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Backpacking into North Cascades National Park (US-0055)

Start the ascent at 45.99028, -121.80308 on the Thomas Lake trail.  Initially the trail threads between two lakes then starts up an old logging road (my guess) before Indian Heaven became a wilderness in 1984.

Note that it can be very windy on the easterly exposed summit, especially if there is any kind of east wind in the Gorge.

Summary - Gifford Peak is approached via good trails and a steepish cross country bushwhack.  From the Thomas Lake trailhead, hike both East Crater and Gifford Peak as a ten mile outing with 2500 feet of gain.  From Carson, WA take Wind River Highway up and all but the last bit of the two hour drive (from Portland) is on paved road. A NW Discover Pass is required and this is a popular area, so the parking will be tight on weekends.

Summary - East Crater is approached via good trails and a steepish bushwhack through burn terrainFrom the Thomas Lake trailhead, hike both East Crater and Gifford Peak as a ten mile outing with 2500 feet of gain.  From Carson, WA take Wind River Highway up and all but the last bit of the two hour drive (from Portland) is on paved road. A NW Discover Pass is required and this is a popular area, so the parking will be tight on weekends.

Attempted a most of the way drive up activation of Wahatis Peak. Approximately 1.7 miles after the fork to Saddle Mountain, the road is completely blocked by a semi truck pulling a load of empty apple boxes. This ended our summit attempt. Hopefully the truck and trailer will be removed soon and you can drive close to the summit again.

If you choose to try this summit, prepare for a hike with no shade. You could park at the T between Saddle Mountain and Wahatis Peak. 

Mt. Jefferson, considered one of if not the hardest summits in the state or Oregon to make it to. Having climbed (and activated) a lot of the big things that the Oregon cascades have to offer at this point, I can definitely confirm that this mountain isn’t a joke and requires a lot of serious mountaineering skills and conditioning in order to even be attempted since the combination of factors makes it a real challenge.

Summary - Green Mountain can be a short hike from a parking area right below the summit or a longer hike from the road below.  The drive up version is possible on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00AM to 6:00PM through a gate on NW Holly Road at (47.59245, -122.83445). The drive is Priusable, at least in good weather, and ends in a parking area with a vault toilet below the summit. A NW Discover Pass is required to park.  The vista - which is not the actual summit but in the AZ - has good views, trees to hang a wire, and picnic tables.

My three summit day plan was for naught. The road from highway 119 (47.47079, -123.21280) to Saddle, 1700, and Dow is bermed with concrete barriers.  The other potential ways in now have locked gates with no trespassing signs at (47.43676, -123.21622) and (47.42468, -123.20073), so even hiking in is out.

There might be a way in from the west side using power company roads but the sat images aren't encouraging.

My three summit day plan was for naught. The road from highway 119 (47.47079, -123.21280) to Saddle, 1700, and Dow is bermed with concrete barriers.  The other potential ways in now have locked gates with no trespassing signs at (47.43676, -123.21622) and (47.42468, -123.20073), so even hiking in is out.

There might be a way in from the west, under the power lines, but the sat images weren't encouraging. 

My three summit day plan was for naught. The road from highway 119 (47.47079, -123.21280) to Saddle, 1700, and Dow is bermed with concrete barriers.  The other potential ways in now have locked gates with no trespassing signs at (47.43676, -123.21622) and (47.42468, -123.20073), so even hiking in is out.

There might be a way in from the west, under the power lines, but the sat images weren't encouraging.