Josephine Lake, Trap Lake, Surprise Creek, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass & Icicle Creek — Friday, Aug. 2, 2024

Started at Stevens Pass and exited at Surprise Creek TH. The first day we hiked from Stevens Pass to Josephine Lake. Bugs (mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats) weren't terrible unless you stopped moving. A decent breeze at the lake in the afternoon allowed us to enjoy a nice swim and lounge without getting eaten. When the breeze died the bugs were present and we all wore bug nets. On the second day we hiked from Josephine Lake to Trap lake, the bug situation was the same. Trap Lake's campsites were bigger and a bit more spread out than Josephine. Excellent swimming at Trap and the bugs were less present near the water. On the third and final day we hiked from Trap to Surprise Creek TH, the less buggy of all the days. All of the sections of trails we hiked were in great condition.