Golden Horn - Snowy Lakes — Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020

We didn't encounter many people on this trip -- maybe because there was rain in the forecast?  It surely helped that we were traveling midweek.  But on a three-night trip to Cutthroat Pass and Snowy Lakes, we didn't camp near more than three other tents on any one night -- although from the looks of it on Saturday, at least triple that many were headed up to Snowy Lakes as we hiked back to Rainy Pass.

We arrived Wednesday at Rainy Pass with a few spots available in the small parking area on the north side of Highway 20.  Spent Wednesday night about five miles up the trail at Cutthroat Pass, making sure we had enough water to last through that evening and much of the next day.  (No water, as others have noted, from roughly a half mile below the pass until the turnoff from the PCT up to Snowy Lakes.)  No rain that evening and a great lineup of peaks to enjoy. 

We arrived at Upper Snowy Lake early on Thursday afternoon to find no other humans around.  (Located the unmarked trail up to Snowy Lakes thanks to earlier reports -- it's across from a lovely meadow campsite right off the PCT)  After some morning showers, the sun had come out, and it was pleasantly warm with a cool breeze that kept most of the bugs away. Two other groups showed up that night to join us, but that was it.  Lots of great campsites high above (and well away from) the lakes and a little beyond the upper one.  

Spent Friday enjoying the area around the lakes and also took a short hike up the PCT to Methow Pass.  It rained on and off all day, but so politely -- in the wee morning hours, then not again until after lunch and then stopping in plenty of time for us to eat dinner without getting drenched.  We sure felt we lucked out weather-wise.

Hiked out the full 10 miles Saturday and enjoyed the great views from the other direction -- kept us going even up those 17 (?) switchbacks up from Granite Pass. 

No trail issues to report, and nearly everyone wore masks and stepped off the trail to let others pass at a good distance.  Thanks, all. 

So no crowds. Few bugs. Polite rain. Great views in all directions.  One great trip that easily could be done in one-two nights as well as three.