Cathedral Rock, Deception Pass & Hyas Lake — Sunday, Sep. 21, 2014

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

We decided to celebrate the end of summer with a big loop hike. It was a long drive to Salmon la Sac, but it was a beautiful day and we were eager get to the backcountry. Just before crossing the bridge to the Salmon la Sac campground, forest road 4330 is marked. Turn right here for a rough twelve miles on a dirt road, before arriving at the parking lot and trailhead for both Cathedral Pass trail and Hyas Lake Trail. For our clockwise loop, we started at the Cathedral Pass Trailhead at ten o’clock. The trail ascends almost immediately. I counted eleven switchbacks before we arrived at the junction with the Trail Creek Trail, then another switchback before arriving at pretty little Squaw Lake. We continued to gain elevation until arriving at the Cathedral Pass area which was simply gorgeous with fall colors and many charming little tarns before finally attaining the intersection with the PCT, at 5500ft. We stopped here for lunch with a nice close-up view of Cathedral Rock. The PCT then began a slow descent, going around Cathedral Rock, then down and down some more for about three miles until reaching the dreaded stream crossing from a large unnamed stream that roars down from Mt. Daniel. Fortunately, someone had strategically placed a couple of logs across a relatively tranquil part of the stream and we were able to cross fairly easily. I will admit I was grateful to get a helping hand, thanks Keith. Once across this stream, we were about halfway through our loop, ascending again to Depception Pass at 4400 ft. We were happy to stop here for a break, and thank the hiking gods that it was all downhill from now on. We headed down the Hyas Lake Trail as quickly as we could, passing the intersection with the Robin Lakes Trail, then passing the Little Hyas Lake and the big Hyas Lake, then another couple of pleasant miles as the sun set over Cathedral Rock and we finally arrived back at the car to complete our fifteen mile loop, with approximately 2700 feet of elevation gain, for a super hike for the last Sunday of summer. See the link below for more pictures.

More Information on this Trip Report

• http://talkingwalking.blogspot.com/2014/09/another-extreme-day-hike.html