Okanogan National Forest/Hart's Pass

We hiked out from Thunder Creek and headed east....spending a night in Kkipchick Campground.  Then up and on the road -- determined to get to the Forest Service office in Winthrop.  They would advise on current conditions for our next planned adventure up to Oval Lakes, near Twisp.  The creeks were still running high & I am not at all keen on any creek crossings .... so we needed a new plan.

The Forest Service ranger suggested that rather than HIKE to high elevation we DRIVE up there and day hike or back pack in more "level" country.  Now that was a concept we both eagerly embraced!  The entry ticket was about 10 miles of a 1 lane, gravel, washboard road taking us to Hart's Pass (6,400 feet) from Winthrop (2,000 feet).  All told it took us more than an hour of slow going, at times using our 4 wheel drive capability.

We arrived and found a campsite -- just as the wind was really starting to pick up and gray clouds filled the sky.  We had expected cooler temps with a change in the weather, but we totally did not plan on the honking wind.  The tent was up, the car camping sleeping bags unpacked, and a quick dinner before trying to get warm in the tent at 7:30pm.  Even in our sleeping bags with long underwear and hats on -- we were cold.  So brave Alan decided to make a dash to the car and pull out our down backpacking bags -- good for zero degree weather.  I was grateful when he returned and I put the down bag inside the lighter weight bag....finally feeling warm.  In the middle of the night, Alan got up and peeked outside:  SNOW FLAKES!    Oh my, a bit more weather than we counted on.

But finally morning came, and eventually the sun warmed us up.  Enough to think about a day hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.

A Fabulous Trail