Charles and Marion Hessey - Cascade Crest Trail

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This 16mm film is in color, with sound, with a running time around 24 minutes. Made around 1958, it shows highlights of the Cascade Crest Trail from the Columbia River to the Canadian border along with the birds and animals "that make the trail a living experience." Mt Adams is illustrated by a ski descent in early summer. The Goat Rocks are home to the southernmost substantial herd of mountain goats in America. At Hogback Mountain near White Pass, there are fine scenes of winter ski touring, including views of Mt St Helens before the 1980 eruption. Near Chinook Pass and Fifes Peaks, the Hesseys film herds of mountain goats and other wildlife. Chuck Hessey offers commentary on their behavior that reflects a lifetime of sensitive observation. There are also scenes of glaciers and goats in Mt Rainier National Park.

Back on the trail, Marion hikes from Chinook Pass to Sheep Lake, where she is reminded of winter ski trips in the area. In a flight of fancy, she opens her daypack and changes from summer shorts to ski pants, jacket and goggles. Succumbing to the call of winter, she withdraws boots, poles and skis from her tiny pack and glides away to winter scenes filmed at the head of Morse Creek.

In summer again, the journey continues northeast of Mt Rainier to Snoqualmie Pass and Dutch Miller Gap. There are scenes of Lake Ivanhoe, Robin Lakes, Stevens Pass, Glasses Lake, Lake Sally Ann, and the Glacier Peak area. Passing east of Dome Peak, the trail reaches Harts Pass and the Pasayten River. The journey ends at Monument 83 Lookout along the U.S.-Canada border.

(Digital transfer of this film was made possible by a grant from The Mountaineers Foundation. Film notes and video clip by Lowell Skoog.)