Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail, Golden Horn - Snowy Lakes — Saturday, Sep. 23, 2023

We lay inert in our sleeping bags, the relative warmth dampening any motivation to emerge from our thin shelter into the moist clouds dancing about. Stillness.

Our journey to this moment had been long. Our milage from the newly reopened Rainy Pass Trailhead, and our ascent into the fall glory via an immaculate trail were simple enough. However, this was not our intended destination. Other plans had been made well in advance, a long drive to an east side trailhead completed, stomach flu (or food poisoning) ensued one mile from the car, an unplanned stay in a hotel, a long drive back to drop off the sick hiking partner, and finally a drive to Rainy Pass to make something of what should have been four days of meadows, lakes and peaks. I’ve been to Snowy Lakes as recently as two years ago; however, it made a good quick alternate (with an attempt to minimize time in the car and maximize time on the trail).

Visiting Friday and Saturday allowed us to enjoy this segment without the thru-hiker masses, and observe some of the recent changes to the area including: a new trail from the PCT to the lakes, and a toilet at the junction and Lower Snowy Lake.

After some early clouds shielding the high peaks covered in powdered sugar snow, we ascended to the lakes in the golden glow of the first evening sun of autumn. Many ripe larches caught the low angled rays, other larches haven’t received the memo but will undoubtedly with this week’s incoming weather. After enjoying a peaceful night, we were pleasantly surprised to have a nearly rain-free hike back to the car passing in and out of clouds catching the occasional glimpse of far away places.

Nothing beats fall in the North Cascades regardless of a change in plans.