[Bloated Chipmunk]

Yesterday I was itching for a hike so I opted to check out Mt. McCausland. The pk. is located just east of Stevens Pass, using Smithbrook Rd. to reach the TH. It sure was nice to be able to drive up that rd. rather than snowshoe it for the zillionth time. After taking a roundabout way to avoid morning commute traffic, I arrived @ the TH ~ 10AM. 3 other cars were already there & a 4th showed up while I was gearing up.

TH

TH

The trail parallels the rd. for a bit before switchbacking up the forested slope. I was lucky enough to witness an owl taking off from a branch overhead & silently gliding through the air (sorry, camera wasn't ready). I also spotted a cute little squirrel.

Wilderness boundary

Douglas squirrel

Forested trail

After about a mile the junction w/the PCT is reached @ Union Gap. I turned left & headed toward Lk. Valhalla. The trail @ this point stays level for awhile, & views open up across the valley to Lichtenberg Mtn. Nice to see what it looks like in summer.

Junction w/the PCT

Lichtenberg Mtn.

The trail up to Mt. McCausland is found in a small meadowy area just before the main trail rounds the ridge & drops down to the lk. It's unmarked but pretty obvious. The trail in some places is narrow, brushy, & steep...but easy to follow. Just keep heading up the ridgeline.

The trail up to McCausland

McCausland ahead - true summit just out of sight on the right

Lichtenberg Mtn. & Lk. Valhalla

Lk. Valhalla

Once on top, the trail turns right & flattens out as it leads to the rocky promontory @ the end. Not sure if this point is officially the highest, but this is where I found the summit register. It's a beefy box & involves unscrewing several bolts to open.

Summit register

Summit register

The views on top were really nice, & would've been a lot nicer had it not been so hazy. It was gross seeing the brown layer everywhere. Nevertheless I enjoyed my solo summit stay.

Distant peaks

Monte Cristo Pks. & Sloan

Glacier Pk.

View to the SE. Pretty soon there'll be smoke from the 8mile Lk. fire over there.

Distant Stuart

Looking across to Lichtenberg Mtn.

Pks. to the SE

Union, Jove, & beyond

Whittier, David, & others

Looks like Phelps

Dow Lk.

Lk. Janus peeking around the hill

Daniel, Hinman, & others

Distant, hazy Rainier

Rock Mtn.?

BC on the summit

On the hike down, I heard people & dogs @ the lk. below. I also spotted smoke to the SE, which I later learned was from a fire near Eightmile Lk.

Bye-bye summit

Summit walk

Peeps & pooches @ the beach

Heading down the steep part

Smoke to the SE

More smoke

Back in the trees it was much cooler, & I made good time back to the car. The people that were starting the hike the same time I was actually came back @ the same time too, even though we each went different places. Funny how that works sometimes.

[bonobo]

Nice TR. I've been trying to think of somewhere to go in that area next month. I've been up Smithbrook to Union gap, north to Janus and sounth to Valhalla. I liked Valhalla better, so this looks like a good route to bump up the mileage of my next trip out there. Nice pics, too.

[Bloated Chipmunk]

Thanks. Yep, it's a nice hike w/good views for very little effort.

[MysteryMachine]

thanks for the TR, to be honest I have never heard of this hike. What was the estimated total mileage / elevation?

[Highwalker's Daughter]

Great TR and pictures. I love that area, and your TR reminded me that I haven't been up there for at least a couple of years.

[Bloated Chipmunk]

[cartman]

Thanks for the TR, it's nice to see that area with no snow.