My North Cascades Story - On My Bucket List

By Kitty Craig, North Cascades Program Manager for The Wilderness Society

Being born and raised on Puget Sound in a water-loving family, our adventures into the North Cascades were limited as a kid. I spent plenty of time skiing at Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass in the winter, and I have a vivid memory of my dad driving too close to the edge while descending into Mazama on the North Cascades Highway (I actually have a more vivid memory of how upset my mother was!). But, all in all, my adventures have been as an adult, looking for rewarding day hikes and perfect campsites. 

Two places hold a special place in my heart in the North Cascades: Lake Serene and the Icicle Valley. My now husband and I had our first hiking date (is that what Northwesterners do?) up to Lake Serene. We discovered we were well matched in our speed on that hike—hike up fast, rejoice in the view, and run down (I don’t do this anymore!).

My introduction to the eastside and to Icicle Valley really began as my work started to focus more in the greater Wenatchee area. Numerous times I would extend my work trip over the weekend to enjoy the Icicle Valley and all of its great campsites, hikes, and picturesque views. One such weekend my now husband surprised me with not a great campsite, but a luxurious B&B where he had grand plans to propose—what a surprise! I accepted in disbelief on the banks of the Icicle River.  

While there are so many more places to discover in the North Cascades, one destination on the top of my bucket list is the Enchantments. Someday soon I will hike through the Enchantments, rejoicing in the views, steep climbs, and beauty of it all.