I enjoyed Ken Knittle's report of his trip to Silver Star Mt in
Skamania/Clark counties, and it reminded me of backpacking trips near
Silver Star Mountain in Okanogan County, just east of Washington Pass
[DeLorme p. 98 & p. 112; USGS maps of the area are far more detailed].
A mile south of Rainy Pass on Highway 20 we'd leave the car and head
south on the Pacific Crest Trail, cross State Creek at about 3/4 mile
and head east on the Copper Pass Trail, which winds for a mile through
the woods, then breaks into the open with a steep 800-foot elevation
gain and then leads east above Copper Creek on an open slope with good
views of Stiletto Peak -- and many others -- to the south. From Copper
Pass (about 5 miles from the parking place, elevation c. 6,000 feet) a
scramble up the mountainside to the north gives a view of Washington
Pass with Highway 20 far below, Early Winters Spires close up and Silver
Star Mountain off to the east -- like a lot of views from high points in
the North Cascades, this one richly rewards the effort of getting there.
This is an easy overnighter for backpackers, and -- with an early start
-- a one-day trip for hikers.

On this trail we've seen Lazuli Bunting at the top of the steep trail
section, Black Swifts racing up canyon ahead of an approaching
rainstorm, Spruce Grouse and a surprising Yellow-headed Blackbird in the
basin below Copper Pass, American Pipit in lingering snowfields below
the pass, and Pine Grosbeak on the shoulder of Stiletto Peak southwest
of the pass. Returning to the Pacific Crest Trail via Dagger Lake or
over the old lookout site at Stiletto Peak (c. 7,200 feet) we've had
looks at Olive-sided Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed and Mountain
Chickadees, Brown Creeper, Hairy and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Cassin's
Finch and Evening Grosbeak -- and a 15 second close encounter with a
Pine Marten, who ultimately decided we weren't worth his time and vanished.

Paul Webster
Seattle
paul.webster at attbi.com