>>2621596>Going backpacking in the Cascades in Washington next month.Pro tip: Your timing probably lines up with mountain huckleberries being ripe, they are delicious to graze on in alpine meadows, enjoy.
This does slightly increase your chance to see bears, but just make some noise as you walk (bells or banging objects on pack, or talk to hiking partner) and bears will avoid you.
Ice Ax:
Unless you are actively trying to summit a peak, you wouldn't need ice axes nor even crampons.
IF you did need an ice ax, do realize that ice axes are pretty worthless solo.
The right way to use is to have multiple people hiking together who are roped up - in that case, when one person falls on a glacier (and doesn't self arrest with the ice ax, since they are surprised/whatever) the next person(s) on the rope line has a moment to secure themselves and then save the faller since they are tied up.
Anyway:
Most of the hikes people do in cascades at this time of year are below the glaciers, and the annual snow already largely melted off since its been so hot. You may need to cross small areas of annual snow in flat areas where a snow drift collected, but that is very different than a massive glacier (no crevasses, flat, etc).
I do suggest high sided boots with ankle support , and treking poles are helpful if you need to scramble across a fast flowing meltwater stream.
Also the sun is intense up there, bring sunscreen.
Oh - and there is currently a burn ban in much of the cascades for fires. (Doesn't apply to cooking stoves.)
>>2622385>anon there's 54 grizzly bears in the entire cascades range and they're all in one tiny park right next to the canadian borderActually its ~10 in Cascade range, rest are further east. Lots of black bears (which are pussies) though.
Source:
https://conservationnw.org/our-work/wildlife/grizzly-bears-northeast/ 
