I tackled this portion of the PCT, and have conflicting feelings regarding the hike. On one hand, the trail was scenic, and there were a ton of ripe blueberries all within grabbing distance. On the other hand, a portion of the trail is pretty overgrown and the biting flies were absolutely merciless. They were persistent through multiple applications of deep woods DEET, and managed to go right through my compression socks and sleeves. I stayed at the lake for about 5 minutes before hightailing it back up the PCT. Maybe I'll try it again later in the year when the insects die off a bit. Until then, I have a ton of itchy mementos about my trip to Lake Janus.

We started our hike to Lake Janus from the trailhead on the Smith Brook Road off Highway 2 just east of Stevens Pass. Only two cars at the parking lot when we arrived. We hiked the Smith Brook Trail up to Union Gap at 4,700' and took a snack break at some fallen trees that make a good bench. Then we headed north on the PCT to the lake through old growth forest. The trail switchbacks down and crosses over the first boulder field. A little further on we could see down through the trees to a nice meadow with a pond. This was the site of the old Meadow Camp but has not been used by backpackers for many years. The trail continues down hill and comes to the second, bigger boulder field where the trail now goes back up hill and over a ridge. Then down hill on a horseshoe curve the trail crosses a creek with a waterfall. From the creek it is only a ten minute hike to the lake. We took a side trail off the PCT and found a shady spot by the lake shore for lunch. Another senior couple was leaving the lake when we arrived, so we had it for ourselves, as no one else was there. Janus Lake is 29 acres and 40 feet deep in the middle. Years ago it had a wood pole/cedar shake shelter for backpackers. After we sat down and started eating, some black flies showed up and wanted us for their lunch. We watched a Barrow's Goldeneye duck and her eight ducklings paddling by. The ducklings would dive under water to feed. There were a lot of tadpoles in the lake, so maybe they were eating them. Trout were jumping out of the water to get the black flies and a lone dragon fly was also getting some of them for its lunch. As we ate our lunch at the quiet lake, we could hear it coming from the southwest. Soon it was just over our heads and low over the lake, then banking sharply to the left and gone in a flash. It was a lone Navy jet from the WINAS. The loud roar did not bother the little ducklings, they just kept paddling along. When we left the lake on our hike back, we met a lone senior woman who was backpacking and going to camp at the lake. About halfway back to Union Gap a younger couple passed us who had camped up at the meadow near Grizzly Mtn. Further on we met another senior backpacker who was also going to Janus Lake. He had started his trip on the PCT from Stevens Pass. After a break at Union Gap we headed down the Smith Brook Trail where we met more hikers going and coming from Lake Valhalla. In our two trips through Union Gap, we never did see Gary Puckett. The hike to Lake Janus is 6.5 miles round trip. The Smith Brook Road is rough from all the loose gravel on the surface, no big pot holes. There is no restroom at the trailhead parking lot. The first 1/4 mile of the Smith Brook Trail is overgrown and needs brushing. Also the PCT at the second boulder crossing is overgrown with Thimbleberry bushes and Bracken ferns. You need to watch your footing. We had another great hike in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. Bugs not bad except for a few pesky black flies at the lake.

I began my hike pretty early, hitting the trailhead at about 6:30am. The road to the trailhead is roughly the same as in previous years if you've hiked this before. It's passable by any standard vehicle, but pretty rough in parts. It's slightly more difficult to dodge the potholes than I remember from previous years, so they must be getting worse. I wasn't sure what to expect from the trail this early in the season given the lower-than-average snow pack. I hiked to Union Gap a couple years ago in late June, for reference, and the trail was flooded and covered in snow as well as fallen trees. This year the trail is completely free of snow. I saw only one patch of snow near the trail the entire way and it was small enough to likely be gone by the time you read this. There is one fallen tree maybe half a mile on the way up Smithbrook, but I believe its from two years ago and has been cut in half and you can navigate it pretty easily. The trail is in excellent condition. You could have told me I was hiking in September and I would have believed you. Water levels at the creek crossings, which are never particularly difficult anyway, are low. Small patches of mud exist, but are easily stepped over. I did not continue on to grizzly peak, but I did not see any visible snow on it. I hike this trail mainly trying to find birds that are unusual for Snohomish County (trail enters SnoCo after Union Gap). Nothing particularly rare yesterday, unfortunately. Complete checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23819528

Smith Brook Rd is snow-free for at least the first 3 miles, but unless you have an off-road vehicle, it will be difficult to drive much farther than 1.5 miles up Smith Brook Rd. The road is deeply rutted and the rut snakes back and forth up the road for approx 1/4 mile. This leaves you with a ~1.5 mile road walk up to the Smith Brook trailhead, which isn't so bad. The first section of the actual Smith Brook trail is covered in snow, but once you start climbing the snow disappears and doesn't return until close to Union Gap. PCT towards Lake Valhalla was covered in snow but seemed navigable based on what I saw from Union Gap. I walked approx 1/4 mile on the PCT towards Lake Janus/Grizzly and it had some patchy snow but nothing too bad. More pics and details here: http://evergreenendurance.com/2015/05/14/trip-report-smithbrook-rd-and-union-gap/

The trail between Smithbrook creek and the lake is snow-free, but wet so wear waterproof shoes. The lake is a small, pretty lake with multiple campsites. The meadow around the lake is flooded with water.