Forum Index > Trip Reports > Cutthroat Pass and Beyond 10/06/2012
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostMon Oct 08, 2012 1:04 pm 
Decided to go see if I could find some larches in the North Cascades. Cutthroat Pass it would be. Larches still hanging on but probably not for long especially if we get wind. Most other fall foliage is on the brown side.
Cutthroat Pass trail Sorth.
Cutthroat Pass trail Sorth.
Cutthroat Pass trail North.
Cutthroat Pass trail North.
Left the house around 5AM. Stopped just past Rockport for a bathroom break.
Skagit river from roadside park just east of Rockport.
Skagit river from roadside park just east of Rockport.
Skagit river from roadside park just east of Rockport.
Skagit river from roadside park just east of Rockport.
Then again quickly at the Diablo overlook.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
View from Diablo overlook off of highway 20.
After 165 miles and the stops I arrived at 08:45 and hit the trail at 9AM. Parking lot itself was pretty full. I parked back down the road a bit.
Trailhead parking at PCT trail where it goes to Cutthroat Pass.
Trailhead parking at PCT trail where it goes to Cutthroat Pass.
Trailhead parking at PCT trail where it goes to Cutthroat Pass.
Trailhead parking at PCT trail where it goes to Cutthroat Pass.
The trail starts gently climbing.
Early trail.
Early trail.
About 1/2 mile up is the first peek a boo view back towards Black Peak.
Early views of Black Peak from PCT to Cutthroat Pass.
Early views of Black Peak from PCT to Cutthroat Pass.
A nice little waterfall/creek.
Little waterfall/creek crossing.
Little waterfall/creek crossing.
At about a mile and 400 feet gained it opens up briefly again as you round the edge of a ridge.
Views towards Black Peak from trail to Cutthroat Pass.
Views towards Black Peak from trail to Cutthroat Pass.
Zoom of Black Peak.
Zoom of Black Peak.
The trail then ducks back in the trees as you level out and start up the valley for the a level .7 miles to the crossing or Porcupine Creek.
Nice easy PCT through forest.
Nice easy PCT through forest.
Creek crossing.
Creek crossing.
Porcupine Creek crossing on PCT.
Porcupine Creek crossing on PCT.
The next 1.8 miles gains about 900 feet as you swing around to traverse the W/NW side of the valley. Views open up after a bit.
Views on lower trail.
Views on lower trail.
Trail opens up a bit.
Trail opens up a bit.
Trail opens up a bit.
Trail opens up a bit.
Moonshot.
Moonshot.
Continue to duck in and out of trees at about 6100 feet you encounter the first larch trees.
Trail continues through fading fall colors.
Trail continues through fading fall colors.
Starting to see Larch below Cutthroat Pass.
Starting to see Larch below Cutthroat Pass.
Larch and views.
Larch and views.
Campsite well below Cutthroat Pass.
Campsite well below Cutthroat Pass.
The trail starts to switchback up the larch filled slopes in a NW direction with good views most of the way.
Larch and color starting to switchback towards Cutthroat Pass.
Larch and color starting to switchback towards Cutthroat Pass.
Larch looking up towards Cutthroat Pass.
Larch looking up towards Cutthroat Pass.
Trail and larch.
Trail and larch.
Trail and larch.
Trail and larch.
Views from trail.
1 label
Views from trail.
Larch.
Larch.
Views from trail.
Views from trail.
Closeup of Larch.
Closeup of Larch.
After just under a mile of gentle swithcbacks gaining 400 feet you reach a "bootpath" junction which is essentially a short cut and also pases some potential camp areas. I stayed on the main trail.
Views from trail.
Views from trail.
Larch and moon.
Larch and moon.
Trail to Cutthroat Pass.
Trail to Cutthroat Pass.
Looking back down from where I came.
Looking back down from where I came.
Moon shot.
Moon shot.
About .4 miles and 172 feet later arrive at Cutthroat Pass.
Arriving at Cutthroat Pass.
Arriving at Cutthroat Pass.
Looking out from Cutthroat Pass.
Looking out from Cutthroat Pass.
I decided to check out Point 6910 just right of the pass.
Trail heading up to point 6910 just right of Cutthroat Pass. An easy very short side trip.
Trail heading up to point 6910 just right of Cutthroat Pass. An easy very short side trip.
Starting up towards point 6910 to the right of Cutthroat Pass. Other hikers heading up.
Starting up towards point 6910 to the right of Cutthroat Pass. Other hikers heading up.
Point 6910 just south of Cutthroat Pass.
Point 6910 just south of Cutthroat Pass.
The views are nice. This wouldn't be a bad place to take a nap either.
Clouds looking from Point 6910.
Clouds looking from Point 6910.
Views from Point 6910 back down valley I came up.
Views from Point 6910 back down valley I came up.
Rocks to the north and above Cutthroat Pass.
Rocks to the north and above Cutthroat Pass.
Peaks easterly from point 6910.
Peaks easterly from point 6910.
I noticed the other hikers continuing as the trail seemed to continue along the ridge.
Trail continuing on past Point 6910.
Trail continuing on past Point 6910.
I wanted to go beyond Cutthroat pass so I retreated back to the pass.
Back down to Cutthroat Pass.
Back down to Cutthroat Pass.
A junction trail drops 1800 feet in just under 4 miles to Cutthroat Lake. Something for another day.
Trail junction off PCT to Cutthroat Lake trail.
Trail junction off PCT to Cutthroat Lake trail.
The easy PCT continues traversing below rocks and cliffs.
Rock formations beyond Cutthroat Pass on PCT.
Rock formations beyond Cutthroat Pass on PCT.
Rock formations beyond Cutthroat Pass on PCT.
Rock formations beyond Cutthroat Pass on PCT.
Larches off trail
Larches off trail
Talus areas along PCT.
Talus areas along PCT.
As you round the elbow about 2/3 of a mile from the pass you see other views.
