Enjoyed a 12-mile round trip hike up to the Sahale Glacier, despite the heavy crowds. Sure would be nice to see some national park staff safeguarding such a precious resource, but these are unprecedented times. The huckleberry and blueberry created a spectacular display of color on the high alpine slopes, signaling that fall is here. Missed seeing the mountain goats, but I suspect they have moved to lower elevations. Meanwhile, ptarmigan and marmots chirped and grazed. The dramatic peaks and U-shaped valleys are quintessential North Cascades scenery formed from tectonic collisions between the Pacific and North American Plates and extensive glaciation. Soon the first snows will arrive.