The Art of Deception (Creek), 6.15.18
While many of my reports highlight the incredible views seen from the summits of peaks and high ridges that we have in abundance here in the North Cascades, the rivers that carve their way through these peaks and ridges capture the same wild ruggedness as higher up.
Deception Creek retains a bit of the wildness that permeated the Cascades long ago. It is a lonesome trail up a lonesome valley. Right next door on the other side of the ridge to the east is a similar valley trail with two beautiful lakes along the way. But Deception Creek has none of that. Once on the trail, you are immersed in a lush world of old growth timber stands, drippy moss covered nurse logs, new tree shoots growing out of them like some alien parasites, strangely shaped fungus growth that seems to cling to anything and of course Deception Creek itself, hardly a quiet little flow of water trickling through the forest. On the contrary, in the late spring runoff season, it is more a wild river, the roar of the rushing water filling the air as it cataracts its way down past huge bright green mossed-covered boulders and over countless cataracts as the rugged terrain drops in elevation.
Bridge over Deception Creek near the trailhead
Morning dew on tree fungus
Fungdrops
Bridgit and I hiked on a Friday and at 8:30AM we were the only car in the lot. We saw no one hiking in and only two parties of two as we hiked out. Deception Creek is typical Cascade trail. At times almost covered in undergrowth, the way through the forest was mostly a steep ascent through roots and rocks, climbing about 1,100’ in the first mile and a half. After a couple of miles of climbing, the trail then drops to a log bridge crossing a side creek that flows off Tonga Ridge to Deception Creek.
The bridge over Sawyer Creek
After many decades of clear-cutting, there are not a ton of places you can still find some old-growth timber stands. We passed by many fine huge trees and I am always amazed by the size some of these trees grow to.
Father and Son
Lots of spring flowers added to the lushness that surrounded us.
One of many different types of flowers along the trail
This trail would be very difficult to hike in the late summer as the entire way the trail was lined with huckleberry and blueberry bushes. I’ll have to remember this as a good place to go berry picking this season.
Bridgit in some big woods
Only about a half mile from the trailhead, a bridge crosses Deception Creek. This was a very nice spot to relax for a bit on the way back.
Bridge over Deception Creek
No big mountain views, no expansive horizons, a hike like this forces you to heighten your awareness of your immediate surroundings. It is a more intimate hike and we were glad we went.