Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail — Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023

Got to the parking lot at 7 a.m. The main lot was already full but found a spot not far away. The road in is short so the potholes shouldn't present any problems if you go slow.
It was a chilly 37 degrees when we started but very worth it as it helped avoid the crowds. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. You are in the trees for about 3 miles. Then you start to gain elevation a bit faster and the larches start. This is also where you lose a lot of pace as you can't stop taking pictures because it is so beautiful. For a hike to a pass, it never felt hard or like the elevation change was difficult. If you still have energy after you get to the pass, keep going on the PCT for more views. We went about another mile (stopped as the trail was starting to lose elevation), and the views were worth it. While not nearly as busy as Maple Pass it progressively kept getting busier as we hiked out.