Seattle/Tacoma

Christopher,
With that combo you should be just fine. BTW, if you're going up Phelps Creek a side trip up Leroy Creek to Leroy Basin) would put you in position to scramble Mt Maude, Mt Fernow, and Seven Fingered Jack. These peaks are all above 9000 feet(big for the Cascades) and all offer class 2-3 scrambles and awesome views. I've climbed Maude via the Entiat Icefall on the north side and can vouch for the scenery. The climber's trail up Leroy Creek to Leroy Basin is a strenuous affair, but worth the effort, IMO, as this very compact area offers 3 great scrambles within a very short distance of each other.

Christopher,
I probably don't need to mention this, so please don't take offense, but I didn't see a helmet listed in your gear list. The Cascades have a lot of very loose rock, so if you are planning on doing class 3 scrambling, you would be wise to bring one. Scramblers, as well as climbers, get banged up here every year by rockfall, and a helmet can mean the difference between doing a Humpty Dumpty and living to scramble another day.

Good idea, was not sure about the rock quality. I have an extra helmet for my brother. I will add them to my list.

Will I be in tarp weather or should I bring a tent?

I have my BD Firstlight or my BD Eldorado. We will try to sleep as high as possible.

Christopher,
For the time of year you mentioned, either a tent or a tarp will suffice, weatherwise, although a tent would offer easier living if the weather goes south on you. If you do happen to run into bugs, a tent would definitely be a lot less hassle. I don't know much about EPIC tents beyond what I have read, but be aware you can run into rain that lasts a day or two at a time up here, if not more. Would the EPIC eventually wet out? Anybody watching this thread that could comment more authoritatively?
Bug update: I just got off the phone with a friend who was up in Leroy Basin last about 10 days ago. It was practically bug free. He was also went through Spider Meadow and on up to Buck Pass. The Spider Meadow area is bug city just about every year due to abundant water in the area, much more so this year. Buck Pass and Spider Gap are still under tons of snow and by the end of August the melt water will probably mean lots of bugs there, too, in his opinion. The more I think about it, the tent sounds like a better option, just for the bug hassle factor if you get in a buggy area. But in the end, that depends on your tolerance for bugs vs the weight savings of a tarp. Either way, you'll be OK and ready to have some fun.

Instead of flying to Washington, my brother is going to give me his Southwest Airline miles so my oldest daughter and I can fly up to Zion, Illinois so we can see my wife at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America there. We will be up there over Labor Day and until Wednesday.

She was supposed to come home last week, but they have started radiation on her hip and shoulder for two growths to help alleviate pain.

She should be home in about 3 weeks. The treatment is daily, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks.

It will be a good experience for my daughter to see what the treatment is like for my wife. We also plan to take her fishing on Lake Michigan and into downtown Chicago.

Again I appreciate everyone's time involved in their input, but this has to take priority. Hopefully next summer I will start this thread up again.

Thanks,
Chris

Godspeed, Christopher. Family and friends first last and always. The mountains will still be there and, hopefully, most of us in the event you restart the thread.
Tom