If you can put up with some snow and cooler temps, now is a great time to hit these trails or campsites. This hike was beautiful, challenging, and super quiet today. Plenty of parking, passed a party on trail three times all day, and saw one set of campers packing up. Hiking out alone at the end of the day, I felt it was too quiet. Only issue with the 12 mile forest road to the trailhead is that it’s quite a washboard road. No issues with any creek crossings, a few just puddles in the dip in the road. Pit toilet was in good shape but bring own TP and you have to pack out all trash. With the Cle Elum River and multiple lakes or ponds (and snow) on this hike, there’s no lack of water for dogs or to filter. Although on their last legs, still some yummy blueberries.

The snow. It became pretty noticeable around the 4600ft elevation point. But it was on the lighter side and often resulted in mud during the day and ice as temps dropped. Thankfully the sketchy ledge section on the way to Peggy’s Pond gets a lot of sun and had no snow, for now. But from the pond to Circle Lake it was a winter wonderland. Some hikers heading to Mt Daniel broke a trail I could follow until the turnoff to Circle Lake. Then I was on my own, using a maps app to help find a trail under the snow at times. I was regretting not wearing boots, but glad I had my newer trail runners which currently have better traction. With current trail conditions I’d recommend boots with great snow traction or bringing along microspikes. For my descent I ended up using crampons I brought. Backup socks and now dressing in multiple layers is another recommendation. If you use poles regularly, would suggest those too, but ones you can pack away when it’s time to scramble or hug rock walls.

Along the way to Circle Lake, the big attractions for me were Nosh Nosh Wahtum which means Salamander Lake, Deep Lake from above, Peggy’s Pond, and numerous peaks including an unexpected sighting of Mt Rainier. You have to gain more elevation the entire way to Circle Lake and can’t see it until right next to it on a ridge. Total distance with trail hunting and possibly shortening due to the snow: 13.75 miles, 4160ft total elevation gain.

We had originally planned to go to Peggy's Pond but due to a late start, some of our group not feeling so great and the exposure factor of the cutoff trail to Peggy's we ended up opting to sleep at cathedral pass instead.

There are several good impacted flat spots to camp, both on the east side of the "last tarn" on cathedral pass trail and above it, at the true pass.

Due the ferociousness of the mosquitos we opted to camel water up and camp away from the water. We picked a side trail to the left of the pass (south, away from cathedral rock) and wandered until we found a nice spot. (There are really only 2 good tent spots this way, but more to the right (north).  

Views are somewhat obscured by trees here, but still nice views of Daniel and across the valley towards tuck and robin lakes. 

Some of us still got quite a few bites, even camping away from water. It's bug season! 

Of note: we felt fine filtering water from the largest/last tarn, but it is not flowing stream water so if you are picky about such things you might not enjoy camping in this area. 

Quick weekend overnighter. A friend visiting town wanted something short, scenic, with daytrip options -- and Peggy's Pond it was. 

The switchbacks up Cathedral Pass are mostly shaded, and with east-facing slopes, made for decent afternoon climb. At Nosh Nosh, we expected a pond but found a pleasant lake with some folks taking a quick swim. The rainbow trout were immense, swimming just a few feet from shore, unconcerned. 

Continue up a gradual incline through meadows until you reach the intersection with the PCT.  There is some cell service at this pass - the only section of the entire J-segment that I got reception. 

Turn onto the bootpath for Peggy's Pond, and brace for some cliff-hugging with exposed scree tumbling down below. Be wary of your overnight pack ricocheting off the walls, and use your poles as a third point of contact.

At Peggy's Pond, there were many folks already camped out, having arrived the day before and spending their Saturday on Mt. Daniel. There are many sites on the higher ledges, but folks seemed too tired to scour, and placed their camps next to (or even on) the main trail. 

There is a toilet to the north of the camp area, beside the large meadow. The creek in this area is considerably larger, clearer, and colder -- given it's the main meltflow for Mt Daniel's snowpack. 

My East Coast visitor opted not to venture up Mt Daniel, but I've previously made it to the lower summits without any gear (around 7000' / 0.8mi). Most  folks at the camp had proper gear and left in the early morning for the actual summit. 

Mosquitoes were absurd, just like all these high-alpine lakes in July. Not the worst I've ever seen, but I was thankful for my bug headnet and bottle of picaridin. They were basically nonexistent during my last visit in September, when all the stagnant pools of melting snow had dried up. 

Other popular destinations nearby you can stitch via the PCT include Tuck-Robin, Marmot-Jade, and Spade-Venus. 

