Most of the posts on this site are from recent outings, but in mid-winter, I sometimes go back to fill in the gaps reporting on past hikes.   Monument 83 is one of these.   I ran from the trailhead to the top and back, a total of 32 km.

The trailhead starts at the Monument 78/83 parking lot, which is east of the Park headquarters, but not as far as the Hampton Campground.   The trailhead is well-signed and follows a fire road for about 3km.   A bridge over the Chuwanten River is crossed and the trail climbs steadily for the next 12 km.   This is a trail that we can snowshoe, cross country ski, mountain bike, run, or hike.   Near the top a fork bears east, heading across the Pasayten Wilderness over to Cathedral Lakes (on the Centennial Trail).   The final section is a rounded mountaintop meadow with views to the North Cascades. The US border is just a few steps down the slope to the south.   An old fire tower still stands on the US side and there is a cabin on the Canadian side.

This is not a choice destination hike, Much of the route is a long fireroad through the forest and the beetle kill has made this uninteresting.   The last part is steeper, but there are no dramatic view or interesting ridges.   We just continue to climb a sloping plateau to the highest point.   The meadow on top is quite small – 225 m by x 100 m.   The trail is buggy in July so wait until later in the summer.   If you are going to Manning, the best hikes are the Heather Trail (Four Brothers), Mt. Frosty, and the Skyline Trail, harder hikes, but more rewarding.

Coordinates:

• Parking/trailhead – N49 03.389 W120 44.157
• Bridge crossing (over the Chuwanten) – N50 02.154 W120 43.133
• Monument 83 (Holdover Peak) – N49 00.064 W120 38.768

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