Words and photography by Chris MacMurray
@chrismacmurray

Living in the Pacific Northwest comes with an inextricable trade off. For mountain and alpine enthusiasts, there is arguably no better place to reside in North America. Active volcanoes and vast ranges of jaw-dropping mountain peaks abound, all within a few hour’s drive from major cities like Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. Yet, the majority of these spectacles are typically accessible for only three months within a calendar year. Additionally, those nine months of inaccessibility are notorious for producing an abundance of gloomy overcast skies and pestering rain showers. It’s no surprise then that, once the alpine snows melt and the sun returns from hibernation, everyone and their mom runs full speed for the mountains. Because, in the statement’s truest sense, the mountains are finally calling.

Having lived in the PNW for my entire life, I have often taken my proximity to these beautiful destinations for granted. I vowed that the summer of 2022 would be my most adventurous yet, and to refrain from making any excuses that would defer me from exploring the beauty residing in my backyard. I spent much of the winter and spring seasons planning various itineraries; returning across our northern border to backpack in Garibaldi Provincial Park, venturing across the state to wander into the remote wilderness that is the North Cascades National Park, and making campground reservations in Mount Rainier National Park during peak wildflower season. I had everything planned to ensure that my summer would be full of backcountry days spent in the alpine.

However, my plans were quickly upended and deterred due to a late and wet spring in the PNW, which resulted in a lingering snowmelt that extended into early August. This extended inaccessibility to most of my desired travel locations, thus causing me to postpone or cancel my itineraries. As I worked tirelessly on rescheduling these trips, many of the friends I had recruited to accompany me on the trail were unable to adjust their schedules to join me. In any other summer, I would have given up on my plans to travel if I wouldn’t be joined by a companion. Despite my preference of not traveling alone, I forced myself out of my comfort zone and committed to my goal of making the most of the opportunities I had to venture into the backcountry. Yet, my window of time for rescheduling my itineraries was rapidly narrowing. So, given the three parks’ proximity to one another, it made the most logistical sense to reschedule them back to back to back.

Miraculously, it all fell into place perfectly. By a chance of luck or divine intervention, I came across a canceled reservation and was able to secure a two-night backcountry reservation for Sahale Glacier Camp—an itinerary I had unsuccessfully tried to acquire for three straight years. The reservation dates for Sahale landed one day before my two-night reservation in Garibaldi Provincial Park. To top it off, I called the Paradise Visitor’s Center at Mount Rainier and was informed that the wildflowers were nearly at full bloom. My itinerary was scheduled to unfold over nine straight days:

-Three days in Mount Rainier National Park.

-Three days backpacking in North Cascades National Park

-Three days backpacking in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Throughout my trip, I encountered some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen and met some delightful individuals along various trails. I was not only reminded of why we endure the perpetual gloom of Pacific Northwest winters and shoulder seasons, but also convinced that nothing quite rivals a summer exploring the thousands of miles in the PNW high country. With all of this profound natural beauty practically in my backyard, I’ll be hard-pressed to reside anywhere else in the foreseeable future.