[mhutch]

Tried this trip a few weeks ago as an overnight, ended up getting socked in and turning around due to lack of views. So with a clear Saturday in the forecast, I had to give it another try as a dayhike. Was able to spend the night up past Roslyn, got up early and drove to the TH in the dark, arriving around sunrise. Hit the trail just before 7:00am. Made it up to Squaw Lk. in about an hour.

Squaw Lk.

Took a quick break and headed on up to Cathedral pass, fall colors really coming on up higher. Got to the pass just in time to see the moon setting behind Mt. Daniel.

Cathedral pass pano

Got to Peggy's Pond about 2 hrs after leaving the TH, took another quick break and headed on up the SE ridge of Daniel. Views begin opening up at the ridge.

Stuart, Citadel, Circle Lk., crest peaks, SE Ridge

Looking up SE ridge

I ended up leaving the ridge and traversing across the upper hyas ck. glacier basin on snowfields and rock below pt. 7662'. The other parties I saw on the mtn that day both continued up the ridge and over pt. 7662'. Looked like needless elevation gain/loss to me, along with being sketchier scrambling.

I left the ridge just above here to the saddle below the E summit, see tracks...

Left the ridge and made it over to the saddle with no trouble. Nice fresh coat of new snow was perfect for steps and a short glissade on the way down. Went up to tag the east summit.

East summit pano

Looking towards the West and Middle summits

Looking back at Cathedral Rock

After a photo break I headed down and left the path once I saw the trail heading over towards the west summit down below. Made my way down to it on snow and loose rock. Once on the obvious trail, it's an easy walk over to the West summit. Hit the West summit before noon, between 4.5 and 5 hours from the TH. Had lunch on top while a few others made their way over.

West summit pano

Venus and Spade Lks.

Pea Soup Lk.

Mt. Hinman

Glacier Pk.

Mt. Rainier

Mt. Baker

After leaving the W summit, I quickly made my way over to the middle summit and down. There is a short section of very hard dirt covered in loose rock between the saddle below the E summit and the trail to the W and Middle that I missed on my way over from the E. Probably the sketchiest section for me, steep and hard to get footing on, passed another group heading up here. After that it was an easy trip back the way I came, took my time to enjoy the nice weather and fall colors coming on... Great trip!!

back at Peggy's Pond

Basin below Peggy's Pond

Color below Peggy's Pond

More color

Trail to Peggy's Pond

[mtn.climber]

Nice photos. A great day to be out in the mountains.

[Tom]

Nice report and pics.

[mhutch]

thanks. yeah, cutting across below 7662' is definitely a faster and easier way to go. one group made it for sure, pretty sure the other did as well, since I passed them as they were heading across to the west summit. watched them both come over the ridge and down to the saddle, looked tedious...

[Magellan]

Beautiful.

[veronika]

+++

[Sadie's Driver]

Nice - area around Peggy's Pond looks a lot different (color-wise) than it did two weeks ago.

[chiwakum]

[Go Jo]

+

[belowfellow]

nice work bro, looking forward to Larch Maddness this weekend!

[silence]

nice tr and pix .. thx for posting .. the obvious trail to the west summit .. left or right of the ridge fm the east peak?

[ICLIMB76]

Nice job. Did you get a chance to see how many people were camped at Peggys Pond?

[mhutch]

silence: the trail goes along the ridge to the left of the snow/glacier and from there cuts pretty much straight across to the W peak. it actually looks like there are 2 parallel trails. they're more obvious in the pano from the W summit and this shot from the W summit looking at the E one...

Mt. Daniel E summit from W

ICLIMB76: on my way up I saw one group who had camped at peggy's pond heading down, there was only one tent there on my way down. both groups I met up on the mtn did it as a dayhike, the lake was not busy or crowded at all.

[Daniel G]

Nice report. Did you see the need for crampons and/or ice axe.

[mhutch]

thanks, there was no need for an ice axe or crampons. poles would be helpful for the snow sections and maybe the short section on the way to the W though...