Views from PCT beyond Cutthroat Pass.
Views from PCT beyond Cutthroat Pass.
Peak east of PCT.
Peak east of PCT.
First view of the Needles from PCT.
First view of the Needles from PCT.
Peak NE of PCT with larch.
Peak NE of PCT with larch.
The trail goes under some cliffs and over some talus but is easy going. Just don't step off to the right.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
PCT traverses along cliffs and scrabbly talus fields.
About 1.4 miles from the pass round another corner at the high point of the trail. More views come into play.
Odd snag as I am about to turn corner at high point before starting descent towards Granite Pass.
Odd snag as I am about to turn corner at high point before starting descent towards Granite Pass.
Goldenhorn/Tower Mountain.
2 labels
Goldenhorn/Tower Mountain.
The needles.
1 label
The needles.
Views.
Views.
Pano from around the corner.
3 labels
Pano from around the corner.
Mt Hardy from above Granite Pass.
Mt Hardy from above Granite Pass.
Ridge to SW of Granite Pass.
Ridge to SW of Granite Pass.
I walked down a short distance just to get the full view effects.
Looking down at Granite Pass from lunch spot.
Looking down at Granite Pass from lunch spot.
Swamp Creek valley and Mt. Hardy.
2 labels
Swamp Creek valley and Mt. Hardy.
The needles.
The needles.
Pano from above Granite Pass.
Pano from above Granite Pass.
Pano from above Granite Pass.
Pano from above Granite Pass.
Goldenhorn and Tower Mtn.
Goldenhorn and Tower Mtn.
Zoom of Tower Mountain.
Zoom of Tower Mountain.
Zoom of the needles.
Zoom of the needles.
Zoom of the needles.
Zoom of the needles.
Zoom of Mt Hardy.
1 label
Zoom of Mt Hardy.
I retreated to just below the high point finding a nice lunch/spot/rock just off the trail.
Lunchh spot. It doesn't get much better.
Lunchh spot. It doesn't get much better.
View from lunch spot.
View from lunch spot.
View from lunch spot.
View from lunch spot.
Goldenhorn and Tower (left to right).
2 labels
Goldenhorn and Tower (left to right).
Pano from lunch spot.
Pano from lunch spot.
Larch at lunch spot.
Larch at lunch spot.
View down Pine Creek valley from lunch spot.
View down Pine Creek valley from lunch spot.
After a nice lunch in sunny calm nice warm enough weather, it was time to head back.
Pacific crest trail heading back from lunch spot.
Pacific crest trail heading back from lunch spot.
Nameless peak.
Nameless peak.
The needles in the distance.
The needles in the distance.
Some of the lingering foliage on the way back was a bit more colorful being backlit.
Color backlit along Pacific Crest trail.
Color backlit along Pacific Crest trail.
Color backlit along Pacific Crest trail.
Color backlit along Pacific Crest trail.
Looking to where I'm heading on Pacific Crest trail.
Looking to where I'm heading on Pacific Crest trail.
Had a nice easy walk back to Cutthroat Pass. Encountered various day hikers and backpackers along the way.
Views from PCT.
Views from PCT.
Looking back at high point on PCT. The needles in the background.
Looking back at high point on PCT. The needles in the background.
Views looking back towards Cutthroat Pass.
Views looking back towards Cutthroat Pass.
Views back towards Cutthroat ridge.
Views back towards Cutthroat ridge.
In places the trail was an almost borderline sand/gravel mix.
Soft surface almost gravel like.
Soft surface almost gravel like.
Took better notice of Cutthroat Lakes 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Cutthroat Lake about 2000 feet below.
Then back to the pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Back to Cutthroat Pass.
Noticed what looked like bike tracks at Cutthroat pass. Didn't see anything with wheels though.
Bike tracks at Cutthroat Pass?
Bike tracks at Cutthroat Pass?
From the pass I decided to take the bootpath down just for variety and to bypass some of the population heading up.
Starting down bootpath from Cutthroat Pass.
Starting down bootpath from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
I joined back up with the main trail. Bootpath vs regular trail saves you about .2 miles is all.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
Views heading down from Cutthroat Pass.
I noticed smoke across the way. Turns out this would be the smoldering Lewis Lake fire.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
1 label
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
The rest of the way down was a nice walk through the larches.
Lingering fall color.
Lingering fall color.
Lingering fall color.
Lingering fall color.
PCT below Cutthroat Pass.
PCT below Cutthroat Pass.
Larch on way down.
Larch on way down.
Larch on way down.
Larch on way down.
PCT.
PCT.
Larch on way down.
Larch on way down.
A lower open areas before diving back into the mostly forest.
Views east.
Views east.
Views east.
Views east.
About a mile from the car another look towards the fire.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
Lewis Lake fire below Corteo Peak.
The lower trail mostly a mole stroll. Encountered a cooler maybe a couple hundred yards from the parking lot which I had seen on the way up but didn't pay much attention too.
Cooler for PCT thru hikers ONLY!
Cooler for PCT thru hikers ONLY!
Cooler for PCT thru hikers ONLY!
Cooler for PCT thru hikers ONLY!
Back to the still near full parking lot at 03:20 PM.
Back to trailhead parking.
Back to trailhead parking.
Back to trailhead parking.
Back to trailhead parking.
13.1 miles 2247 elevation gain. 6 hours 22 minutes car to car time. You can't get a much better October day in the North Cascades (or anywhere around here for that matter). Smoke was not a factor. Packed up and was home a few minutes after 7PM with non stop driving.

