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North Cascades National Park - Washington

North Cascades National Park is a vast protected area in Washington, encompassing over 500,000 acres of recreational land, forests, and wilderness. Within the park, the Sahale Glacier, an offshoot of the Cascade Pass Trail, is becoming increasingly popular with hikers. There are some incredible alpine views to be had, but reaching them requires hiking through steep and dense forest. Additionally, the hike reaches an elevation of over 7,500 feet, which can lead to altitude sickness for some hikers.

Shutterstock/Stephen Moehle

The biggest risk, however, comes from sudden avalanches that are known to occur throughout the year. The challenging terrain also makes it extremely difficult for rescue teams to access when necessary.