Heavy rains sent us (group of 3) to dryer forecast via Cle Elum area into the Central Cascades. Approximately 25-28 miles total, figure 8 loop starting at Deception Pass Trail Head 1376 to Deception Pass, north on PCT to Deception Lakes, side trip to Surprise Mountain, back on PCT for cut over to Deception Creek Trail, back to Deception Pass and south on the PCT to Cathedral Rock Trail 1345 then Cathedral Rock trail head which is just a parking lot away from where we started. Pit toilets at Cathedral Rock Trail Head were stocked BUT it had been raining for several days prior to our hike so recommend bring your own as busy place.
Day 1
Exit 80 off I-90 is shortest access to trail heads but bypasses the usual last minute services. Planned a figure 8 loop with some side hikes. Paved until on the Cle Elum River Road which was light washboard and at one spot water over the road about 6-8 inches deep. The two trailheads are close together, both had lots of vehicles but neither was full at 2 pm when we arrived to start hike.
Even with the rainy weather there were tents at Hyas Lake but did not look completely full. We wanted solitude and few more miles. Along this trail and at the camps, low and high bush blueberries were ripe. There were several streams on the trail but best one is a couple light flows after the board walk/puncheon bridges beyond the first Upper Hyas camp site. Hiked beyond Hyas Lake to Upper Hyas Lake, passed the first camp area BUT second site had limb across trail to camp and lots of dead snags. Opted to go back to the site we had passed. On the way few hikers heading out from long day hikes and a few passed us heading to Marmot or Jade Lake. Upper Hyas site had a couple places with logs, old fire pits and bridge material being used for seating. I opted for tent and food prep away from both. The other two utilized one of the sites with seating and the mice came running to join them for dinner. No damage to any gear, using bear cans. I had no visitors (four legged) just 30 feet away. Bugs were not an issue on trail but as soon as your hands were busy setting up tent or cooking, the bugs came to dine. Head net would have been nice as they liked to bite just under brim of hat.
Day 2
Fairly leisurely breakfast and repack next morning then hit the trail. Maybe five faster hikers passed, heading to Marmot Lake, north or south on PCT. We did a leisurely snack stop at Deception Pass/PCT junction (saw no one) then north on the PCT to Deception Lakes. One Washington PCT section hiker passed, she said a couple more were ahead of her and they would camp at Glacier Lake to complete 18 miles that day.
Plenty of solo or multi camp sites at Deception Lakes but rock hop to get to most of them, close to trail ones are also the way in and out of the rest. There are a couple sheltered solo sites a bit farther north on the lake near the Surprise Mountain trail head that have easy access. On opposite side of trail, away from the lake there is a side trail to a solo site that might be okay in dry weather, but about an inch of water had collected in it now. We set up camps across the rock hop above the lake. One solo hiker camped closer to lake. Bugs were ready to dine when hands were busy with setup and cooking just like previous night. One took quick dip in the lake, reported water was warmer than the air, soft bottom so jump off a rock and uck came up. Refilled water bottle from flow between the lakes.
Day 3
Next morning headed south on the PCT retracing a little to access Deception Creek Trail cutoff we had passed the day before. PCT/Deception Creek signage is in place and obvious Y between the two trails. On the short route between the PCT and Deception Creek Trail there is a spot right in the trail where a rock used to be. Wasp/yellow jacket nest is in the hole. Thanks to a heads up from another hiker, missed getting stung. She got two stings, her dog passed first and not stung. You can walk around but first hiker in group is likely to stir up and rest of group may get stung. Had also been alerted that the trail marker at Deception Creek Trail was missing and still missed the turn. Back tracked when Gaia app showed junction location was behind. Stayed on Deception Creek Trail back to Deception Pass. Short break to chat at Deception Pass. Short distance north on the PCT from the pass is closest water source. Half a dozen multi day casual backpackers at the pass camping for a night or two. They had picked blueberries for dessert. One thru-hiker taking a break just south of the pass at a usable camp site and another solo hiker setting up camp near the pass. Did not investigate location, quality or quantity of sites as we were headed farther. Passed man with day pack and small child (4-6 yrs) south of Deception Pass so maybe also camped in the area.
South on PCT to Cathedral Pass Trail 1345. Couple miles south from Deception Pass there is a caution sign for dangerous water crossing and for stock to use Hyas Lake route. Passed a couple thru-hikers drying tents at first rocky water access crossing. This is also location for nice view of Hyas Lake. At next rocky water crossing half a dozen thru-hikers north bound. Plenty of rocks and sun for drying gear and would say this is the "dangerous crossing". Did not spend lot of time looking for dry crossing option, might have been rock hop spot lower. After we had crossed and were going up the other side, saw that the trail went down farther than where we crossed but not really visible from direction we were coming from. Opted for short distance of fast water above knee with some slick and some sharp edged rocks. One opted for barefoot crossing and got small cut, other two opted for wet boots as none brought their hiker sandals.
Rocky and up hill for awhile BUT more blueberries so good reason to go slow. Meadows and slopes were full of very short bushes with berries. There is another rocky canyon where you can hear and see water in the distance but access looks like a quarter mile rock hop. There is a camp site with space for a couple tents just before trail starts going up hill again. Two hikers opted to stay there, do boulder hop for water.
We still had water for the day and early enough to wait for better option. Had been told there was a reliable water source right under Cathedral Rock. As we hiked up we listened for running water. Most of the way up to the pass, you can hear water trickle and at a bend in one of the switchbacks there is a rocky brushed over trail to the water.
As the trail starts leveling off there are meadows with the very short bush blueberries and some ponds with water. We set up at a campsite close to the PCT/Cathedral Pass/Rock Trail 1345 junction. Forecast was thirty percent chance of rain early in the morning till around ten am. Set up light hammock tarp for dry spot to have breakfast and pack if rain did arrive. The bugs arrived at setup and meal time when hands were full. Mixture of sleet, hail, snow with gusts of wind arrived in the middle of the night and continued till midday but all of it melted as soon as it hit the ground.
Day 4
We opted to cut some of the planned side trip hikes (Deep Lake/Peggy's Pond) and head out. At this point I think we were less than 4 miles from Cathedral Pass/Rock Trail Head #1345. Trail head pit toilets stocked, parking lot had hikers heading out and lots of cars in the lot but space available. The signs are not consistent on the trail. No. 1345 has some that say Cathedral Pass, some Cathedral Rock and others just Cathedral. Along with various smart phone apps and a GPS, I like to carry actual maps for trips. Day of trip I bought a Central Cascades map at REI. Map has name change to Squitch Lake, ends trail 1345 at Squitch Lake NOT at the trail head across the bridge over the Cle ELum River. Trail is there, in good shape with pit toilet and parking at the trail head.
On the drive out there was a road grader parked along side the road and small portion of the gravel wash board Cle Elum River Road had been graded.
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