First off, this was intended to be a long day hike to summit Mt. Daniel with the other locations mentioned just encountered along the way. Alas, I had to turn back at around 7200 ft elevation gain (on the beginnings of the ridge of the Mt. Daniels Climber Trail) due to weather and time. So I turned back right before some of the more true technical sections the original WTA report goes over. Will describe conditions up to that point. Also keep in mind I'm wearing a light day pack with the times, and not full backpacking gear. 

Forest road to Cathedral Trailhead was a little bumpy and gravely but great for that type of forest road. No real potholes and made it fine in a sedan.

Fall color was pretty good as got closer to Peggys Pond with good mixes of fiery reds and yellows.

GPS was essential for me as got above Peggys Pond. I used AllTrails and it kept me accurate and back on track when I diverged on the myriad of different paths.

The weather forecast I checked in the morning showed a light morning snow shower on Mt. Daniel with wind gusts 20-30 mph, and partly cloudy from noon and on. I rolled the dice a bit on this weather hoping the clouds I saw on the way would clear off more by the time I got up to the ridgeline of Mt. Daniel, or I’d at least ascend above the cloud layer, and it didn’t work out. I was in viewless clouds for most of the higher portions of the hike above Peggys Pond (don't the blue sky photos trick you).

Initial ascent to Nosh Nosh Wahtum lake was uneventful through standard monotonous forest on well graded switchbacks. Lotta horse poop had to dodge. Lake itself looked pleasant and clear. The wooden toilet nearby seemed reasonable in cleanliness.

From here to Cathedral Pass (first views of Cathedral Rock) fine as well. After a short descent there’s a sign that states “Hiker trail closed to pack and saddle stock” and is at a trail junction that leads down to Deep Lake below that had been viewing to the left. Head straight past this sign and the terrain gets more rocky and looser with some steep drop offs. It’s usually fine if take it slow. Some points I had to do a double take on my GPS that it was indeed the right path as it was not easy footing. Went up the “new” Peggys Pond trail the path diverged (GPS helped me choose here) once got back into forest off the steep rocky slopes. Peggys Pond itself was nice and had a lot of departing overnight campers going down while I was going up. Had a leisurely half hour lunch here hoping for more cloud burn off.

Without GPS I don’t think I would’ve chosen the right path that started the ascent up to Mt. Daniel. Ascending steeply through fir, was still socked in with clouds. Snow was still present up here, but it was light and didn’t seem to make the path any more icy (no need for microspikes as far as I got). I briefly went the wrong way on the “Circle Lake Trail” before doubling back after a GPS check. There are no real signs and looks like multiple paths at some points. Kept ascending hoping the clouds I was socked in would burn off as noon approached. Terrain is steep and can be loose scree at some points. Finally leveled out a bit and I started to do some more scrambling. A lone trail runner on his way back (had frost in his eyelashes) from the Mt. Daniel summit told me it was doable, but wasn’t any views and he had started earlier than me and clearly was faster. The scrambling done on the ridge at this point was ok, but you definitely should be comfortable with it. I was able to find paths through the “middle” of the ridge to avoid scrambling where there were really steep drop offs. Still exposed though.

At around 7200 ft. elevation, clouds finally parted to give me a brief view of Circle Lake and some surrounding terrain. However, they quickly came back to make it viewless once again. At this point, it was close to my turnaround time (I should’ve started the hike earlier) and with the prospect of no real views and gusty wind, decided to head back. I didn’t get to the point where I’d even see Venus Lake. Even as I descended, the sky cleared up a good bit, but the way back towards the summit seemed resolute in being socked in.

I think if I end up doing this again, would camp at Nosh Nosh Wahtum, and do an early start from there with a lighter pack if my ultimate goal was to summit Mt. Daniel. Could save on lugging full backpacking gear all the way to Peggys Pond and all the way back, avoiding the heavy lifting on some loose rocky terrain. If I were to try and one shot it again, definitely start earlier or a time of season with more daylight and better weather.

Start: 755 AM

Nosh Nosh Wahtum Lake: 910 AM

Peggys Pond: 1040 AM

7200 ft elev turnaround: 1240 PM

Peggy Pond (descent): 205 PM

End: 420 PM

There are no signs for this lake, but if you head up toward Cathedral rock you will pass the lake. Parking lot has room for around 12-15 cars, and it was half full on a Thursday at 1545 in the afternoon. It looked like most were likely overnighting since I only saw 2 folks up and down.  The trail is in great shape, easy to follow.  Looks like stock also use this trail with horse trailer parking at the TH.  This is a pretty low key, low incline hike up and not long mileage wise. The lake was absolutely a place I would love to come back and say overnight at, so quiet and peaceful. No bugs. Toilet available and some nice campsites.