Hiked from Rainy Pass up to Cutthroat Pass for an overnight excursion. Some interesting creek crossings on way up, but otherwise trail in perfect shape. Set up camp at pass, and did a highly recommended side trip: Continue one mile north on the PCT to the overlook above the Swamp Creek drainage. (As mentioned in 100 Hikes guidebook). Not a cloud in the sky meant spectacular views in all directions. One of the most visually magnificent locations I've ever seen. Passed several interesting and one precarious occupied campsite between Cutthroat and Granite Passes along PCT. Recommend site approximately 1/8th of a mile past Cutthroat Pass below large boulder as a secluded and west wind protected site if you don't want to camp in one of the four established sites scattered around Cutthroat Pass. The wind blew all day Saturday and into early Sunday morning - then complete calm on Sunday. Began to appreciate the wind for the bug control factor. Once the breeze died down, the bugs showed up in force - bring plenty of bug juice and a cool temper to handle the frustration of being eaten alive. A few remaining patches of snow throughout the area provided ample supplies of snowmelt to filter, but in a week or two it will all be dry up high.

Saturday, risking the morning clouds, we headed all the way up to Rainy Pass for a hike up to Cutthroat Pass. As sometimes happens around here, the farther into the mountains we went, the sunnier the skies, until after 3-1/2 hours of driving we emerged from the car into full sunshine. Yay! An easy, steady grade; no difficult stream crossings (although one log bridge is cracked in half, it's still secure enough to cross); 360 degree views; and dry, eastern-side air combined for a stress-free, eye-full hike. We day-hiked over Cutthroat Pass to just above Granite Pass (at about 6-1/2 miles before we turned around to head back to the car. Some flowers are out, mostly heather. There were almost no bugs until we got back down to the car in the early evening when a swarm of mosquitos appeared. There's some water over the trail from snow melt, but otherwise it's in great shape.