Deception Pass, Cathedral Rock & Hyas Lake — Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

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.