(Belated) Trip Report part 2 - North Cascades, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Badlands

North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park photos.

9/4/2009

• Just woke up after 2nd night in North Cascades National Park. Camped at Hidden Meadows - one of the most spectacular places I've ever been.
• Last night I climbed to a saddle in one of the surrounding ridges to see the view of the other side. Saw pikas, 2 different species of ground squirrel, and a (then) unidentified bird (which, when I had access to a field guide I later identified as a Clark's Nutcracker), as well as some kind of falcon (somewhat large, nearly the size of an accipiter, with rusty coloring).
• Pack is HEAVY for this trip. Need to strip down base weight and food weight (a food dehydrator would be helpful).
• 1st night was at Fireweed Camp - T-storm.

9/4/2009, 2nd entry

• Left Hidden Meadows today. The hike to Dee Dee Lakes was GORGEOUS! Walked slowly, elation so great I didn't even feel my pack.
  
• Went swimming in upper lake. In attempt to cross lake I seriously almost died. Cold froze my muscles up, and I couldn't fully expand lungs.
  
• Now it's raining again. Bed early.

Badlands (also Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in retrospective)

Photos from Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Badlands.

9/14/2009 (?)

• Left N. Cascades early - more rain and colder according to hiker with updated forecast.
• Drove to rest stop in eastern WA, watched stupid middle aged couple try to get dog into truck (45 min?)
• Spent next night in Moscow, Idaho, then stayed in Bozeman, Montana the night after that. Drank lots of Moose Drool.
• Yellowstone 1 night in campground outside park, 3 nights in Lamar Valley. Heard wolf howls and saw tracks and scat, but didn't see any.
• I did a solo day hike up the Lamar River in my keens on the second day. Beautiful river.
• 1 night in national forest outside of Grand Tetons. Day hike up to Amphitheater Lake (~9600 ft.); highest elevation I've been so far.
• Drove for hours, stayed half night at rest stop. Arrived in Badlands this morning. Saw Bighorn sheep. Waiting out mid-day heat right now.
  

So there you have it. Not the most detailed notes, but one doesn't usually feel like writing a long narrative while backpacking. Anyways, I think that the pictures are more telling, though even those don't come close to replicating the experience. Still, it's a nice reminder for myself, and hopefully it whets the appetite of readers who may be interested in hiking/backpacking.