Forum Index > Trip Reports > PCT - Stevens Pass to Josephine lake
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vintageradio
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Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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Location: Woodinville, WA
vintageradio
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PostWed Oct 06, 2010 11:25 pm 
I thought this might be a good hike to see some fall color - I was right. I had mixed feelings about this hike. There is something about hiking 1000' vertical only to find a big chair lift at the top that takes some of the satisfaction out of it. The first 3 miles or so offer frequent views of chair lifts and powerlines. If you can see past that, the colors are stunning and there are nice views of the surrounding mountains. But it wasn't until I entered the Alpine Lakes Wilderness that I finally felt right. It's about 2 miles to the top of the first ridge, 3 miles to the ALW, and 5 to Josephine lake. The trail is in excellent shape the entire way. There is a marked junction with the Icicle creek trail that goes down to the lake, or you can continue on the PCT for a short distance for a nice viewpoint. We only saw one other person on the trail the entire day (Wednesday). Here are the pics:
Elevation profile
Elevation profile
Track from Stevens Pass to Josephine Lake
Track from Stevens Pass to Josephine Lake
Charlie in color on ski slope
Charlie in color on ski slope
Talus in Wonderland
Talus in Wonderland
Fall gold
Fall gold
Charlie
Charlie
More fall colors
More fall colors
Charlie in living color
Charlie in living color
Purple Flowers
Purple Flowers
Red Berries
Red Berries
The view south as you break the ridge above the Stevens Pass ski area
The view south as you break the ridge above the Stevens Pass ski area
Mountain views
Mountain views
Mountain Views
Mountain Views
lift
lift
Mushrooms
Mushrooms
Lake Susan Jane
Lake Susan Jane
Pond near Lake Susan Jane
Pond near Lake Susan Jane
junction with Icicle Creek Trail
junction with Icicle Creek Trail
Josephine lake, Stewarts in the distance
Josephine lake, Stewarts in the distance
Josephine Lake
Josephine Lake
Man's best friend
Man's best friend

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HitTheTrail
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HitTheTrail
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 6:54 pm 
Nice photos, especially when taken this time of year. If you don't like hiking under chair lifts and power lines you can drive up Mill Creek just past the lower ski lift and jump on the PCT from a short trail just off the road. You miss all the development, the ups and downs and shorten the hike by quite a bit. And still get all the good stuff.

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vintageradio
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Location: Woodinville, WA
vintageradio
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 8:53 pm 
Thanks! When I got home I was looking at the map again & noticed the route you describe. It looks like a much better way to get in there.

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HitTheTrail
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 9:22 pm 
vintageradio wrote:
Thanks! When I got home I was looking at the map again & noticed the route you describe. It looks like a much better way to get in there.
That cut-off trail is well used and not hard to spot if you know where it is. I could probably dig out the GPS coordinates if you need them.

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vintageradio
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vintageradio
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 9:42 pm 
If you mean the route that connect to rd6095 and trail 1061 to Hope Lake, it is on my Green trails #176 map

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HitTheTrail
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 9:54 pm 
vintageradio wrote:
If you mean the route that connect to rd6095 and trail 1061 to Hope Lake, it is on my Green trails #176 map
No, its road 6960 that goes up Mill Ck on the Green trails "Stevens Pass" map. I have marked the approximate location in red on this map.
PCT cut-off from Mill Ck
PCT cut-off from Mill Ck

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vintageradio
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Location: Woodinville, WA
vintageradio
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 10:00 pm 
Thanks - I see it now. That looks a lot more reasonable than the climb up and down the tunnel creek trail. I'll give it a try.

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Backpacker Joe
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Backpacker Joe
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PostThu Oct 07, 2010 10:12 pm 
Looks to me like Charlie and Daisy the Wonder Dog could be brother and sister.

"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide." — Abraham Lincoln
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