I gave the road a “rough but passable” vote as the potholes to the parking lot are getting significant.  We arrived, on a poor weather Friday a bit before 10am, to find a spot to park on the side in the lot.

Trail is generally in great condition.  Trees all around had a dusting of snow.  Once we got maybe 2 miles in, after the Porcupine Creek crossing, there was snow on the trail. It got deeper, to a few inches, as we progressed.  In the morning, there were slick spots where either water in the trail bed had frozen, or feet had really compressed the snow.  

The larch report: moving from gold to brown in the lower basin near the established campsites, and branches losing their needles in the upper basin and pass area.  Snow and wind became more of an issue towards the top - winter is definitely coming on!  

From now on, recommendation is to carry microspikes, poles, plenty of warm gear including hand warmers.  Don’t forget a thermos!

Hike was amazing. Larches were on prime. Saw many people walking on their dog and leaving the poop bag behind. Parking was crowded. In general lot of people on trail. If you doing day hike plan ahead especially on larch season. Parking situation was bad. Also , no water sources on top so plan for a water.

Very busy day on the trail (no surprise on a gorgeous fall day!), but most hikers were very friendly and polite with good trail etiquette. Parking was already a quarter mile or so down the road at 730 am. A few questionable parking decisions, but overall not bad. Many dogs, almost all on leashes. Several dog waste bags spotted off to the side of the trail, not sure what's going on there..

As recent reports indicate, larches are past peak at lower elevations, but at or near peak the higher up you go, so there's still a lot to see! Highly recommend going all the way to the pass; the trail seems to keep going on forever toward the end but it's well worth it as the view of the other side is amazing.

Several water sources on the way up including Porcupine Creek and several waterfalls on the side of the trail, but nothing at higher elevations, so plan ahead.

Larches are just about past prime, specifically in the lower elevations. Once you crest the pass it gets a lot better.

Saturday was the only day I had available to see any larches before I leave town and the season comes to a close. I chose Cutthroat for its gentle grade but longer mileage. Plus, have never seen it in larch prime time.

I regret this. I wish I had gone to Carne Mountain or even Lake Ingalls. I woke up at 2am, arrived promptly at 6:15am and still had to park down the road 1/2 mile from the trailhead. The crowds weren’t so bad at first. About 10 people in line for the bathroom, but once on trail the groups dispersed a bit. Trail is in great condition as always. Beautiful views, can’t beat the I’m North Cascades in fall. The larches were shaded in ythe early morning and also starting to pale, so weren’t terribly impressive until a half mile or so before the pass. Made good time to the pass stopping a lot for photos. Went about a mile or so beyond to get some solitude. It was busy up there but not insane…yet. By the time I finished lunch there was a cacophony of voices and dog barks as dozens of people wandered around the top. The hike down was a non stop train of people. Large groups and soooooo many dogs. PLEASE, LEASH YOUR DOG and for the love of god just carry the poop with you and don’t leave steaming bags of dog crap lining the trail :)

When I returned to the highway I was shocked at the parking insanity. I saw a couple parking jobs that were comically stupid. Some real douche bags out there. I was stalked back to my car by an SUV hoping to take my spot as soon as I left. Good luck to them. It was a tight squeeze in my compact car. The line of cars extended for MILES down the highway on both sides. Hundreds of cars.

If you don’t like crowds, dogs, noise…or if you’re a mountain snob like me maybe don’t choose Cutthroat or Maple Pass or Blue Lake on the last sunny Saturday of March season. Never again.

a bit busy