AMC August Camp

AMC August Camp 2006

August Camp 2006 completed, and made the local News in Skagit Valley: .

Press this link for Skagit Valley Herald Article - Appalachia Out West

NORTH CASCADES - July 15 - August 12

View of Mt Baker at Right in Distance from North Cascades

Session I - July 15-July 29

Session II - July 29- August 12

August Camp in July or August, 2006, was held in the North Cascades National Park, located in the northwestern corner of the United States. The North Cascades complex, which consists of a national park, several national recreation areas and national forests, contains over 300 miles of hiking trails, on 684,000 acres, 93% of which is designated wilderness..

Our campsite was on the banks of a popular rafting destination, the swift-flowing Skagit River (pronounced SKAJ-it), in the shadow of 10,781-foot Mt. Baker, a former volcano which supports 20 miles of glaciers. Scenic hiking trails on the south side of Baker are close to Camp. We were adjacent to the North Cascades Highway, considered the most scenic mountain drive in Washington.

Early Registration for August Camp 2007 will start in November, 2006

Camp Facilities:

The camp furnishes the basics: sleeping tents (12x12 foot Eureka wall tents that are large enough to stand and walk around in, but do not have a floor or mosquito netting; (participants are encouraged to provide some sort of mosquito protection ), two cots per tent, water buckets and wash basins. Campers should bring their own pillow, sleeping bag and thermal pad, "sun shower," clothing and personal items (including camp chair, musical instruments or art/painting supplies, if desired). Shower stalls are provided, for using one’s "sun shower." A hot shower feels great after a day of hiking. "Tillies" (the toilets) are either of the composting variety or "porta-potties," depending on the site. There is no electricity at camp. An emergency 800 number is checked for messages daily by the staff, but there is no telephone at camp, and the use of cell phones in camp is discouraged.

Typical View of Camp

Food:

August Camp is famous for its food: both its bounty and its taste. Multi-course hot breakfasts and suppers are served in the dining tent. Campers prepare their own trail lunches each morning from a buffet of goodies. We aim for a healthy, well-balanced diet, but there are no special accommodations for individual dietary requests. In the past vegetarians have found ample food to meet their needs. Cooking is done by the cook and "croo" in a well-equipped kitchen, with gas stoves/ovens. The kitchen’s refrigerator is for the use of the cooking staff only. Campers can bring their own coolers, if desired. Drinking water is provided.

"Croo" busily prepares a delicious meal for hungry campers

Hiking and Other Activities in North Cascades Area:

North Cascades Hiking

While our camp will be located at only 750 feet above sea level, the North Cascades Highway starts climbing a little east of Camp, running alongside the Skagit River, to cross the Pacific Crest (and the Pacific Crest Trail) at 4,855 feet above sea level.

Looking from the top of the Pacific Crest toward Mt. Baker, you can see the dark green of the trees capped by the white of the glacier-topped mountains. You will see high, jagged peaks, ridges, slopes, and countless cascading waterfalls. The glaciers are scored by crevasses, permanent snowfields, sheer-walled cliffs, spires and pinnacles. There are more than 1,700 species of plants to be seen on high mountain passes and in alpine meadows, plus many ferns and fungi, hundreds of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Our main activity will be hiking, on the many beautiful trails in the various wildernesses, National Forests, National Parks and National Recreations Areas, from the slopes of Mt. Baker to the quiet of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, to the top of the Pacific Crest.

However, there will also be opportunities to participate in additional activities: one-day, two-day or even three-day events, the cost of which is not included in your August Camp fee.

Some of the possibilities at this unique location, on the border of Canada, are:

Rafting trips on the Skagit River. There is a take-out at the edge of Camp.
A possible three-day, two-night, camping trip into one of the wilderness areas.
Get up close to the glaciers on Mt. Baker at the Glacier Public Service Center. On a clear day you can see the Strait of Georgia and the mountains of Vancouver Island to the west, British Columbia's Coast Range, the Border Peaks and the Cheam to the north, and Mt. Shuksan to the east.
Make a two-day visit to Vancouver BC, with its beautiful flower gardens, see the forests and trails in Stanley Park ( in the heart of the city) totem poles and world-renowned anthropological museum. (Bring your passport to cross the international border.)
Visit the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington: hiking, biking, diving, kayaking, gourmet food, breathtaking views of islands, Vancouver, the Cascade and Olympic ranges, Puget Sound. See orca whales, visit a lavender spa and a lavender farm (drink lavender-infused lemonade). Visit a llama farm. Learn about the "Pig War."
Go boating on one of the artificial lakes from which the Skagit River gets its water: Diablo Lake, or the 24 mile long, 2 mile wide, Ross Lake, which extends into Canada.
There may also be an opportunity to visit Lake Chelan, in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. This is a long, natural lake, set in a glacier-carved trough. At 1,500 feet deep, it is one of the nation's deepest lakes. Its bottom lies 400 feet below sea level.

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