This was my first hike for Hike-a-Thon 2010. I was looking for a lot of miles without a lot of elevation and this 14.7-mile clockwise loop fit the bill. On the way up to Cathedral Rock, we passed a few parties coming out after an overnight at Squaw Lake. We only saw one other group on the entire 5+ mile PCT section - it was pleasantly solitary. Cathedral Rock was in and out of the clouds but we had great views up to Mt Daniel, to the ridge across the valley, south to Mt Stuart, and down to Hyas Lake. Some heather and other wildflowers blooming, but no big riotous show here. The creeks were roaring and one of them on the PCT required a (chilly!) ford at about 2.5 miles from Cathedral Pass (mid-calf to knee deep, depending on how you crossed). Someone before us had set up a few logs (pictured below) for the first section of the ford, which were easy to use but I don't know whether they will continue to be stable. The section of trail about a mile to either side of this creek was pretty brushy - not enough to make it unpleasant but it certainly slowed us down a bit. The bugs were out in force. Not too bad when we were moving but full coverage or repellent was needed when stopped.

This was our final training hike before a group of 60-somethings embark on a week long hike from Stevens Pass South to Snoqualmie Pass via the PCT. It was a perfect day for a practice hike. We started at 9:00 AM with a few clouds and finished at 3:00 with thunder storms. The trail is in excellent shape south for the five miles that we did. No blowdowns, washouts, or dead ends. The first two miles are in the Ski resort, but it is not a big deal since the ski runs look like avalanche chutes. Not many critters and not too many hikers until we turned around and headed back to the truck after five miles. Mostly day hikers with a few who were staying overnight and one headed to Canada. The thunder was continuos for about an hour and we were rained on for about two hours. Plenty warm though, so we were comfortable. Plenty of parking and a toilet at the trailhead. Water seems to be no problem on this section and hopefully the same all the way to highway 90. Don't forget to prepare for mosquitos as they are plentiful if you stop. Also be prepared for lots of fantastic wild flowers.

Started at Deception Creek TH, up to Deception Lakes, PCT to Surprise Lake, down Surprise creek to TH, walked down hwy 2 back to car, around 19 miles and 4000ft. Didn't see a soul. Trail is in great shape all the way, just a few blowdowns. Still has some snow hiding the PCT on the north slope of surprise mountain.

Due to damage from the 2009 Lemah Fire, an emergency closure of the Pacific Crest Trail 2000.6 has been issued for public safety until further notice. The Pacific Crest Trail is now closed to public use from the Mineral Creek Trail 1331 to the Lemah Meadows Trail 1323.2. Two detour options exist for hikers and a third detour route is available for stock users. Repairs will begin in late July 2010. We’re listing the detour route descriptions in full here so that they can be easily available to hikers online. Here's a good map - it may take a while to load: http://www.wta.org/files/pct-detour-map. Detour A: This detour limits the distance travelled off of the Pacific Crest Trail and allows for access to Park Lakes Basin. Detour route is described south to north. *At the junction of the Mineral Creek Trail 1331 with the Pacific Crest Trail, descend the Mineral Creek Trail for 5 miles to the Trailhead Forest Service Road 4600. *Head east on Road 4600 for approximately 5 miles to the junction with Forest Service Road 4616. *Continue westerly on the Pete Lake Trail 1323 for 5 miles to the junction of the Lemah Meadows Trail 1323.2. *Take the Lemah Meadows Trail 1323.2 to the junction of the Pacific Crest Trail 2000.6 and the northern terminus of the detour route. Detour B: This detour limits the amount of travel on Forest Service System Roads. Detour Route is described south to north. *At Snoqualmie Pass, head north on Forest Service Road 9040 for approx 1 mile to the Snow Lake Trailhead. *Take the Snow Lake Trail 1013 approximately 3 miles to the junction of the Rock Creek Trail 1013.1. *Descend the Rock Creek Trail 1013.1 for 3 miles to the junction of the Middle Fork Trail 1003. *Turn right on the Middle Fork Trail 1003 heading eastward for approximately 5 miles to its terminus at the junction of the Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1030. *Continue right, eastward, on the Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1030 for approximately 7 miles to Dutch Miller Gap. *At Dutch Miller Gap, Trail 1030 becomes the Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1362 on the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. *Descend Dutch Miller Gap Trail 1362 4 miles to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail 2000.6 and the terminus of the reroute. Detour C: All stock users must use the following detour. Stock Users must trailer between Snoqualmie Pass and the Pete Lake Trailhead. Dayriding is permitted to Ridge Lake. Stock travel is highly discouraged beyond Ridge Lake to Park Lakes Basin due to hazardous trail conditions. *From Snoqualmie Pass, travel east on Interstate 90 to Exit 80 “Salmon La Sac and Roslyn”. *Turn left at exit and travel for 4 miles to State Route 903. *Travel north on State Route 903 for approx. 16 miles to FS Road 46. *Turn left onto FS Road 46 and follow signs approx. 6 miles to the Pete Lake Trailhead. *Take the Pete Lake Trail #1323 for 5 miles to the junction of the Lemah Meadows Trail # 1323.2. *Take the Lemah Meadows Trail #1323.2 to the junction of the Pacific Crest Trail #2000.6 and the northern terminus of the detour route. If you have any questions concerning this detour, contact the Cle Elum Ranger District.

Thanks to the Forest crew of five men and women from hundreds of us who hike the PCT north of Snoqualmie Pass. Yesterday (Sept. 15, 2009) they dynamited the 30 inch Doug Fir that had blocked the trail about two miles north of the Pass during all of this year’s hiking season. It forced all manner of scooching, shinnying, hugging, crawling, clamoring to get over or under it, and resulted in scraped shins, elbows and knees. Problem was it lay across the trail on a steep slope with no easy way around it. Earlier this summer folks from the Forest Service cut a chunk out of it down slope from the trail and made a temporary path around the remaining stump and root structure that hung precariously above the trail. It's location made it too dangerous to saw or chop it apart so the decision was made to blow it. Using hand drills, the old brace and bit type, they worked all day to put holes for more than 30 sticks of dynamite. At close to 4 PM they stopped traffic on the trail and cleared the area people for 500 feet away from the blast site. The boom was heard down in the trailhead parking lot, over at Alpental and up on the side of Kendall Mountain and when the dust cleared the base of the tree was in very small pieces and what was left of the roots were down the hill in Commonwealth Basin.