I got to Goodell putin at 9am and rigged my cataraft. The rest of the group has been here since Thursday

Orion has a 6 boat float today

On the water at 11:51am

One of Orion's peeps is mulling over the "eddy is like a lake" speech

Looking upstream at the Newhalem bridge

One of the few rapids

Mountains above Goodell Creek

Fishing stop

Pulling in a fish

The Skagit still has some logs to dodge

2 are fishing the 3rd is on the oars

Lunch stop at Damnation Creek

Even got a picnic table, and Pete provided the lunch. Thanks Pete!

On the water again

Damnation Creek

Pete and PJ clear the first part of the S-curves

My view going in

Al rows Coop and Jim into the waves

Part 2

Sometimes it's tough to take clear shots while bouncing thru the waves

Part 3

The bridge remnants are the last of the rapids

Orion's timid jumpers

The float out

Copper Creek takeout in the distance

I'm in at 3:22pm before the rush

Al waits patiently at 4:02pm, waiting for Orion to clear. I had already packed, and decided it was best to get out of the melee and return to camp

Even though the entrance sign is upstream of the takeout, the Map shows the Copper Creek takeout within the park boundaries

Back at camp, dinner setup in progress

The rib-eye steaks go onto the grill. I took some flak for opting for the oriental chicken salad I brought instead

From campsite beach, evening upstream

...and downstream

Campfire entertainment

Next morning. No signs of life yet at 8:03am

On the Cascade Pass Road at 9:20am, Looking down at the Class IV-V+ Cascade River. Ran it once in 1990, and never had any desire to do it again

From Cascade river overlook

The "American Alps"

Didn't even get out of the truck for this one :)

Viewpoint

2nd shot

From the trailhead parking area 10:11am

Zooming in

Looking pretty high

The trail switchbacks were pretty well shaded

Breathtaking

Gaining altitude

Zooming in was not that impressive

Even more spectacular as I get higher and higher

Cascade Peak and Johannesburg Mtn.

Closeup of glacial breakup

Looking Up

... and way down

Can't get enough

Last shot before heading back down. I had made it through all the switchbacks, and was in the open more level terrain, baking in the heat!

Fungus shot taken shortly after a trail mishap. While stepping on a soft dirt patch about 3/4 of the way down, the trail gave way, and I stumbled and rolled and tumbled a few feet while grabbing the vegetation to stop

The soft dirt mixes quite nicely with the sunscreen layers

USGS Flow at 08/25/2012 12:00 PDT 3,700 CFS 83.39' 11.0C (51.8F)