Sahale Peak

Jul 17, 2023

Last week I went on a climbing trip to Sahale Peak in the Boston Basin area of North Cascades National Park. Sahale Peak is known for its stunning views, and I was looking forward to photography more so than the climb.  Unfortunately, my team and I ran into poor weather. Despite it being mid-summer, the day we went was cold and rainy, and we were unable to reach the summit.

We started our hike from the trailhead near the end of Cascade River Road. The trail was steep and challenging, and it began to rain as we were hiking. By the time we reached Boston Basin, we were wet and cold. We set up camp in the rain and tried to stay warm. Unfortunately, my tent fly was damaged, so rain was getting inside. I made a temporary repair with a plastic bag, and hoped for the best.

Hope is a good thing. The rain stopped and the clouds barely parted, giving me a glimpse of the sun. It was amazing how much a bit of sunshine could lift my spirits! I took some photos during that time, but they were mostly just a grey blur. I didn't get any of the grand views that I had read so much about. After a short while, the clouds and mist rolled back in, but luckily, it didn't rain.

We planned on climbing early the next morning. Unfortunately, we woke to almost no visibility. To be safe, we waited another hour, during which time it the mist became even heavier. We really couldn’t delay climbing any further, so we decided to be safe and call off the summit attempt. We packed up and made it home in time to watch the All Star Game.

We planned on climbing early the next morning. Unfortunately, we woke to almost no visibility. To be safe, we waited another hour, during which time it the mist became even heavier. We really couldn’t delay climbing any further, so we decided to be safe and call off the summit attempt. We packed up and made it home in time to watch the All Star Game.

Even though we didn't make it to the summit, I still had a great time. The North Cascades are beautiful, and I'll be back next year to try Sahale Peak again. Actually, I’ll be back in a few days for an attempt on Glacier Peak, but more about that later.