Cutthroat Pass had been on my list for a while as a good larch march - I've tried Lakes Ingalls and Valhalla, also Maple Pass and those were a little too busy for what I liked. Left North Everett around 10:45 in a steady downpour Wednesday morning and reached the PCT/Cutthroat Pass Trailhead in 2.5 hours with a short stop at Diablo Overlook to survey the fire damage - my last trip through here was the last week of July heading back from Bridge Creek just days after the Sourdough Fire started. Making the left turn from Highway 20, I was a little surprised not to see any cars parked on the shoulder at Maple Pass - usually there's quite an overflow from that parking lot. Maybe the rain near the city kept everyone away. Good reminder to check the weather at your destination, not at your starting location.
I took one of the 2 remaining marked spots in the Cutthroat Pass parking lot, and counted 8 people ahead of me on the day's trailhead register. High-40s and overcast to start, but my intent was to run, so I had on running pants, a long-sleeve shirt, gloves, hat, and a running pack with a light rain jacket and wind pants inside just in case.
The trail rises gently the whole way to the pass, just under 2000 feet in just over 5 miles, and was in good condition if not a little soggy. No rain, but recent snow melting from the branches above made you second-guess the weather conditions. Larches (and wet snow) started around 6000 feet, both of which slow the pace by their beauty and lack of traction, respectively.
Made it to the pass in about 1:20 and decided to continue to the lake, which can be seen from the pass, 2000 feet below you. It was raining slightly around the lake, so I turned around about 2:10 into the journey and headed back up toward the pass. There is a failing bridge along the trails around the lake which I missed on the way down and had to maneuver around on the way back up.
Back at the pass an hour later, a wintry mix was moving in, and the slushy snow and mud puddles sent me for my one fall of the day - a side-step that intended to take me around a mud puddle which instead sent me laying right in it - go figure.
The remaining hour was trying to keep the feet moving and the hands warm with snow turning to rain down low. Saw one hiker coming up but no other cars at the trailhead. About 20 people total and 3 nice dogs.
Garmin stats: 18.26 miles, 3926 gain, 4:05 elapsed time.
Comments