I’m currently writing up trip reports for several older trips from before I made this website. Kaleetan Peak will always always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first scramble…ever. The route features a steep climber’s trail in the forest, open traversing over talus fields, and an easy, solid class 3 scramble up to the summit. It’s very doable as a day hike but I decided to do it over two days so I could enjoy evening light on the mountain.

This was my first backpacking trip in the North Cascades National Park and only my second hike in the area (the first being a trip to Hidden Lake Lookout in 2015). I remember seeing a photo of the campsites at the toe of the Sahale Glacier with organized rock piles built to block out the wind and thinking to myself that I had to go there, too. As much as people like to knock on social media, it was a great way for me to learn about the popular trailed hikes when I was first starting out.