woolley, Concrete).
CHAIN LAKES LOOP
Up to 8 miles, 1500 ft min. el. gain. 3 p.m. return to trailhead. Wilderness rules apply. Forest parking permit required.
*If it is foggy at Artists Point, the Hannegan Pass hike will be done instead.
GOAT LAKE
Up to 10 miles, 1300 ft elevation gain. 4 p.m. return to trailhead. Wilderness rules apply. Forest parking permit required.
**Audubon-South people may wish to carpool on their own and drive directly to the trailhead which is between Darrington and Granite Falls on the Mountain Loop Highway.
CASCADE PASS
7.4 miles round trip, 1800 ft. el. gain in 33 not-too-steep switchbacks. Hike is in the North Cascades National Park; dogs not allowed. Wilderness rules apply. Northwest Forest Parking Permit IS NOT REQUIRED. 3 p.m. return for those going to Pass area only; 4 p.m. return for those going up on Sahale Arm.
