June 3, 2003, Sahale, Cascade Pass

This tour is capital 'S' scenic. We parked at the closed gate about MP 22 on the Cascade River Road. Put on skins near Cascade Pass parking lot (~2 mile hike). Ascended to Cascade Pass in left-center of bowl (did not use the summer trail). I would have appreciated an ice axe at a 100 vf step (but made do with a ski used as an alpenstock). I put on my ski crampons at times (because my new-this-season Black Diamond Ascension skins do not climb well when wet. To make matters worse, as several friends have also experienced with these skins, they are shedding their glue. Anyone have a skins recommendation?) Continued up Sahale Arm to rock base of summit pyramid (about 100 vf below summit). Avalanche hazard was concern on first pitch, but not much chased us down. Very nice skiing top to bottom. No one else (except two hikers at Cascade Pass and several marmots). 6200 vf.