Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass

This section was one of great inspiration for future adventures. There were so many trails to take and lakes to see beyond the PCT. I could probably spend the rest of my life creating different routes between the two highways that bookend this section and see something different every time. 

Even just on the PCT southbound in this section (technically called section J) there was so much to see that words can’t seem to capture it all. My pictures probably don’t come close either, but they might get closer than words would.

Day 1

I passed many lakes out of Stevens Pass. These included Hope and Mig lakes (one of the two is the first picture below), and Trap lake, in the lower picture.

Night one I spent under a slightly smokey sky at Glacier Lake, which is about 4 miles from its own trailhead. It was pretty enough and close enough to a trailhead to make me want to bring friends here on overnight adventures, or create a couple night loop starting here and ending at Stevens Pass or the trailhead that leads to Trap lake. I also had a pika pop its head out just outside my tent!

Day 2

As I ascended out of the lake basin the next morning, I got some awesome reflections off of a pond that was so still you can hardly tell it was there.

Then, a bit further up, I could see why the lake below was called Glacier Lake – in the distance I could see Glacier Peak. It isn’t super clear in the picture below, but I was just happy that most of the smoke from the evening before had cleared.

In the afternoon, I switched into shorts for the Mt. Daniels ford, and then got to finally hike through the area where I had done a backcountry trail work trip in 2022.

The area still seemed pretty clear of blow downs, which was very rewarding to see. One of the areas that I did a lot of work on is above – it might not look crazy now, but the entire trail in this image was covered in blowdowns and tree debris when we started clearing it out with handsaws and a cross cut saw. Chainsaws can’t be used in this area as it is designated as a wilderness area. 

I camped in the same place that we had used as a base camp for the trail work, with a great view of Cathedral Rock towering above. This area is also close to a trail head, and gave me more ideas for future backpacking trips. Using this trail to access Peggy’s Pond, and to maybe do a late season scramble up Mt. Daniels is now on my list of things to do.

Unfortunately this tent site had been poorly used in the recent past – and by that I mean someone pooped right in camp, and didn’t properly bury their waste/toilet paper.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen toilet paper near the trail and tent sites. So, if you are headed out into the woods, or just curious, check out the USFS webpage on using the facili-trees here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/recreation/?cid=fseprd739027, or from the NPS here: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/number-2.htm.

Day 3

A lot of day 3 was not as scenic as other days in this section, but that was more than made up for by the unending buffet of blueberries. There bushes were absolutely loaded with berries, and I picked as I walked. 

Near the end of the day, I climbed out of the valley, gaining views of Waptus Lake and Bearsbreast Mountain. 

Day 4

The next morning I meandered through beautiful and healthy alpine meadows. It was a no camping zone, and I could see why – there wasn’t much ground where you could camp and not destroy sensitive vegetation. I caught peekaboo views of a snowy peak that I assumed (correctly) was Mt. Rainier. Can you spot it behind the ridge in the picture below?

As I came around a curve on the trail, I entered a patchy old burn zone and the ridge line across the valley opened up into a jaw dropping vista. (Pictures really aren’t doing this one justice, but in this case for me, jaw dropping was literal.) An epically long waterfall cascaded down the other side of the valley wall, fed by glaciers on the rocky slopes above. Two red-tailed hawks swooped through the old burn, which had created perfect hunting grounds for them. 

Just when I though it couldn’t get any better, it did – a hoary marmot appeared, and I stopped, gazing on in wonder. I am not super enthusiastic about most rodents, but hoary marmots are a whole different ball game. I love those fluff balls. They might be my spirit animal. 

It was a long descent to the valley floor and then a bit of a climb up from it to get to Spectacle Lake, where I swam and camped for the evening.

Day 5

I started out with a steep climb away from Spectacle Lake, with the view of the lake and its peninsula morphing as I gained elevation. At the lowest elevation, it looks pretty small, but as I gain elevation, the pictures reveal the peninsula that divides the two parts of the lake, as well as the rest of the lake.

Once I got to ridge above, I said goodbye to Spectacle Lake and hello to exposed, dry, rocky hiking for the rest of the day. This too came with rewards though – views of the Four Brothers immediately above me, the lonely nub of Huckleberry Mountain, and Joe Lake, which was too far below to be used as a water source. In the picture of Joe Lake below, you can see the thin line of the PCT cutting through the talus and rock slopes above the lake.

For lunch I stopped at a saddle in the ridge. To the south, I could see Mt. Rainier, and to the north I could see Glacier Peak – although it was further away than on day 2, the air had cleared up enough that the picture shows the peak much more clearly. It was awesome to get to sit in one place with views of both mountains and chow down the remainder of my lunch supplies for the trip.

Day 6

I woke up early on the last day, hoping I could catch sunrise on Kendall Katwalk and make it easier to meet my ride home at 10:45 at the trailhead. The views as I hiked out of Ridge Lake were awesome – I could see sunrise happening on both sides of the ridge in some places.

I hoofed it to make it to the Katwalk before I lost the sunrise. Sadly, I didn’t quite make it, but I still got very cool lighting while eating breakfast there. It was probably the only time I’ll ever be alone on that stretch of trail – it’s a popular day hike.

As I descended off the ridge, I got some more views of Mt. Rainier above the thick cloud layer that covered the Snoqualmie Valley and the parking lot I was headed to.

The final step of this section was nearly as well anticipated as the rest – I get to retire another pair of very well loved trail runners, and my feet are so excited for a new pair of shoes for the next section!