Cutthroat Lakes via Walt Bailey Trail — Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Gave it two weeks after the recent 'too much snow' reports to give this trail a first try, and it was worth it. Amazing amounts of work were put into building the trail. Generally good condition up about 1.5 miles, right before the cliffs mentioned in the 100 hikes book. There you come into avalanche debris, just head down and across the creek, you will see the trail. The trail traverses west across this snowy area almost level, though right now you have to go around a snow cave. Once you eventually get to the other side and cross one more stream, the trail is clear all the way up the pass and beyond. We did not go beyond the pass to the lake, but it looked mostly melted out. Two questions: How did they get that much crushed rock up there? Horse? Snowmobile? Is it spelled Baily or Bailey? [Online Editor's note: 1) Sometimes that use helicopters to deliver gravel. 2) Yes it shoulde be Bailey, not Baily.]