After a restless night's sleep, I departed Seattle at 3am and made the 2-hour drive to Roslyn. After bumping down the excruciatingly-long Forest Road 4330, I parked at the Cathedral Rock trailhead and set out on my hike from the Deception Pass trailhead at 7:30am, which is just a minute or so walk away. My goal was to to a counterclockwise loop and spend the night somewhere near the base of Cathedral Rock.

The first four or so miles of the hike are super-easy and it's quite pleasing to the eye to see Hyas Lake come into view. You'll walk along the brand-new puncheon that the USFS contracted out (and pieces of the old one are off to the side further up the trail). Watch out, the new one's slippery!

The climb up to Deception Pass was tough at times for me because I'm still working on getting into tip-top shape, but for a moderately experienced hiker, it shouldn't be a problem. Once you're up there, it's a wonderful ramble through snow-dusted meadows on a well-maintained trail (thanks WTA & USFS!).

The Deception Pass trail intersects with Marmot Lake and the PCT (the latter was just a gigantic puddle where it connected with the other two trails). I wandered along, taking in eyefuls of the landscape, until I reached the first of two technical creek crossings. It was a piece of cake. The second one (Daniel Creek) is infamous for being difficult and today was no different. I didn't make it across unscathed and you can blame the damn pika that decided to scurry across the very boulder I was preparing to step on. I would strongly advise NOT crossing Daniel Creek. I think it's unsafe until next summer.

With a completely-soaked lower body and boots (I was smart enough to have tossed my pack onto the other side of the creek, so it stayed dry), I knew that I had to get dry ASAP. Fortunately, the trail levels out for a while in a nice boulder field. I stopped to dry out my socks and pants in the (albeit chilly) breeze and have a snack, then chatted with some brethren to the little monster that had just tried to kill me.

Coming around the bend and seeing Cathedral Rock in all its glory is breathtaking, even when you're slogging in wet boots. If there's anything that will lift your spirits, it's seeing the fog-enshrouded monolith before you. The trail climbs to its base, switching back a bunch (there are fallen trees that you have to detour around) and finally running into a creek (one of the trees has a sign mentioning campfires at Deep Lake. Don't be thrown off. Just follow the rock-lined path to the right until it crosses the creek. The trail then levels off in gorgeous alpine meadows with green-tinted tarns that are already starting to freeze.

The rest of the way is pretty easy, especially in the places where there are beautifully-built turnpikes. Beware, the trail bordering the meadow has been pretty trampled, which makes me sad, and you might encounter dog poop (domestic dogs, may I mention). The descent toward Squaw Lake is knee-jarring at times, but nothing that even someone with osteoarthritis can't handle. Squaw Lake was busy, lots of people camping, so I continued on to complete the 14.4 mile dayhike.

Once you pass Squaw Lake, be prepared for lots of horse poop and muddy, human / equine trampled turnpikes. Watch your footing but take heart, the bridge over Cle Elum River will be in your eyeline before you know it!

PS: Much to my surprise, even in 30-degree weather, there were still some skeeters out. Also, a great deal of both trails become creeks with snowmelt and diverted water, so wear gaiters or rainpants (or both, like I did) and you'll be a happy camper.

LEaving the trailhead from the meadows parking lot the trail is nice and shaded from the early morning sun. The trail is a moderate climb for 1.8 miles to the junction to Cathedral Rock. A nice break spot is not far at Squaw Lake. The traversing trail (Peggy's Pond) is a little difficult for those that are unfamiliar with off trail travel. Go slow and stay high when in question. Welcome to Peggy's Pond & Mt. Daniels. I am renaming this place Mosquitoe pond and Mosquitoe Mountain. 98.11% DEET (Jungle Juice) is nothing to these biting critters. Deep Woods Off only attracts them. My clothes were pre-treated with some expensive spray on stuff. NOTHING WORKS HERE. We made camp FAST and dove in the tents. These bugs swarmed the tents. They stuck to our tent waiting for my blood. Early morning the same conditions. Packed up for summit run on Daniels. Getting on the ridge wasnt to hard, we started from the creek via glacier route. Those mosquitoes were on us up to 7000 ft. They never backed off. Lot's of variation climbers trails up the SE ridge. Choose any of them and they will all meet together. I wish we took more direct route up the glacier, veer right up snow finger or obvious rock slope, veer left under false summit, cross to west summit. This place should be a proving ground for bug spray. Again, NOTHING WORKED AT ALL. These guys were landing on my bottle of DEET. Taking pic's was not very possible. 7 mosquitoes bit me on the face last one I tried to take. I've never packed up camp so fast to get out of there. I am writing this swollen and itchy. I feel weak from loss of so much blood, one bite at a time. Hiker Beware!!!

My son and I took a loop trip. We hiked up to Peggy's Pond (should be Ponds) from the Hyas Lake parking area (over 50 cars). Spent 2 nights a little above Peggy's Pond and climbed Mount Daniel. Nice climb via the Hyas Glacier route. Then we went back to Cathedral Pass and took the PCT to Deception Pass. This trail needs some brush work and the crossing of the river was work. Luckily, we had water shoes. Then on to Tuck's Pot and Robin Lakes. We were going to stay 2 nights there also; however, the humidity and bugs convinced us to go back to cool and bug free Montana a day early. These are great places to be a month from now. A WTA work party was doing some good work on the Deception Pass trail replacing wood walkways over swamp area.

This was a great loop hike! started toward Hyas Lake on a super level trail for 3 miles through forest before arriving at several campsites at the very large lake. Then up several switchbacks for our 1st night camp. We took a 2 mi day hike up the very steep trail to tuck lake (no water available on trail) where we made vegan sloppy joe's for dinner, enjoying great views on the lake before hiking back down for a total 4 mi R/T.
Next day we continued another mile or so on a level trail to the junction of the PCT at Deception Pass, hanging a hard left on the PCT headed toward Cathedral Rock. At 2 miles on the PCT a raging creek required fording at knee level, wasn't hard with poles for stabilization. sat on a large rock on the other side and ate lunch and dried off. continued 4 more mile to Cathedral Rock and great views. Several camp sites available. We continued to a last lake where one large campsite resided but was right on the trail, so we continued the final 2 miles to the car for an 18 mi. loop. Excellent weather, bugs required every inch of skin to be covered with jungle juice, some still seemed immune! still would definitely recommend to others preferable as a 2 nighter, but us two ole' guys made it in 29 hours. Left car at 2 pm arrived next day at 6:30 pm...trail in good shape, no snow on trail. enjoy all my pics from this trip at http://gallery.me.com/medic229/100017