Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cascade Pass work party this Saturday CANCELLED!

You may have been glancing at the weather forecasts and wondered about this Saturday up at Cascade Pass. So have we! After discussing with the National Park Service, we've decided to cancel this Saturday's planned work party at Cascade Pass. Sorry, but it just didn't make sense to try to go up there in the pouring rain with snow already on the ground up at the Pass.

We may be fortunate enough to have warmer weather that melts the snow up at the Pass, followed by a clearer, warmer weekend in October. If so we may try to do this then and we'll send another email notice a few days in advance.  If the snow at the Pass doesn't melt but the weather is fair, we might also consider a native vegetation planting work party at a lower elevation near the Environmental Learning Center at Diablo Lake. Please email us at ncccinfo@northcascades.org if you would be interested in participating in a rescheduled work party.

Until then, enjoy your Autumn, try to get out and enjoy the North Cascades, and stay warm and dry!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Join an NCCC work party and see Cascade Pass

Join an NCCC work party and see Cascade Pass

Saturday, September 28
meet at 9:00 AM in Marblemount at the Native Plant Nursery, next to the Wilderness Information Center (the Marblemount Ranger Station - click here for a map). 











Join other NCCC members and friends for a National Park Service work party on Saturday, September 28! Beginning at 9:00 am at the Ranger Station in Marblemount, we will be working with the National Park Service staff, packing subalpine plants up to Cascade Pass, and planting them in an old trail that is being decommissioned at the Pass. We can also provide work at the Cascade Pass trailhead parking area for anyone who does not want to hike up to the Pass. As you may have heard, the recent Cascade River Road washout was quickly repaired and the Road is open to its end. We will meet at 9:00 AM in Marblemount at the Native Plant Nursery, next to the Wilderness Information Center (the National Park Service’s Marblemount Ranger Station - click here for a map).  Bring a bigger pack if you have one, for carrying plants; the Park Service will also provide packs. We will load plants there, then carpool to the Cascade Pass trailhead, then hike with the plants up to the Pass. Other questions? email us at ncccinfo@northcascades.org


This should be scenic, rewarding and fun!
As you may know, NCCC has a long history of revegetation efforts at Cascade Pass, which historically had been heavily damaged by overuse by the time North Cascades National Park was created in 1968. NCCC members Joe and Margaret Miller invented the methods that the Park Service now uses to restore fragile alpine meadows. The native plant nursery in Marblemount is even named after the Millers! So not only will you visit a beautiful place and help restore it, you'll be walking in the footsteps of NCCC founders.

Cascade Pass plant restoration is an NCCC success story, so come help us continue the good work, and enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the North Cascades!