Cutthroat Lakes via Walt Bailey Trail — Sunday, Sep. 8, 2002

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

This superbly planned and lovingly maintained trail is as good as any in a National Park. My 11 year old managed the entire way with a full pack, though the going gets a bit tough after the avalanche chute is passed at about 2 miles. A dose of ""Deep Woods OFF"" was enough to deter the mosquitoes, though I imagine that bugs could be brutal during the summer months, what with several marshy pocket-sized meadows along the way. A hyperbole of frogs on which my son counted coup, catching and releasing at least thirty. Huckleberries and blueberries are ripe - we collected three quarts, and a lesson in labor intensiveness was learned. Lots of bear sign. Lakes are swimmable. Many hot tub sized tarns in the beautiful Japanese-like gardens. Some beadlilly and shooting stars in evidence. This is a wonderful, varied hike - we are in debt to Walt Bailey. Collected a sulphur polypore mushroom on the return for a casserole that evening. Could this trail go through to Ashland Lakes or is it not maintained beyond Bald Mtn.? We will be returning to see.