Camping Trip to Klipchuck

On 18 August, Kim, Bonnie and I drove over Washington Pass to Klipchuck Campground, a few miles from Mazama and a few more from Winthrop, for a short camping trip.  Our plan was to hike every day, dine at least once on burgers and fries at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Winthrop, and treat ourselves to ice cream and lattes at Sherry’s in Winthrop.

Thankfully, the heat wave in eastern Washington waned the day we arrived, and we enjoyed our first hike in near perfect conditions — sunny and about 65 degrees (at 6800′ elevation).  We drove to Harts Pass, a rather tense drive through the woods often with a large sloping dropoff on one side and just a single lane of road width.  During one stretch of about 1/2 mile, the slope on the left side was steep and dropped off 800′.  But we made it to Harts Pass and then the two mile jaunt to Meadows Campground.  Our round trip to Grasshopper Pass (about 11 miles) took most of the day and afforded incredible views every step of the way.

Day 2, we drove to Winthrop and then up a road to Sun Mountain Lodge for an easier day of hiking on the hills above Winthrop with great views of the Methow River Valley in many places.  When we stopped for a light lunch, I sat on a stump and then got up with sticky sap on my shorts.

Day 3, we drove west to the Cutthroad Lake and Cutthroat Pass trail head.  Before the day was done, we’d hiked 12 miles and climbed 2400′ to the pass, which intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail.  Enroute, we stopped for a snack and happened across two white-tailed ptarmigans (approachable if you are slow and patient), lots of squirrels, mountain bikers, hikers with dogs (one named “Nathan” who posed with Bonnie), and a kajillion wild huckleberries.  On our return from the pass, we picked enough wild huckleberries for our pancakes the next morning.

To view the photo archive, click the photo below:

Kim and Bonnie at Washington Pass

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