Bruce emailed some of us that he had a spot open for Sahale, this was amazing because it is a popular climb. Andrew drove me and Dan and Darin up in his 1980's Subaru. We got coffee in Sedro-Wolley the gateway to the North Cascades and went on to Mablemount. Bruce had to get up there the day before to get our permits, what a guy! When we met him at the Ranger Station he had Krispy Kreme dough nuts for all of us and also the rangers. We had to bring bear cans at the rangers request.
There was a doe and her fawns and they were at the campgound looking for food. They seemed rather food conditioning and didn't seem to mind people.
When we got to the trail head we saw a group of four Mazamas females that were also going up to Sahale. The first part of our hike was rather moderate, and I got to know the rest our climb party. We heard an avalanche somewhere in the distance.
We stopped at Cascade Pass for a break. We met a ranger up there. I was felling good even though I'd been up since early that night. When we got toward Sahale arm we saw a buck. Like the deer we saw in the parking lot we wasn't very afraid of us. They're were Marmot's too, this might have been my first Marmot experience up close, I don't think they have them in Oregon.
We finally made it to camp on Sahale Glacier. We picked the campsite with the ground and left Dan, Andrew, and to camp in the snow. Ted had a MSR Hubba Hubba which worked out great, it had two doors.
Also at our camp were Mountain Goats, about three of them. They liked liking pee off of the rocks. On Sahale Arm there was a solar toilet, which was the best views you've ever taken
They climb was moderate and only at the very top did I learn another technique and low and high dagger with my ice ax. From there we rested at the foot of the summit block while Bruce got ready to lead. The climb to the summit there was maybe two difficult moves.
Then I rappelled down. I did much better than I did at Horsethief Butte.
The views from Sahale were so beautiful, I really love the North Cascades, it's like a mini Alps. We made it down to camp and relaxed for an hour before heading out. We got back just before dark. We wanted to have a beer but no place was open. It was 4 am when I arrived home.
Some of these photos are taken from my team and are copyrighted.
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