Quick weekend overnighter. A friend visiting town wanted something short, scenic, with daytrip options -- and Peggy's Pond it was.
The switchbacks up Cathedral Pass are mostly shaded, and with east-facing slopes, made for decent afternoon climb. At Nosh Nosh, we expected a pond but found a pleasant lake with some folks taking a quick swim. The rainbow trout were immense, swimming just a few feet from shore, unconcerned.
Continue up a gradual incline through meadows until you reach the intersection with the PCT. There is some cell service at this pass - the only section of the entire J-segment that I got reception.
Turn onto the bootpath for Peggy's Pond, and brace for some cliff-hugging with exposed scree tumbling down below. Be wary of your overnight pack ricocheting off the walls, and use your poles as a third point of contact.
At Peggy's Pond, there were many folks already camped out, having arrived the day before and spending their Saturday on Mt. Daniel. There are many sites on the higher ledges, but folks seemed too tired to scour, and placed their camps next to (or even on) the main trail.
There is a toilet to the north of the camp area, beside the large meadow. The creek in this area is considerably larger, clearer, and colder -- given it's the main meltflow for Mt Daniel's snowpack.
My East Coast visitor opted not to venture up Mt Daniel, but I've previously made it to the lower summits without any gear (around 7000' / 0.8mi). Most folks at the camp had proper gear and left in the early morning for the actual summit.
Mosquitoes were absurd, just like all these high-alpine lakes in July. Not the worst I've ever seen, but I was thankful for my bug headnet and bottle of picaridin. They were basically nonexistent during my last visit in September, when all the stagnant pools of melting snow had dried up.
Other popular destinations nearby you can stitch via the PCT include Tuck-Robin, Marmot-Jade, and Spade-Venus.
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