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.

We drove up the Salmon La Sac road on Friday late afternoon. Not too bad on the pothole-front. And my Corolla made it across the one creek that is running across the road (Scatter Creek?, I don't know) without a problem.

Car-camped the first night just before the Fish Lake Guard Station, tons of wildflowers, TONS OF BUGS.

Thunderstorms both Friday and Saturday evening!

Hiked the Deception Pass trail up to the pass...BUGGY when you stop moving, but other than that, really nice.

Marmot Lake trail #1066 was in much better condition than people would have had us believe. Yeah, there's a big blowdown, but it's navigable...just follow the pinky-purple ribbons. The biggest issue was brush...thick, hiding the rocks underneath, and super humid.

After all the heat and BUGS we jumped in the lake without hesitation and it was perfect!

The first campsite when you get to the lake gets awesome morning sun which dried out all our stuff in about 20 minutes which was great following the previous night's rain.

If you keep going around the lake there are other great sites as well...I think just not as sunny in the a.m.

The next day we dropped our packs at the junction with the Lake Clarice trail and scooted up there (.6 one way)...nice side trip, better camping at Marmot.

Anyway, back to Marmot Lake...great hike, totally worthwhile, nice distance (8.6 one way), not a lot of people.

I cannot emphasize how serious the bug issue was...one hiker we passed along the way called them "mind-bending" and that is the truth!