North Cascades National Park Expedition
October 9 – 12, 2026 | CrossNA Group Trip
🌲 Expedition Overview
From October 9 to 12, 2026, I joined the CrossNA group expedition in North Cascades National Park led by Coach Connie. You can view the full trip itinerary here.
Trip Highlights
1. First-time campfire experience! Big brother Peter gathered firewood, built, and tended the fire while everyone sang and danced around the flames.
Coach Connie teaching us a new Tibetan dance move around the campfire.
1.1 Peter sharing food with me at the campsite.
Peter feeding Patrick food at the campsite.
2. On our first night (October 9), I sang The Beatles' "And I Love Her". Everyone was completely captivated by my singing! Once again, nobody recorded it on video—I must have sung it exceptionally well!
3. Evening campfire fun during our CrossNA trip on October 11! The group gathered at Cascade Wagon Road Campground to sing along to the classic 80s hit "A Fire in Winter" (Winter's Fire by Kris Phillips / Fei Xiang).
▶ Watch Campfire Singing Video on YouTube⛺ Campground & Campsite Setup
Campsite View 1: Patrick's cyan-green (turquoise) tent set up at the far end of the campsite.
Campsite View 2: A rope-tied tarp canopy at the far end beside the Cascade River, with Big Brother Peter's mesh-sided pop-up canopy tent in the foreground.
🎨 Political Cartoon
Media Gallery
Photos & highlights across our four days of trail exploration.
October 9: Blue Lake Trail
1. Striking a model pose at Blue Lake—hands in pockets, gazing up at the sky. :)
2. Coach Connie, Liz, and I took a selfie at Blue Lake with Liberty Bell Mountain, Concord Tower, Lexington Tower, North Early Winters Spire, and Early Winters Spires in the background (all peaks soaring above 2,300 meters, resembling the famous "Five Fingers Mountain").
October 10: Maple Pass Loop
1. Patrick and Liz at Lake Ann
2. Group photo at Rainy Lake. See the apple in my left hand?
3. Liz, Lily F, Patrick, Peter, and Connie group photo at Diablo Lake Overlook.
October 11: Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm Trail
North Cascades National Park's flagship trail — Cascade Pass!
1. Liz and Patrick on Cascade Pass trail - selfie
2. Lily and Patrick on Cascade Pass trail - selfie
Featured Video Performance
YouTube
Patrick & Peter Singing "Sister, push forward without fear!"
Pushing through the tough miles on the trail! On October 11, 2026, during our CrossNA trip, Patrick and Peter sang the classic anthem “Sister, push forward without fear!” along the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm trail to boost morale and keep everyone moving forward.
4. Liz and Patrick at the end of the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm trail, the Sahale Glacier Camp.
5. Jesse and Patrick at the end of the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm trail, the Sahale Glacier Camp.
October 12: Park Butte Lookout Trail
1. The mountain towering right over the Park Butte Lookout trail—and whose massive southern slope is covered by the prominent Easton Glacier—is Mount Baker. The distinct rocky sub-peak directly bordering the left side of the upper glacier is Colfax Peak.
2. Liz and Patrick took a selfie at the Park Butte Lookout. It is a historic cabin/shelter where people can stay overnight.