Cascade Pass

Infobox Mountain Pass
Name = Cascade Pass
Photo = Cascade pass.jpg
Caption = Sahale Arm north of Cascade Pass, looking towards Pelton Peak, Yawning Glacier and Magic Mountain
Elevation = convert|5392|ft|m
Location= Washington, USA
Range = Cascades
Coordinates = coord|48|28.1|N|121|3.6|W|type:pass_region:US-WA_elevation:1643|display=inline,title
Topographic

Traversed by = Cascade Pass Trail

Cascade Pass (formerly also known as Skagit Pass [Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., "An Illustrated History of the State of Washington", The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1893, p. 284-286.] [ [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8D705E08-4DA8-425B-97ED-96ACE4E4B21A/0/WashingtonHwys_Sept1972.pdf "North Cascades Highway" Dedication Issue] , "Washington Highways" (Washington State Department of Transportation), September 1972, p. 4. Accessed online 12 September 2008.] ) is a convert|5392|ft|m|adj=on mountain pass over the northern Cascade Range, east of Marblemount, Washington, U.S.

Although an important pass, providing the easiest connection from the Cascade River to the head of Lake Chelan, it is now part of the North Cascades National Park, and crossed by only a hiking trail.

From the west, one reaches it by hiking an easy 3.5 mile trail from the end of the Cascade River Road (elev. convert|3600|ft|m). From the east, it is accessible via a trail from Stehekin up the Stehekin River valley.

The summit of the pass, being at tree line, is known for its views in all directions. It is also a key departure point for mountaineering; to the north, the gentle ridge of the Sahale arm leads up to Sahale Peak, as well as to the meadows of Boston Basin and the summits above. To the south, Mixup Arm leads to Mixup Peak and Magic Mountain, as well as to Cache Col, making Cascade Pass the start of the high-level Ptarmigan Traverse.

The pass was originally a major route for Native Americans trading between the coast and the interior. Among the first white men to explore and map the Skagit Pass was New York newspaperman Frank Wilkeson.

Notes

References

* Fred Beckey, "", pp. 332-333
* Harvey Manning and Ira Spring, "101 Hikes in the North Cascades" (The Mountaineers, 1979), pp 80-81