Six days in the Northern Cascades gave this group of Alpengirls plenty to be proud of—big hikes, cold swims, great meals, and even better company.
From the first few miles on trail, it was clear this group knew how to have fun. We saw deer almost every day and half-joked they were becoming part of the group. Lauren kept everyone laughing, no matter how many switchbacks we had ahead of us, and Hazel took serious pride in crafting some truly impressive meal lineups while she was Leader of the Day—backcountry food never looked so organized.
Our biggest challenge came on a long 14-mile summit day, where Astrid and Finley helped set the tone and keep energy high with steady encouragement. Aubrey and Hadley carried us through some tough stretches with their constant stream of stories (Hadley knows more fun historical facts than most adults we know), and Maddie’s calm kindness helped hold everyone together across the six days.
After hard days of hiking, Eula led the charge back into the lake for a game of King of the Dock. The whole group stretched together on the dock at sunset, sharing stories and riddles that Eloise had everyone puzzling over.
One major highlight was a boat ride back across Ross Lake on day six—an actual moment of rest with incredible views—before hiking the final miles out. Kenzi soaked it in from her spot on the boat!
In true Alpengirl fashion, the group played more than their fair share of Mafia and Big Booty, ate some incredible backcountry meals (including tiramisu!), and leaned into being silly together. But they also pushed themselves—physically and emotionally—outside of what felt easy or comfortable.
By the time we hiked back to where we began, everyone knew they’d done something hard and done it together. That’s what makes these trips stick with us and keep us coming back for more!