Seattle to Winthrop
I like to tell anyone who will listen that hamburgers are not the national food of the USA, but on a recent trip to Seattle, I couldn’t turn down a Dick’s burger. So, okay. They are a kind of national pride, but I contend it’s these small chain, but still fast food, burgers that are the ones you want if you are looking for the Authentic American Burger Experience TM.
After many years of living in Washington State and bearing witness to the confusion created by the state having the same name as the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., I want to emphasize for those not familiar that I was close to Canada in the north by the Pacific Ocean, not the national capital near the Atlantic Coast.
As I am accustomed, I spent some nice time in the city of Seattle, but found joy and adventure on a drive into the wilder reaches to the east of the Cascade Mountains. This time, my trusty travel buddy Madeline, her husband Adam, and giant doggie Leroy, and I all set out to travel one of the most beautiful drives in the world, Highway 20 through the North Cascades.
The first time that Madeline and I drove this road, we were actually driving to Canada for the Fourth of July. Everything was booked up on the US side of the border because we hadn’t planned ahead so we figured we would head across the border. At the border the office asked, “So, are you coming for the Fourth of July?”
Me, disappointed, “ Oh, you celebrate it too?”
Canadian officer, more disappointed, “No, we don’t.”
The night before that unfortunate exchange, we camped overnight near Falls Creek in the Methow Valley on our way to the border and that campsite was our loose destination for this trip.
If you ever do the HWY 20 drive through the North Cascades, you must stop on the HWY 20 drive overlook and parking lot. It is after you enter the national park, but before you get to Diablo Lake. There is also a small walking trail and some pit toilets for the sturdy of constitution. Appreciate what you get. You are stopping for the view, not the amenities.
I have personally never camped in the North Cascade National Park, only on the eastern side of the mountains in the summer months. I am just cold avoidant, ya know?
On the eastern side of the North Cascades, you are going to find three towns, all very cool in their own right. Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp constitute the towns of the Methow Valley where the river runs through. Each has a flavor, but the communities are very connected too.
Winthrop probably has the most distinct flavor for tourism appeal, as in it is a campy Western-theme town. That is where we were staying at a hotel. The ultimate glamorous camping is simply day camping, right?
The river was running clear and true despite some damaging wildfires in recent years. There were warnings to take care for flash floods and erosion in the river. Lucky for us, we happened upon a perfect sunny weekend with a fast, but steady river.
More in Part 2.
