Hiked PCT, Section L: Rainy Pass- Harts Pass- Monument 78- Harts Pass in 7 days/6 nights. Gorgeous section of PCT. IMPORTANT: water is scarce on some long 7-9 miles sections. Lots of amazing but dry campsites. Plan accordingly. No cell coverage for 7 days.
Day 1: Hiked from Rainy Pass to West Fork Methow River camp - about 15 miles. Passed possible but dry campsites- Cutthroat Pass, Granite Pass, Snowy Lakes TH and Methow Pass. Methow Pass has beautiful campsites with amazing view of Mt. Hardy; however, this is dry. If you are planning to stay, resupply water right after Snowy Lakes TH (there is one creek about a mile form the pass). Few water sources are available after Methow Pass. Camp at Methow River is in the woods with lots of sites.
Day 2: Methow River Camp - Harts Pass- about 15 miles. Beautiful section. Last resupply of water is Granite Pass. Someone said there is a spring by Grasshopper Pass but you have to walk down and search for it. Grasshopper Pass has beautiful camp sites. Made a trip to Grasshopper Peak- beautiful views are from there -Mr. Ballard. No water resupply until 1/3 mile after Harts Pass Camp. Harts Pass DOES NOT have water. I was completely out of water when I reached Harts Pass but the ranger offered me some portable (bottled) water and I took one of their camp sites ($8). Note: there is one small campsite next to the water source about 1/3 of a mile form Harts Pass.
Day 3: Harts Pass to Buffalo Pass to Windy Pass to Foggy Pass to Jim Pass to Devils Backbone camp - about 13 miles. The most beautiful part of the trail. Hands down. On the clear day, the views are endless. The meadows made me feel like I was in Switzerland. Dry section. Creeks that are shown on green trail map are dry. Camps at Windy Pass and Jim Pass are dry but have amazing views. Next good water resupply is right after you enter Pasayten Wilderness and also very beautiful camp sites. Left my pack on the ridge and scramble Tamarack Peak. Davils Backbone camp is dry. I had to hike a short mile down to Shaw Creek to resupply water for the night but I preferred to camp up on the ridge vs to camp by Shaw Creek (spacious camp in the woods).
Day 4: Devils Backbone camp to Holman Pass to Rock Pass to Woody Pass to Hopkins Lake - over 17.5 miles. Two reliable water sources on this section: Shaw Creek and creek that comes from Goat Lakes (after Holman Pass). No water after Goat Lake creek until Hopkins Lake. Once you pass Halman Pass and the trail goes through the meadows and on the ridge, the views are endless. Woody Pass has few camps but dry. The trail from Woody to Devils Stairway is pretty leveled (balcony trail). Lakeview Ridge is the highest point of PCT in WA -7,126 ft. Few camp sites there but they are all dry and you will need to hike to Hopkins to resupply water. Hopkins offers multiple sites. pretty nice and green, low key. I woke up next morning with frost on my tent.
Day 5: Left my camp at Hopkins and made my way to the border and back. About 14 miles. Plenty of water sources on this trail. The trail in mostly in the woods and pretty overgrown. It was a group of 20 PCTers at the monument 78 celebrating their accomplishment. Spent the rest of the day reading at my camp at Hopkins.
Day 6: Hopkins Lakes to Devils Backbone Camp. 17 miles. Resupplied my water for the night and the following morning at Shaw Creek before I climbed 3/4 mile to the camp.
Day 7: Devils Backbone Camp to Harts Pass. Hiked to Slate Peak (lookout) before I left. Amazing views from there. A friend picked me up at Harts Pass and took me back to Rainy Pass to my car. The road is horrible but doable. I would suggest high clearance vehicles only.
Overall, it is amazing part of PCT.
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