Route: We parked our car at the Snowgrass #96 trailhead until it intersected with the PCT 2000. We camped the night at the #96-PCT junction on 7/17/17 in a beautiful campsite with views and lots of snow patches. On 7/18/17 we headed south on the PCT toward Cispus Basin, through Cispus Pass, passing Sheep Lake and eventually camping at a lovely campsite .8 miles NE of sheep lake somewhat near a creek. On 7/19/17 we continued on the PCT to the junction with the Walupt Lake trail 101, where we headed west towards Walupt lake, eventually camping in the established campground for $18. On 7/20/17 we used trail 7A (Klickitat loop) to return to our car at the Snowgrass trailhead.
Conditions: Trail #96 was in good condition, and we only encountered snow on the trail once we arrived at Snowgrass flats; there was a good amount of snow in the area, especially as we reached 6400' elevation towards the intersection with the PCT, but it did not pose a problem for hiking. We explored north on the PCT towards Old Snowy Mountain where we encountered large snow patches on the trail and about 6 different groups of through hikers; the snow was deep but not impassable. The wildflowers were in bloom everywhere and gorgeous, as were the views. Heading south on the PCT from the intersection with trail #96 we encountered a large waterfall that was difficult to pass near Cispus Basin, and got our boots completely wet; this was one of the more dangerous crossings of the trip. Leading up to Cispus Pass the snow patches became much longer (100' or more) and on steeper terrain, and difficult to cross without sturdy boots and poles. South of Cispus Pass, the section of the trail through the Yakima Reservation was particularly challenging with very deep and steep snowbanks at the pass, and many long snow drifts and rockfall covering much of this section of the trail. This section was described by one through hiker as "hairy"."Treacherous" might be a more appropriate term; with this amount of snow the trail is inappropriate for children or people without poles and really good boots. After crossing a saddle and descending into the Sheep Lake basin there was far less snow, and the trail again became easy to hike, although there were many mosquitoes. The PCT south of Sheep Lake and the Walput Lake trail were both in very good condition. Trail 7A (Klickitat loop) leaving the vicinity of Walput Lake Horse camp was easy to find and follow until it intersected with the Cispus River. The river was high and fast, and the only reasonable river crossing was on a large old tree about 1/4 mile west of the trail. After this point the 7A trail conditions deteriorated. Upon intersections with old jeep trails/ logging roads (Rd 17, Rd 16), the trail was impossible to follow and seemed to disappear into the woods or merge with the roads. The Green Trails maps indicate the roads often parallel trail 7A so we followed the roads for a while but those too became completely overgrown and difficult to follow. We saw recent ATV tracks on some sections but other sections were completely impassible to any vehicle. Compass work and orienteering were necessary to locate the trail and eventual intersection with road 2150 back to the Snowgrass trailhead.
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