The final 12 miles on Forest Road 4330 to Tucquala Meadows Trailhead seemed to take forever. Even in our Toyota Truck this very dusty and bumpy road is no fun to drive. When we arrived at eight in the morning there were already nine cars parked, but as it turned out mostly belonging to campers. Later that afternoon the lot was packed, and personnel from the Forest Service was placing 'friendly reminders' on the windshields of all cars without valid trail passes. A contractor was busy at work on the boot and hoove beaten trail, with plans to perform work on 4 1/2 miles. Not much flower activity left besides some patches of Devil's Club. Above Squaw Lake,however, after passing the first pond,a lovely small meadow covered with 'summer's last flower': Mountain Bog Gentians with their deep blue colors! Had our lunch on the ridge overlooking Deep Lake, watching the camping activities way below in the ' Bug Hole' as a lady from the Forest Service jokingly referred to this very popular place.We ran into half a dozen more parties on our way out with the same destination. Strolled around for a couple hours on the PCT, admiring the surrounding scenery and headed back.A wonderful late summer day

AUGUST 14, 2000 – CATHEDRAL ROCK TRAIL #1345 Green Trail Stevens Pass What great scenery! I have long wanted to explore the regions around Cathedral Rock, and finally made it happen today. The 12 or so miles of dirt road past Salmon la Sac is fine, and the driving ford of Scatter Creek easy now, with only 8” of so of water over the road. It was fun to see the destination of Cathedral Rock from the trailhead. The bridge crossing the Cle Elum River near the trailhead is indeed broken and sags close to the water. One can still cross it carefully, but any high water puts it under and I can’t imagine it’ll withstand a snowload from this coming winter. I made fairly quick time up the steep forested trail – pretty forest, rocky rough trail in many places, and this late in the year lacking flowers at this point. I made it up the 1450’ and 2+ miles to Squaw Lake in a little over an hour, as I wanted to get up high fast to enjoy a leisurely pace up above exploring. After a very steep climb out of the lake basin the ridge became more open and alpine, and the collection of small ponds along the trail made for beautiful foregrounds for Cathedral Rock looming to the north and the Granite Mountain ridge across the valley to the east. I took a break at the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail, then started my time exploring in all directions. First I headed towards Deception Pass north on the PCT and thoroughly enjoyed the unending views that exist basically continually between Cathedral Pass and Deception Pass. After burning numerous rolls of film here, I backtracked and went south on the PCT a little ways to the junction to Peggy’s Pond, where views of Mount Daniel and down to Deep Lake are enough to knock your socks off. I had thoughts of going that route as well, but opted to relax awhile and scramble around the area with my photography gear, which left me happily rewarded with images and some good wildflowers in the area. I also was entertained for over 20 minutes watching a pair of Western Tanagers hunting like bandits, hovering slowly near trees picking up the flying insects. I even think one cool looking yellow dragonfly became an afternoon snack – these birds are magnificent hunters when watched in detail like I was able to – at times they were no more than 15’ from me! I also saw an active group of five Mountain Chickadees bouncing all over the Mountain Hemlocks around me as I loaded up for the crashing hike back outta there. The 2300’ and 4.5 miles out from Cathedral Pass to the trailhead took a mer 1 ¼ hours and I was sippin’ a 64 oz. Gatorade and listening to bluegrass music all the way out the leisurely dirt road drive back to life. A great day and a first poke into areas I need to spend more time exploring further up the valley and many of the sidetrails off of the road on the way in (Scatter Creek, Paris Creek, etc…). Alan L. Bauer 8/14/00

