Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass — Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023

We hiked the PCT from the trailhead above Meadows Campground at Harts Pass, past Tatie Peak to the ridge above Glacier Pass, including a short hike up the ridge east of and above the PCT where it switchbacks down to the pass.  I could not figure out where Grasshopper Pass is, as it is not labelled on any of my topographic maps and there is no signpost along the trail.  From the trail description, It seems that the pass labelled at Glacier Pass on the top maps may be Grasshopper Pass.

GETTING THERE           

The road up to the trailhead is rough, with lots of washboard even along the Lost River Road section.  We drove only 10-20 mph for most of the way up from the valley, so the drive in took longer than we had expected.  Neither 4wd nor high clearance are necessary, but be prepared to have your vehicle shaken up along the way.

ON THE TRAIL

We arrived at the trailhead at about 11:00 and found six cars in the small parking area.  Several of these belonged to a large family group who hiked only to the ridge before Tatie Peak.  Other than that group, we met only five day-hikers on the trail.  A handful of PCT through-hikers passed us on their way north, all happy to be nearing the end of their long adventure. 

For much of the way, the trail makes a grand arc along the open, south and east slopes of a steep ridge.  The views are marvelous in all directions except west. You gain western views just before reaching Tatie Peak, and again at the end of the trail.  Because most of the trail goes across open scree slopes, you can see almost all of the trail both behind and in front of you as you hike along, which provides an interesting perspective. The trail is in good shape and the grades are moderate all the way.    

The hike was a perfect one to celebrate the end of summer and transition to autumn. The sky was cloudless and although the trailhead offered a cool 43^oF, the temperature hovered around 60-65^oF on the trail in the sun.  The high peaks were sparkling with a new fall of snow (about two inches seemed to have fallen around the trailhead) and snow still lingered in the shady spots and even along the higher parts of the trail.  The larches were only beginning to turn from green to yellow, not yet fully into their autumn slender, but the red of the blueberry bushes and the yellows and oranges of the mountain azaleas and mountain ashes contrasted wonderfully with the new snow.   We felt very lucky to be there while the snow still lingered.  By the time we hiked back to the trailhead, most of the snow was gone from the south-facing slopes.

The views from the trail Were constant and gorgeous.  We enjoyed picking out all of the peaks that we could name in the Pasayten and North Cascades.  Unfortunately, the low angle of the sun made for poor photography of the latter, but we savored the views nevertheless.  All in all, it was a lovely day hike and a great way to end another gorgeous summer in the PNW.