Mount Catherine — Friday, Aug. 19, 2022

The road has many wide undulating potholes and perhaps is at the limit of what a low clearance vehicle might be able to do, but I could not assess for sure because I was driving a high clearance. It was tricky to find the road, as Hyak Dr NE is signed as Hyak Dr E and it makes a sharp right at the utility facility where it is not signed properly and passes through a gate. In any case, as long as you trust the directions, you will get there. Do not miss the trail at the 4.4mi mark, or you will end up driving on much more terrible Rocky road where the PCT crosses. There isn’t exactly a proper parking lot at the TH. The TH is well-signed if you look for it.

The trail is well-marked. It is initially steep and then flattens out for a while after which there is a choice between a steep scramble or a less steep path (did not take) to the summit. The summit block is not particularly exposed, unless you walk the ridge to what looked like the true summit for extra adrenaline.

I was lucky to be hiking in the fog, so the heat and consequently the bugs were not an issue. I thought the views would be skunked out, but the fog settled by sunset when I reached the summit and the sunset was one of the best I’ve seen. Mt Rainier was faint from all the extra humidity, but now the fog passing below actually made for a really pleasing view! A couple mosquitoes did bite me at the summit.

Hiked back in the dark. All in all a great hike. There was nobody else at the summit or on the trail.