Weekend Photos: More from the Cascades

Back in August, I spent 12 days walking another segment of the WA PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). Last week I featured the 1st three days and a bit, from our start near Crystal Mountain Ski Area to Chinook Pass. Today we'll hit the next couple of days, continuing south into the William O. Douglas wilderness. There should have been fantastic views of Mt. Rainier, at least in places, but alas, the weather continued to be uncooperative.

I took off from Chinook Pass about 11 a.m, carrying just a little more weight than I like as I was prepared for 8 nights on the trail.

The PCT actually crosses Highway 410 on the top of the sign marking the boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park.

The clear morning was holding nicely, and lots of people were walking the mile to this pretty tarn.

Continuing up, looking back across the Chinook Pass area to where I was in the morning.

Having climbed 800' or so around the shoulder of Naches Peak (a hike around the peak is a decent 3-mile dayhike with views that I didn't get to see), I dropped another 800 or so to Dewey Lakes.

I thought about camping at Dewey Lakes to minimize the distance I had to carry the full load of food, but was feeling pretty good so pushed on to Anderson Lake, ensuring that the next day's hike would be reasonable. I was aiming for 8-10 each day, with some a bit shorter or longer to reach good camps.

At Anderson Lake I found water, a decent camp well back from the lake, and company--I was joined by a large group, with llamas.

Anderson Lake camp.

My new neighbors proved to be a group taking Parkinsons patients backpacking--thus the pack animals, as the hikers couldn't necessarily carry all their stuff. They invited me to join them for watermelon after I'd had my dinner, which I was happy to do.

Two of the large llamas.

All told, this made a 7 1/4 mile day, with about 1900' of climbing, and over 2200' of descending, with a long rest in the middle.

The next morning the fog had moved back in, and I was sorry I hadn't ventured farther up the trail to check out the views while the sun shone. Still, misty days are what make the Cascades what they are--beautiful mountains and forests with lots of streams.

Dew-laden spider web.

Petey Possum wasn't sure he liked the mist and damp when I stopped for second breakfast.

I failed to realize how worn out my Sawyer Mini was before starting the trip. Filtering water took patience, but I could leave it to do its thing while I had lunch.

Corn lily

Hints of longer views, but the trail seldom offered looks west to Rainier, even had the clouds lifted enough to see it.

Possibly my favorite critters anywhere--pikas live in the talus slopes and were busy gathering their hay for the winter, which may have felt like it was coming early! (Hotter weather did return a week or so later).

There weren't tons of flowers, but there were some.

Unsurprisingly, given the weather, there were lots of mushrooms, many of them the size of dinner plates. This one is shown with my size 9.5 boot.

Because I reached the point where I had meant to camp and found it occupied by a large group of adolescent males, I backtracked to the last seen camp, near an unnamed pond. That made for of my longer days, at nearly 9 miles and over 2000' up and 2100' down. I was still in camp well before dinner time, and had time and privacy for a bit of a bath.

Solo camp #2. Rooting through the food bag for the heaviest remaining dinner.

I'm heading back out yet again for more hiking--this time car-camping and day-hikes--so I'm not sure if I'll have the next installment next week or not. In any case, coming as soon as I can get it together: On to White Pass! A big thunderstorm, entering the Goat Rocks Wilderness, and finally, a few views of Mt. Rainier.

 ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2024
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