Our campground was just outside the small community of Twisp in the Methow Valley. This artsy little town is the home of the North Cascades Smokejumper Base as well as about 3-4 neat bars like the Antlers.

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Off in the jeep we went to discover whatever the backcountry held. We climbed from the Methow River on the valley floor up into pine forest.

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We found beautiful Black Pine Lake...

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...and cute little cougar lake.

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Our site at the Riverbend was right on the Methow River. The sound of the river flowing past the camp was so soothing. We took advantage of the fact that there was no fire ban in this area and had a campfire.

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The little town of Winthrop looks like the set from a Western movie, with false-front wooden buildings, hitching rails and boardwalks creating the illusion of a 19th century frontier town. For some reason, being in Winthrop made us think of Julian.

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We decided this was the year to cross the Cascade Mountains via Route 20, the North Cascade Highway. It was not until 1972 that a modern road traversed this rugged stretch of mountains. Great walls of granite sweep upward to Kangaroo Ridge, Early Winters Spires and Silver Star Mountain.

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As we drove we were treated to an ever-changing display of waterfalls, alpine meadows, snowfields, mountain lakes and thick stands of timber. Although I've tried, it's difficult to fully capture the intensity and drama of this area on film.

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Seattle City Light has harnessed the turbulent power of water through their hydro project on Diablo Lake. The color of the lake is a result of rock flour, which is caused by dust flaking off boulders as they crash about in the turbulent water of the rivers and creeks flowing down the steep mountains. One often sees this condition in areas with glaciers.

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