The North Cascades scenic forests and mountain lakes enticed me to escape from the city a few weekends ago. So why the Cascades?
It was only a couple-hours drive from Seattle, where Internet and cell phones are usually unavailable. If you can live without them, it would be a restful haven for you. Imagine how folks from East Coast had to fly all the way to see our Cascades, and how we home folks can take advantage of it in our own backyard. We did meet an Indian American couple flying all the way from Boston just to experience the Northwest mountains. If you have not been to the Cascades lately, this is the trip you should go.
The cabins or hotels were never five or four-stars-rated. Many are cheap; ours were about $75 for me and husband and $60 for my son. You did not need much advanced notice for reservations if you are camping there instead of staying in hotels.
We hiked five miles each day in the wonderful forests of cedar, Douglas firs, hemlocks and maple trees, and occasionally spotted a bunny and deer. We ate buffalo T-bone steaks the first night at the Buffalo Inn. Despite the tough texture of the meat, it was written on the restaurant menu that it’s much healthier than beef because leaner and has less calories.
While we were admiring the serenity and of Ross and Diablo Lakes, our stomach was growling and we dreamed about dining on the lakefront. To our disappointment, we learned that there were no restaurants in the area. The next restaurant closest to us was in Marble Town, 15 miles away. We had to be content with hot dogs in a store next to a visitor center. There were few eateries in town. The Cascades have built more residences than restaurants. It has not changed that much since I visited 28 years ago.
So we ate our lunch around 4 p.m. Thunder struck and rain poured around 5 p.m. Even an umbrella and raincoat did not stop my pants from getting soaking wet. Forget about the weather forecast saying it was going to be “sunny.”
We passed by many tents on the campgrounds. How I pitied the campers locked inside their tent! Perhaps, they enjoyed listening to the dancing rain on the ground and feeling the darkness of the night!
Want to enjoy a nice break during the summer and perhaps, help the economy in your own small ways? Experience Washington state’s wilderness before the summer is over.