Lots of large blowdowns over the trail in the first mile, but after that the trail was in good condition with just a few small logs and a couple of muddy patches. Bugs were really bad - lots of mosquitos and some biting flies - it felt like we needed to reapply bug spray every 30 minutes or they would get us again. My husband didn’t apply as often and only had one layer of clothing, so got bitten pretty badly at the top of the pass.

However, even with all of that, the trail was beautiful and so worth it! The hike takes you from a vast wildflower meadow through the forest on a few long switchbacks along streams and waterfalls up to an alpine meadow with peek-a-boo peaks,filled with more flowers and huckleberry bushes (should be delicious later in the summer!), and dotted with small alpine lakes. Cathedral rock stands above as you head toward the pass, and disappears as you get near. At the top of the pass you can hang out on some lovely rocks for a snack and gaze over the next valley dominated by Mount Daniel.

The grade on the way down is pretty easy on the knees, and you get to see everything again! Just try to remember how you got around the blowdowns on the way up, because you’ll have to do the same again.

The road out is in good condition, with some washboarding but no potholes to speak of. It has a creek running over it at one point that I wouldn’t want to try in a low clearance vehicle - only saw SUVs, crossovers, and trucks at the trailhead.

Spent two nights at Nosh Nosh Wahtum plus a day hike further up to Cathedral Rock. My two sons and I had the lake all to ourselves for the two nights, perhaps because of mosquitoes bad enough that we had to wear netting most times out of our tent, even during the day.  Note the mosquitoes were far worse up the trail at the junction with the PCT.  We saw six other groups of backpackers (13 total) and 2 day hikers during our trip, all headed to further flung destinations. The lake water was surprisingly warm for an alpine lake and we spent a lot of time swimming. This lake has a back country toilet which was clean and appeared to be recently serviced.

Road: Is in very good condition for a gravel road.  Well graded, no potholes, barely any rutting.  I drove an Outback, but would happily drive a 2 wheel drive sedan along this. The ford was running about 8 inches deep at most, note that the left-hand side of the ford (driving in) is shallower than the right.

Trailhead: 8 cars total parked on a Wednesday afternoon (July 5th), toilet was clean but had no toilet paper (only gets serviced weekly).

Trail: had been brushed, but had several blowdowns as others have described.  The first at 0.3 miles appears to have been recently removed.  The biggest ones are at 0.5 and 0.6 miles in and require a minor detour and some clambering to pass.  Lots of loose rocks up to Nosh Nosh Wahtum, the trail was clearer and easier from there to Cathedral Rock.

No cameras or phones found per previous reports!

If anyone found a nice Fuji camera near the PCT junction please let me know. guilds300d@gmail.com thanks.

A beautiful day out in Salmon La Sac!! Started off from Cathedral trailhead at 12pm on the dot. 

*Stream running through Cle Elum Valley Road about a mile before the trailhead; my Subaru Forester JUST made it through the foot and a half of running water so beware of that!*

About a half mile into the trail, there is a large down tree obstructing the trail, so I would recommend Gaia Maps just so you know how to get back on the trail. Otherwise, beautiful trail with lots of little steam-waterfalls. The flies and mosquitoes were a bit of a bother, but eucalyptus oil repelled them from actually biting. 

I only went up to Nosh Nosh Wahtum to check out the campground and it is beautiful and completely melted! Looks like a great camping area for the longer trek that is Deep Lake. 

From trailhead to Nosh and back, was almost exactly 5 miles and took me about 2 hours up and down. Have fun!!

Scatter Creek ford was running pretty high. High clearance vehicles only.

I didn't go far up the trail, maybe to 3800 feet. There was large blowdown across the trail in several locations.