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MtnManic
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MtnManic
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PostMon Oct 08, 2012 1:18 pm 
Too bad you didn't make it up there the weekend before - the larch are not nearly as nice as they were then. Glad you still got to see them, though.

Backpacking: limited to one pack at a time. Cameras: limited to as many as I can carry.
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The Angry Hiker
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Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Posts: 2890 | TRs | Pics
Location: Kentwila
The Angry Hiker
SAR Blacklistee
PostMon Oct 08, 2012 4:33 pm 
Thanks for the TR. I hope your hemorrhoids clear up.

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MultiUser
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Joined: 16 Feb 2011
Posts: 190 | TRs | Pics
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PostMon Oct 08, 2012 4:39 pm 
Quote:
Noticed what looked like bike tracks at Cutthroat pass. Didn't see anything with wheels though.
The route from Cutthroat Lake to the pass is open to bikes, and is one of the better rides in the state for scenery (though short), especially this time of year.

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostMon Oct 08, 2012 8:25 pm 
Strange then I saw absolutely zero bikes on such a nice day. I guess people were doing longer rides.

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IanB
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Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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IanB
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PostTue Oct 09, 2012 8:49 am 
Looks like a gorgeous day - glad you were out there to enjoy!

"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
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Mtn Dog
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Location: Bellevue, WA
Mtn Dog
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PostTue Oct 09, 2012 11:58 am 
Tigermn, We must have been hiking behind you Saturday. When we reached Cutthroat Pass we saw four mountainbikers with their bikes taking a break at the pass.

Footprints on the sands of time will never be made sitting down.
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostWed Oct 10, 2012 6:42 am 
I arrived at the pass at 11:12AM, hiked up the peaklet to the right, went beyond, ate lunch, and was back passing by the pass area at 01:18PM on the way down. That is when I noticed the bike tracks. They could have been there on the way up but I didn't notice them.

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