Cascade Pass Hike

Hike up to Cascade Pass with Michelle. Brian, Aidan, and Aliya turned back about 1/3 of the way up due to crazy, biting black flies which didn't vanish until the last bit of the hike. The view, which is normally awesome, was whitewashed by all the smoke blowing down from Canadian wildfires.
img_4128 Everybody wildly swatting themselves with whatever clothes they had to keep the biting flies away. It didn't really work.
Everybody wildly swatting themselves with whatever clothes they had to keep the biting flies away. It didn't really work.
img_4129 The haze from the forest fires definitely detracted from what is normally an amazing mountain view.
The haze from the forest fires definitely detracted from what is normally an amazing mountain view.
img_4132 Zoe, with her recent haircut, making her way up.
Zoe, with her recent haircut, making her way up.
img_4133 Nice little spot on the way marred by the facial expression of the gremlin on the right.
Nice little spot on the way marred by the facial expression of the gremlin on the right.
img_4134 Getting close to the top now.
Getting close to the top now.
img_4136 Into the snow fields just short of Cascade Pass.
Into the snow fields just short of Cascade Pass.
img_4137 Looking back down the trail and the unbelievable smoke in the valley.
Looking back down the trail and the unbelievable smoke in the valley.
img_4138 At Cascade Pass looking down the other side that heads out to Stehekin.
At Cascade Pass looking down the other side that heads out to Stehekin.
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img_4141 Craxer family shot at the top of Cascade Pass.
Craxer family shot at the top of Cascade Pass.
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img_4144 Everybody looking for their ideal lunch spot.
Everybody looking for their ideal lunch spot.
img_4145 Time to head back down into the smoke.
Time to head back down into the smoke.