Yeah for sure. Idk if you saw my previous Shastina video but I was lamed up for a bit and was a couple weeks late getting up to Bend!

@@NattyBurroughs Nope didn't see your Shastina vid, yet. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jd6ZgtGDq5eZcWQ.html

Oof, it's hard to say. It's all a matter of perspective. I will say we did an incredible job staying on the correct route during this section. Chetwoot -> Iron Cap is mostly a long but stable boulder field. Iron Cap -> Tank Lakes has some not very fun steep bushwhacks, which I thought were the most annoying/sketchiest parts. However, I spend a lot of time traipsing around the North Cascades, so overall I thought it wasn't too bad. If you're coming from Michigan... yeah I mean it's definitely unlike anything out there I'm guessing hah.

I could give you a lot of recommendations, but you can't go wrong with Tank, Chetwoot (and the ones leading up to it), or the Enchantments. You don't need a permit for the Enchantments if you are only going up for the day (well, self-issued at TH), and you'll want to make sure to set up a car shuttle if through-hiking (whereas this route can be a loop). The Enchantments is definitely easier than the Alpine Lakes High Route.

Wanted to try over July 5th weekend, do you think the trail would be ready? Thanks for a great video man

@@kunaalabhyankar2768 hard to say. There will probably be some snow on the boulder field traverse, based on the USFS Snow Levels Map. Check that out. Hard to say exactly how much and how that would affect travel. Doesn't seem like any trip reports have come out this year on AllTrails. Different FB groups like WHC or Peakbaggers sometimes can have up-to-date beta as well.

@@NattyBurroughs thanks I called the ranger station today and they said to expect snow but for it to be doable. Planning on waiting another week then giving it a go, appreciate it bro!

August 26-28! There should be a plenty big snowpack-less window. Get psyched!

On Day 1, one person turned around on the boulder field as it got dark! That was it. Only saw three parties between Big Heart Lake and Tank Lakes at all. Definitely awesomely empty back there, unlike the Enchantments. Although weekday Enchantments still isn't too bad. Much more difficult than the Enchantments through-hike.