Little Giant Pass

After chasing larches again in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on Saturday of this last fall hiking weekend, I headed north into the Glacier Peak Wilderness for the first time. I'm hoping to return to this rugged and remote area next year for backpacking! This time, I decided to tackle the prickly and well guarded Little Giant Pass, renowned for its incredible autumn colors. This trail can only be hiked in the late summer or early fall since it requires fording a small river which is too dangerous any other time of year. Once you cross the river, it's one of the steepest trails I've ever hiked, climbing 4,000ft in just over four miles. The reward is the summit view into the mysterious Napeequa River Valley, which descends from Glacier Peak and is one of the most remote and pristine places in the Northwest.