After hearing about and reading about Mt Daniel for quite a while, we decided it was time to give this one a shot, with one key variation from the standard: we wanted to do the whole thing as a one-dayer. We figured by doing it this way we could go lighter and faster, and also maybe avoid some of the ugly bug situation we had read about... We left Seattle at 4:30 am, and arrived at the trailhead at 6:30. After breakfast and packing up, we hit the trail at about 7:15. The bridge just after the parking lot looks near total collapse, but it is still crossable. It was quiet and cool and bug-free the whole way up. The Cathedral Rock trail is in good shape, excepting for all the horse doodoo. It is quite rocky in places too, and the horses hooves have worsened the situation by chopping up the trail and knocking loose many large stones. Just after passing the Pacific Crest Trail (which crosses this trail) you reach Cathedral Pass, and a bit after that, as you start to head down toward the lake, where the main trail makes a big switch back, continue straight on a narrow climbers trail (this is the trail to Peggys Pond). Currently there is a sign on the ground about the trail being bad for stock, but no trail name or number. This trail undulates along the ridge behind Cathedral Rock, up and down along a very narrow track, and over and through some nasty sections of rocks and shrubs, some parts also including exposure (nice drop off the trail). The trail is not well built or well maintained, but passable to all but very timid hikers. Luckily, this part was still in shade, so it wasnt too bad, but slow and wearing nonetheless. After completing this traverse, you arrive at Peggy's Piddle, and a bit further up, at Peggy's Pond. It took us a little less than 3 hours from the trailhead, clipping right along. From the pond, a fairly obvious but unmaintained trail continues up valley into the obvious glacial moraine, and follows a stream, up and over some glacially-scrubbed slickrock. We went up right next to the stream / waterfall, but found the going easier on the way down by staying further to the side instead. The meadows around and above Peggy's Pond were wonderful - wildflowers everywhere! And there were also lots of marmots in the rocks just up from the pond, including juveniles. After the rock scramble, we got to snow. Decision time. The most traveled route veered left up through snow to the rock ridge, and followed that all the way around to the far side of the bowl. Another option is to veer right, and climb up a steep snow colouir. Although this looked fast and more direct, it was already 11 a.m., and we didnt trust the snow conditions on that steep narrow chute. Instead, we decided to go right up the gut of the bowl, over the glacial remains. Crampons and ice axe were key, even at this late hour, as the slope is still quite steep. We decided not to rope up, although we had brought rope and harnesses, as the glacier here has withered to nothing - its now really just a snowfield - no crevassing of any sort. Toward the top of the steepest section, approaching the ridge, we had to help another climber down. He was having a panic attack as he realized how steep the slope was and how he was crossing above a rocky cliff band. A slip here (or anywhere along the ridge traverse on the snow) without self-arrest ability could be fatal. On up to the ridge we went, enjoying a lunch stop with views of Rainier and other peaks to the East and South, and then we continued traversing and climbing slightly over to the East Peak. We jettisoned the crampons there, and traversed on a loose rocky trail to the Middle Peak, and over snow and trail and rock scrambling ultimately to the West Peak (true summit). 1:30 pm, and we were the only people up there at that late hour! It took us about 3 hours from Peggys Pond to the summit. We signed the register, took photos, and rested a bit. The weather was mixed, and thin clouds were swirling around the summit, somewhat obscuring our views of some of the bigger peaks in the distance, but the views were wonderful nonetheless! 2 pm rolled around - our predetermined turnaround time - and we began to head back down. We were feeling pretty wasted already, and any uphill sections, even brief ones, were really killing us. After clearing the traverse section above the rocky cliff band in the bowl, we glissaded down to the bottom, stripped our snow gear, and began the hike back through the rocks to Peggys Pond, being whistled at by the marmots (pikas'). 1.5 hours from the summit to the pond. The ugly Peggys Pond trail section from the piddle back to Cathedral Pass nearly killed us - we were pooped, and the sun was beating on us. Too many short and steep uphill scrambling sections for that late in the day! But we finally reached the pass, and after a short break, continued on down to the trailhead, ultimately stumbling out to the parking lot about 2 hours after leaving Peggys Pond. What a day trip! Total of 11 hours round trip, including several stops. Its probably about 15 miles, and around 5000 feet of elevation gain (including all the ups and downs). A long trip, no doubt, but a good way to go if you want to avoid shlepping overnight gear and avoid bugs (we experienced no bugs to speak of at all).

trail is passable for horses. very few bugs on trail and at deep lake..some big horse flies ...well maintained trail...

Took our scout troop to Squaw Lake overnight on the 24th and 25th of June; perfect weather for hiking on the way in with mist and temperatures in the fifties, giving way to clear blue skies and temps in the 70's in the afternoon. Not too many other hikers other than a party of three men planning to climb Mt. Daniels and a family with two domestic goats who seemed to be natural hikers. Scattered patchy snow almost from the trailhead, with the wood bridge at the start half-collapsed and partly submerged in the creek. Would suggest stationing someone down-creek with a line or pole just in case. The trail soon dries up and is clear with some running water for the next mile and a half. About half a mile from the lake, the snow cover becomes constant and most parties (including us) lost the trail, which is not really a problem - be sure to take a map and compass and follow any of the various sets of tracks, but be sure to stay south of the outlet stream (your left going in) and you can't miss the lake. Camped on snow at Squaw, which was beautiful, clear and bug-free! The road north from Salmon la Sac is clear and dusty, but the creek crossing about 7 miles in is 14 to 18 inches deep and moving pretty swiftly. Advise four-wheel drive capacity and 6-8 inches of ground clearance. If anyone finds my front license plate (WA 290 ESL) in the creek, please e-mail me at: sailei@msn.com - thanks!