Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass — Friday, Sep. 2, 2011

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

I planned to do this trip 10 years ago, light and fast over a weekend. Finally it was time to make it happen... but having 10 years go by, I thought a nice long weekend would be a better proposition. There is always the trade - when you add days, you need to carry more food. To cut to the chase for those that want to know about the trail, it is in great condition. Still some blowdowns, still minor patches of snow, bridge still out at Lemah crossing, still have the "treacherous" crossing above Hyas lake... but all of it doable quite easily. The bridge out is supported by a sufficient log crossing 20 feet down stream - didn't get my feet wet. The treacherous crossing - plan on wet feet. Best bet is with Tevas/Keens/ other water sandals, using trekking poles just plow through the water. Be careful the wet rocks are extremely slippery! so don't plan on rock hopping. Wildflowers were abundant and beautiful everywhere. Wildlife, I saw a moutain goat mom and her kid on the north side of Huckleberry, and I saw a good size buck crashing through the woods just before the Lemah creek crossing... oh, and some brown toads around the ponds on Esconido ridge area. My trip: Day 1, Snoqualmie pass to Spectacle lake - about 19 miles. I think the hardest day, but with the most spectacular views. Day 2, Spectacle lake to Deep Lake - ~26 miles - the saunter over escodido ridge was a highlight of scenic beauty. The top of the ridge essentially marks the end of teh blowdowns for the duration of the trip. And the trail from here to the end seemed in general easier going. Day 3: Deep Lake to Hope Lake ~22 miles - longer than it needed to be, but Trap Lake looked crowded and I wanted to make my final day a short one. Snow on the North side of Surprise peak is pretty much the most I saw anywhere. Day 4: Hope Lake to Stevens Pass ~ 8 miles. least enjoyable scenery of trip, including power lines, ski-lifts and generally tree-covered views. But exhilarating to get it done! My food plan - because I found it worked and has some nice benefits: Breakfast was a 1 liter water bottle of protein mix. Gets you going in the morning quickly and good start to hydration. The day was spent drinking a couple or more liters of water with energy/recovery drink mix (P90x formula if you need a recommendation). And snacking on some trail mix (nuts and berries), A protein bar each day, and Turkey Jerky. Late lunch/dinner consisted of the Mountain House "Chicken Wrap" where you just add cold water... I added more than required to make it more like a soup that I drank rather than filling any tortillas. Benefits: Notice no cooking required = no stove or fuel. And secondly, pretty close to a liquid diet, and if your protein powder is highly digestible means... very little digestive waste - for me one stop the entire trip. My total pack weight was 25lbs at the start, plus 6lbs of camera gear. Ok, so it CAN be done in 3.5 days, heck even less if you are gung-ho. But despite my sense of accomplishment, I do NOT recomment doing this trip this fast. First the obvious reason is you don't have as much time to go slow and enjoy the scenery or take a dip in a few of the inviting lakes (Deception lake(s) was quite inviting - but had to press on. But more important to me, from a photographic point of view, is that my 20mile days just happen to put you camping at low points = lakes along the way. It seems that 5x15 mile days would better line you up for higher camps, providing better morning/evening light, provided you are willing to pack water up to potentially dry high points. My recommendation for future high point camps are as follows: 1. Col between Huckleberry and Chikamin ridge - had some water in ponds. 2. Park Lakes area, or the final ridge before dropping down to spectacle lake. 3. Anywhere along the top of Escondid ridge area... and it has sone mice lakes and ponds (in particular the little lake on the south side of the ridge. 4. Some nice camping areas on the East side of Cathedral peak (Or Peggy's pond - though I didn't go there this trip). (Might find ponds nearby). 5. The col between Trap and Surprise lake. (No water) Taking a 6th day would give plenty of time to smell the roses and pick the select camping spots to meet your interests. Enjoy!