Marmot Lake, Jade Lake, Lake Clarice, Cathedral Rock & Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass — Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2021

Road into the trailhead is the washboard bumpy dirt ride that I remember, complete with creek crossing that I think went up a foot on the wheels, was happy to be in a high clearance vehicle.  Were a few open spots in each big area of parking on a Wednesday early afternoon. Hiked up to Marmot lake on Wednesday.  Did a side trip to Lake Clarice.  It is more of an alpine marsh than alpine lake, there were so many green plants growing in the lake that I didn't think it was worth the almost mile side trip off the trail to Marmot.  Marmot Lake was beautiful!  Trail was in very good condition on Deception pass to the intersection with the PCT, even saw some park rangers bringing lumbar up on horses to work the bridge by Little Hyas (although bridge did not seem in urgent need of work to me).  There were a number of blowdowns after intersection with PCT up to Marmot, nothing impassable but annoying as it got later and I got more tired.  Most of the wildflowers I saw were also above intersection of Deception pass and PCT and Marmot Lake, otherwise was mostly old growth forest.  Few patches of snow up near Marmot, and a few patches between Marmot and Jade, one that I walked around on the heather because it looked like it was melting out underneath and I didn't want to plunge through; nothing that needed microspikes or anything like that.  Only saw 2 other groups at Marmot.  Mosquitoes were bad until after dark and was glad to have my hat with bug net along. Although I had hiket up in a tank top and shorts it got a little chilly overnight being at 4900 feet and I was glad I had packed layers.  Thursday woke up early and did a "day hike" to No Name/Jade Lake; Jake lake was also absolutely gorgeous!  My trail description had said it was a mile to Jade lake, which it may be from the far edge of Marmot but was more like 2 miles from where I camped and was a 700 foot climb over the scree field.  Carions were pretty easy to follow and absolutely worth the side trip!  Decided to take the long way down and did 5 miles of the PCT between Cathedral Rock and Deception pass.  Also lots of blowdowns on that, even more than the trail to Marmot; I lost the trail at one point and wandered into someone's campsite, and was glad to have GPS on my phone to find my way back on the trail.  The higher big creek crossing on that part of the PCT was fine.  The lower one was a gushing torrent of water with a very small trunk to balance on.  My dog ended up getting swept up in the current, thank you to the PCT trail angel that happened to be crossing going the other way and jumped in to help my pup and then carried him to the other side; I never even got your name but you are my hero!  So that creek crossing was fine for a person, treking poles definitely helped balance on the skinny log crossing, but take care if you have a furry friend along.  The mosquitoes were also terrible after the lower big creek crossing and intersection with Cathedral Rock trail, I saw more than one person hiking with the mesh net on their face and in extra layers despite the heat just for the bug protection. Trail was in very good shape once I got off the PCT and onto Cathedral Rock trail.  Spent the 2nd night by Squaw Lake.  The mosquitoes were even worse here than at Marmot, but it was a very pretty spot to camp and lounged by lake in the morning enjoying the view.  Squad Lake was busier than Marmot, as one might expect closer to the trailhead, and also saw some trailworkers with all their tools in camp.  Only saw a few groups as I went down to the trailhead but parking lot was packed with cars lined up way down the road, as one might expect Friday early afternoon.  If I had it to do over I would do it as an in and out to Marmot and Jade Lake, the PCT had some nice views but it was too many miles in one day for me.