[Hutch]

Did the White Pass - PCT - Pilot Ridge loop this weekend. Campsites at White Pass & Blue Lake were as full as you'd expect for Labor Day weekend but most folks were on their best behavior. Mosquitos are mostly gone but a bumper crop of biting flies showed up at times. Still a decent amount of water flowing around White Pass/Red Pass and on the way south to Dishpan Gap. Much drier between Blue Lake & the N Fork Sauk - one very small stream at ~3800 feet between Pilot Ridge and the river, but otherwise bone dry for ~11 miles. Blue Lake High route is steep (poles suggested for the way down) but not too hard to navigate. Flowers are past peak but berries are going wild.

[Nancyann]

Thanks for the beta, Hutch!
Aaron, I loved your collection of photos from your trip with your wife!
Yesterday I had a hunch that we would find clearer skies up on the Cascade Crest, so I twisted Hiking Partner’s arm and we did an exploratory scramble/veggie belay attempt to a lake we have been researching just west of the crest near Stevens Pass. Our attempt failed, but we did find blue skies and fresh air! As a consolation prize we visited Lake Valhalla, which we hadn’t seen since Thanksgiving Day. Hardly anyone was there and it was sublime. 

Lake Valhalla 9/9/20

Lake Valhalla 9/9/20

[KascadeFlat]

Had a chance to visit a popular spot. Here are the triplets in order from lowest to highest elevation.

Lowest

Middlest

Upperest

Best part of the trip was finally figuring out how the fish get home from the trail head!

Follow that taxi!

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For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.

[Malachai Constant]

Margaret’s Way toSierra Court first hike in week without n95 few people on was up a lot on Chibinski on way down.

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"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn

[NBL]

Hibox mountain was misty and ethereal yesterday morning. Fall is descending on us quickly. Most views to the Chimney group were socked in, unfortunately. Summit block scramble is fun but there is an exposed move on the normal (easy) scramble route that I wouldn't want to do if wet. Still patting myself on the back for downclimbing bits of it successfully. Signed the summit register and left a note about the tooth I chipped on a branch on my ascent!

[seattlenativemike]

Went out along Ptarmigan Ridge where the fall colors are just starting to turn.  My favorite lake out there was its usual beautiful self...

Mount Baker Dawn Reflection

Shuksan and Baker this morning

Ptarmigan Ridge this morning

[Justus S.]

Went up Hwy 20 today to climb Wallaby and check out the larches en route. Larch turning nicely, still probably a week out. Smoke is still socking in everything.

larch

larch

larch

larch

wallaby summit smoke

wallaby summit smoke

[olderthanIusedtobe]

I'd done PCT to Grasshopper Pass starting near Harts Pass several times, but I'd never driven the road beyond that junction before or been further north on the PCT.  Saturday (10/3) went with a buddy to change that.  We parked roughly midway between Harts Pass and Slate Peak.  Went about 7 miles (just beyond Jim Pass) before turning around and coming back.  Larch aren't quite prime but coming along nicely.  Saw several ptarmigan real up close.  Ravens flying around and being talkative most of the day.  A decent number of people out but nothing compared to the cluster back along Hwy 20, Maple Pass in particular but pretty much every trailhead right off the highway.  That whole adage about getting further away from Seattle to escape the crowds simply doesn't apply anymore.

[seattlenativemike]

Got a solo core permit for four days...great colors

More from the Enchantments

Back from 4 days in the Enchantments.  1500+ photos to go through...

Very spacious for one person

More from the Enchantments this last week.

[kiliki]

I hiked to Eagle Peak Saddle yesterday (Wednesday). It's still possible to do a lovely day hike at Rainier without crowds, on a weekday at least. There is a little of everything--2 miles of very nice old growth, views of Rainier, a little bit of meadow with fall color. Smoke haze obscured the views to the south. 1 met 15 people total.

[Downhill]

A few hikes I made in these later months of this year and of which I didn't post a full-blown TR:

Alice Lake (near Chatter Creek trail) in mid-September.

Trapper Lake (near Cascade Pass) in mid-August.

That lake north of Windy Pass (it's not a tarn!) and a bonus Cashmere summit - In early September

Upper and Lower Grace Lakes (Chiwaukum Mtns) + Margaret via vintage Frosty Creek trail - early Sept.

All of these also involved fishing.  Although I got skunked fishing on Cashmere's summit.

I have selfishly and intentionally not posted any amazing, breath-taking photos of these trips.

[Waterman]

Panther creek, unmaintained trail off the white river. Came back with a basket full of savory consumables.

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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

[zephyr]

Thursday, October 8.   Pollalie Ridge, Waptus Pass, Pete Lake via Tired Creek.  I went up Tired Creek which was tough due to the loose dirt, rocks, and gravel from all the horses.  At the trail junction I turned south for a few hundred yards to the high point which the old lookout was on.  The views were obscured by low hanging clouds, but I could see the lower peaks.  The better places to sit and eat lunch were on the north side of that area--several nice rock outcroppings. 

I did this as a loop and wandered through Waptus Pass and found the trail going down to Pete Lake.  I used maps and the occasional small, hard to find FS signage up in the trees.  I didn't see a single person until the last leg of my journey back to the Pete Lake TH as it was getting dark.  I must say that parts of this trail are rather spooky.  You travel through thousands of downed trees on the NW side of Pollalie Ridge just above the Pass.  Some of these trees and limbs are still hanging and they creak and groan in the breezes.  This happened several years ago since the way has been cleared. 

The main fall colors were some blueberry foliage at the higher points and then brilliant Vine Maples at lower elevations.  Pete Lake was cloudy, quiet, and very lonely.  It was getting dark and I was halfway back to the TH when I stopped to check my map.  There was a trail crossing that was confusing and I wasn't perfectly sure if I had made the correct choice.  Suddenly a fisherman comes stealthily along the trail and it made me jump.  haha  He was very friendly and verified that I was indeed on the correct trail back.  We chatted briefly about the fishing and such, then he zoomed away as quiet as he had arrived.  I made it back just at dark.  ~z
.
.

[Malachai Constant]

8.2 mi. Loop on Tiger, saw 3 people 2 in last half mile.

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"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn

[kiliki]

I couldn't resist the new snow and thought maybe a weekday in mid October in 42 degree weather might keep the crowds at Paradise down. The lot still filled up, but the Skyline Trail, beyond the first half mile, was fine. Except that it was very, very slippery with compact snow and ice.