Or so I’ve heard.

All I know is that I was legal because I had my National Parks pass hanging from my rear view mirror.

During a previous vacation I had mentioned that I didn’t need to get high. I prefer the intimacy of walking by a creek under the forest canopy. But as I was starting to plan this trip I began to eagerly anticipate getting up to alpine scenery. It’s been so many years since we’ve taken a summer trip. I do much better shooting spring and fall water scenes, which you usually see me posting. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of what I upload is macro wildflower shots since I’m so bad at shooting grand vistas. Well no matter, since I plan on enjoying being up at high places whether I get any good pictures or not.

The Cascade Pass trail starts out switchbacking up a forested slope, so we got to enjoy a hike with both forest and alpine views. There was plenty of shade, and the temperature was in the low 70s. While in the forest we could hear rumbling as the sections of ice across the way on Johannesburg Mountain crumbled. The trail breaks out of the forest and hikers are treated to very fine views down the valley.

As you can see in the photograph, the sky was a bit overcast by this time. The trail soon comes to Cascade Pass. There were a few patches of snow off the trail here. The overlook area is small, and the promised meadows were tiny and hardly worth the name. However, we did get to see plenty of wildflowers today. The trail continues on, but that was where we stopped.

There is a sky toilet up here, but a sign indicated that it was full. Too bad. Who doesn’t want to use the restroom unencumbered by walls? A sign next to the toilet commanded, “Pee here”. Who was I to refuse so stern a command?

On our way back down, while we were still on non-forested slopes with grand vistas, we finally got to see small areas of ice on the steep slopes of Johannesburg Mountain crumbling. We started counting switchbacks on the way down, but I’ve already forgotten the number. I think it was around 34 or so.

During our drive home we saw a bear on the side of Cascade River Road. I would much rather see one from the safety of a moving vehicle versus on a trail. Of course he had no reason to be up high since the huckleberries aren’t close to being ripe. No word on whether the marmots and pikas living on the scree slopes are ready to eat. I know that we are. Millions of mosquitoes and flies can’t be wrong.