Autumn's Palette - Part 2 of 2, Cutthroat Lake, 9.27.18
So let’s recap. Tuesday I went a a great all day hike with Neighbor Greg and Dilley north of Mount Baker to High Pass. Yesterday Bridgit and I drove over North Cascades Highway, hiked to Rainy Lake and camped overnight with the Navibahn. This morning I was up at six-thirty and we were on our way about an hour later. Heading back up towards the pass, we pulled off at the trailhead to Cutthroat Lake.
Way back in the summer of 2012, Team Pack It Or Go Without It came out of a six day backpack trip to this trailhead. We had stashed a car here and then driven up to Hart’s Pass to backpack a 40 mile section of the PCT. Coming out our last day of that trip, we hiked by a quarter mile side trail to Cutthroat Lake and didn’t bother to check it out. I think after six days on the trail we all thought ribs sounded better than another pretty lake.
But I’m straying. Bridgit and I hit the trail pretty early but everything was still in shadow. As we hiked up the trail, we could see the tops of several rugged peaks in the area we were headed and the sun was just kissing the tops of these peaks.
Autumn’s palette
After an easy mile or so we came to the junction with the Cutthroat Lake trail. Another quarter mile and we had arrived. We had seen no one on the trail and we were the only ones at the lake. We actually wouldn’t even run into anyone until we were most of the way back to the trailhead. Hikes are so much better when you have the place to yourselves.
Early morning light at Cutthroat Lake
One of the cool things about being at this lake is that we could see where we had camped on the high ridge above the lake at Cutthroat Pass on our last night of the 2012 backpack trip.
Cutthroat Lake
Since no one else was around, we hung out there for quite awhile. As the sun rose higher, it lit up the reeds in the shallows near the shore of Cutthroat Lake.
Sunlit reeds
Another cool thing about this location was seeing the back side of Cutthroat Peak.
Cutthroat Lake and Cutthroat Peak
Both yesterday and today’s hikes were very easy and it allowed us to really slow down and just enjoy living in the moment. I love spending time with Bridgit and especially in the mountains!
The happy couple coming up on 26 years of marriage.
The scenery driving in both directions of the North Cascades Highway has got to be experienced to truly appreciate but suffice to say, there are great views almost the entire way.
Looking up at the Liberty Bell and Early Winter Spire above Washington Pass
One area I would love to explore and have never been is Ross Lake. The only road leading to the lake comes down from Hope, British Columbia. There are loads of great places to hike from the lake so I am hoping to get there one of these trips (or more).
Ross Lake
Keep your fingers crossed for more good weather. I have big plans for October!