Mount Catherine — Friday, Sep. 24, 2004

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

After doing Gothic Basin the day before, I figure an easier hike was in order. So Sally and I picked hiking up Mt. Catherine near Snoqualmie Pass as neither of us had been up it. After a short road walk from the trailhead, the trail begins switchbacking up through the trees to the ridge top. The trail then follows the ridge with views to the north and the Snoqualmie Pass area. A few more switchbacks and we were a short distance from the summit. An old electical box laying by the trail is passed from when a radio beacon was installed on Mt. Catherine in the 1930's for airplanes going over the pass. The last section to the top is steep and muddy with an old piece of wire cable to use as a hand hold. From the summit at 5,052' we had a nice view south to Mt. Rainier, with Silver Peak just across the valley. Up north are the peaks of the Snoqaulmie Pass area, great views all around. The summit did have some other visiters, a hoard of gnats. Met only three other parties on the trail. There were lots of different types of mushroom popping out. The radio beacon is long gone but the nice hike is still here. Only one mud hole to get over. Check this one out.