July 2025
Would you like to know my latest, top-secret, national park tip? Something besides food, water, sunscreen, socks, shoes, and hats?
Today’s tip is about the mental game of the hike. Mental fortitude is essential – especially for us weekend warriors who aim for trails that are physically challenging (and perhaps a tad unwise). My advice? Choose your pre-game travel reading material with care.
On my recent trip to North Cascades National Park, I anticipated a long travel day to Seattle. I wasn’t in the mood for a movie (Delta’s in-flight options have been underwhelming lately, and unlike you young people, I wasn’t about to download something or bring a laptop). Instead, I grabbed the book on my nightstand—my neglected book club pick—and spent the next several hours immersed in the world of Olympic ice dancing.
One of the fascinating parts of the book was getting into the mind of an Olympic athlete. The mental focus. The ability to push through physical and emotional pain. The unwavering commitment. The sacrifices. My takeaway? It’s not comfortable becoming a gold medalist.
For better or worse, I will never experience the true requirements of Olympic competition, but during this trip, I came closer than I expected.
First Impressions of the Park
North Cascades National Park is spectacular. It offers both epic hikes and jaw-dropping beauty that’s easy to access—easy in terms of physical effort, at least. The park is massive, so traveling between gems takes time, but it’s mostly by car. Competing with close-by Olympic National Park and Mount Ranier National Park, it is equally as impressive and magnificent.
The main park road, North Cascades Highway, offers scenic pull-offs and vistas worth every stop. After landing in Seattle, we drove to the western entrance, winding our way along the highway. We stopped often, snapping pictures that—like all great park photos—could never truly capture the awe of being there.
Pre-Gaming in Stehekin
The next day, we ventured to Stehekin, a remote place accessible only by boat, plane, or foot. Getting there meant a scenic drive to Lake Chelan and a ferry ride so beautiful it felt like part of the adventure.
Once in Stehekin, we rented e-bikes and wandered from one fairy-tale spot to another: a garden bursting with blooms, a charming bakery, old schoolhouses, and a misty waterfall. Lovely. Serene.
Game Day: Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm
Day three was game day—the hike that tied everything back to my “Olympic” mindset.
On paper:
- 4,000 feet of elevation gain
- 12 miles round trip
- About 8 hours
Like true Olympians, Allene and I were intimidated but not deterred. We had food, water, hats, poles, the right shoes, and even a few hours of stair-master training under our belts.
Reality check: it was hard. Because we couldn’t park near the trailhead, we added another 0.7 miles (yes, we counted) before even starting the real hike. The “8-hour” hike became 9 hours of relentless challenge—followed by two weeks of sore muscles, swollen knees, and a visit to the orthopedist.
One More Step
It may sound miserable, and parts were, but it was one of my favorite hikes ever. The scenery was like nothing I’ve seen – and I’ve seen some beautiful places. ESPN highlights would include:
- The mountain goat that literally herded us up part of the trail before rejoining its herd.
- Fluffy marmots that posed for photos, grinning as if to cheer us on.
- Wildflowers carpeting the mountain slopes in every color imaginable.
- Snow-capped peaks towering around us, ancient and vast.
- Misty morning clouds lifting to reveal sapphire skies and glittering lakes.
- Hikers giving words of encouragement and entertaining stories, helping to ease the burden with distraction.
At every hard moment—when the summit felt impossibly far, when knees and calves ached, when hunger made us dream of leftover pizza in the car—it came down to one more step.
Step by step, we reached the top. My “medal” was a swollen knee that still hasn’t forgiven me, but the reward was far greater: the quiet triumph of doing something you weren’t sure you could do. Something slightly beyond your physical and mental limits. It may be the closest moment to an Olympian I will ever have.
Closing Ceremonies
So yes—pack your sunscreen, hat, food, and poles. But also take time to pick a story, book, or inspiration that will strengthen your mental game. It just might be the thing that helps you take that one more step.