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!

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

Like other trail reports, it is not advisable to drive through Scatter Creek, 3 miles before the Hyas Lake trail head, unless you are driving a SUV or Subaru. A Toyota got stuck the day we went in, and it looks harder to get out then to get across, and the water height is variable, depending upon the time of day.

This being the first backpacking trip for the 10 month old, and 8 month old, our party decided to road walk toward the Hyas lake trailhead in hopes of finding a good camping spot. We made the three miles to the trail head in about 1.5hours, enjoying the scenery. The occasional car kicked up some dust, but it wasn't bad. Some nice wildflowers are still in bloom, especially paintbrush, Lupine, Tiger Lily, Columbine. Shooting stars and blue bells were out by the river.

Arriving at the trail head we learned of a campsite across the river just within sight of the parking lot (and toilet) on the Cathedral Peak trail. Thinking we had time, and wanting to see Hyas lake, we made for the trail anyway. About 1/2 mile in we hit the wall of mosquitos. Most of our group turned back while a small contingent made for the destination. The lake was much less buggy, and would have been manageable, but they came back to camp with us. We ended up camping back by the river and enjoyed the weather and scenery.