Smithbrook, Lake Janus and Grizzly Peak — Monday, Aug. 29, 2022

When I arrived at the Smith Brook Trail trailhead there were only a few other cars. When I got back in the afternoon the place was packed with lots of cars parked along the road. Most of these hikers were going to Lake Valhalla. The first 1/4 mile of the trail needs to be brushed out. Note there is no restroom at this trailhead. With as popular as this trail is you would think the Forest Service would have installed a one by now. They have three for the Iron Goat Trail. Once I got up to the trail junction with the PCT at Union Gap I turned right to head north on the PCT. After a short snack break, I started down the trail on my search for the old junction with the Cascade Crest Trail about a mile from Union Gap.

Last year on September 1st I hiked the PCT 4 miles north of Stevens Pass and found the junction with the old Cascade Crest Trail 1.5 miles south of Lake Valhalla. My 1973 Green Trails map showed the CCT trail (this was the trail route prior to the present day PCT being rerouted to go through Union Gap and by Lake Valhalla) going to Trico Pass with a trail junction. The trail west went to meet the Kelley Creek Trail and the one north went 4 miles to Lake Janus. I have seen old Forest Service trail signs at this junction. The old CCT trail is also shown on the 1964 Pargeter 3-D map, "The North Cascades" by Richard Pargetter as "NM", not maintained.

After getting to the area on the PCT where I thought the old CCT was located I could not find any sign of it. No old blazes or cut logs. Plus, the berry bushes and brush are pretty heavy. Also, no sign of the old trail being used as a game trail. So, looks like this section of the old CCT is lost forever. It was now about lunch time, so I found a good log to sit on in the shade with no bugs flying around. I did meet a few thru hikers on the PCT going north. One guy was from the Czech Republic and had started his trip on May 4th. from the Mexico border.

When I finished lunch, I headed back to Union Gap. Along the way I could see a meadow down below the PCT, so decided to check it out. I hiked down through the forest to get a good view of it. Years ago, there used to be a packbackers campsite by the meadow. It was mentioned in the book, "High Trails, A Guide to the Cascade Crest Trail" by Robert H. Wills published in 1962. This meadow has a stream wondering though it.

From Union Gap I headed back down the Smithbrook Trail to the parking lot. Meet lots of hikers going to and from Lake Valhalla. One young woman said it was a "zoo". Someone's dog kept barking the whole time she was at the lake. So, head to Lake Janus instead for a quieter time.

I had fun looking for the old Cascade Crest Trail off the PCT, even though I did not find it. During my two trips through Union Gap, I never met Gary Puckett. He didn't show up. George