8-5-2023 Unfortunately they have closed the North Cascades Pass between Newhalem and Rainey Pass. So there is no easy way to get to Desolation presently i.e. the water taxi not operating, you can't rent a resort boat and can't get to the East Bank Trailhead...... If you are really determined you could come [...]
About a week ago lightning started a fire on the west side of Sourdough at the south end of the lake. This fire has grown to 3000 acres+ and has caused the NPS to shut down all boat traffic on Ross Lake and Ross Lake Resort to close. SO they only way right now to [...]
7-10-23 Ross Lake is about 17 feet down ---that is lower than usual / full pool. This means that the Dock at Desolation is probably high and dry. You will need to land on the dirt and drag the boat up a ways to secure it if using one of the Resort rental boats. I [...]
On the westside of Ross Lake is one of those memorable names --> Skymo. There is a mountain, a lake and a stream by that name. I only know one person who has been up to the lake and tried fishing -- Jeff Johnson ---who was the North Cascades Fish Biologist for the USFS ( [...]
Here is a shot taken from a helicopter at the south end of Ross Lake --looking north uptake toward the Desolation Fire: And here is what it looked like down at lake level: And finally here is a shot from Desolation courtesy Jim of a fire over in the Pasayten Wilderness:
This is an old book now I think out of print but you can find it used on the internet pretty easy. Wonderful collection of Fire Lookout Stories from all over.
I will begin this year to contribute $6000 of my money each year going forward for maintenance of the Fire Lookouts in Washington State's three National Parks. This will be a direct contribution to the NPS and is not being done thru any organization. There is a wonderful Washington National Park Fund but their budget [...]
Hi there -- There is a song popular some time ago that I habitually sing on a LO hike. It is Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. The melody suits the words and the lyrics that really resonate for me: The road is long There are mountains in our way But [...]
Sometime ago a couple of fellows put out a nice CD with original songs celebrating Jack's book on Big Sur.......it came in a presentation box of sorts and was fun.... my favorite track was the first one -- California Zephyr. I have spent a couple of weeks in Big Sur over the years and can [...]
To see the pictures from the hike this summer -- go back to the home page and then at the top click on ---- The Hike up Desolation Peak. It also includes a guide for folks wanting to do the same hike...... thanks and Happy Holidays !! bruce