Pacific Crest Trail Backpack, Harts Pass to Cutthroat Creek, 8.3.12 - 8.8.12, Part 1 of 3
After another winter of heavier than normal snowpack and colder temps for May and June, it was hard to tell whether the high country would melt out for our annual week long backpack trip. Add to that some considerable time traveling out of state in July and we had no idea where to go or exactly when. I got home from a week away on July 30th and with a window of good weather ahead, Greg and I planned a six day, 31 mile trip on the Pacific Crest Trail from Hart’s Pass to Cutthroat Pass and then out the Cutthroat Lake Trail to the North Cascades Highway.
We had little information on the current trail conditions but Greg and I are avid map hounds and mountain research fanatics. We studied every inch of the route, searched the internet for data on camps and water sources and put our plan together in three days.
Assembled for this trip was the same team as our last two big backpack trips to Glacier Peak in ’09 and the Chelan Sawtooths in ’11 which is comprised of Bridgit, Andrew, Josiah, Greg and me. Team Pack It Or Go Without It left Lake Stevens with two vehicles on Friday, August 3rd. We dropped Greg’s truck at the Cutthroat Lake Trailhead, piled everyone into our 4-Runner (including the five backpacks!) and drove further down the highway to Mazama and then up the winding Harts Pass road to our northern trailhead on the PCT at the end of the road beyond Meadows Campground.
Team Pack It Or Go Without It
Our first day we hiked five and a half miles on a beautiful, high, easy stretch of trail along the Cascade crest to the lovely Grasshopper Pass. Our chances of finding water at the pass were a bit dubious so when we found a stream about a half mile before the pass we filled our bottles and a two gallon bladder and took turns carrying it up to the pass.
First stretch of PCT heading south towards the saddle
Beyond the saddle 8,400’ Azurite Peak came into view
A bit further we began to get great views of Tower Mountain and The Golden Horn
Not even breaking a sweat
The PCT crossing under the summit of Tatie Peak
Andrew and Josiah taking a break
Greg with his pack full of heavy things
Crossing under Tatie Peak
Beyond Tatie Peak 9,075’ Jack Mountain came into view
From the same spot we could now see 8,340’ Mt. Ballard
Just a couple of small snowfields to cross
Final push to Grasshopper Pass
You can see most of our first day route looking back in this photo
We made it to Grasshopper Pass around three thirty after five and a half miles of hiking. The pass area was lovely with lots of larch trees and nice camps but we still found no water there so it was a good thing we filled up before reaching the pass. Looking for more expansive views, we opted to climb a bit higher and farther up to a ridge. There we not only had stellar views but a gentle cool breeze that kept us bug free the entire night. It was heavenly! We had Azurite Peak and Mt. Ballard in our faces and Golden Horn, Mt. Hardy and Black Peak in the distance. The green knoll just above our camp called Grasshopper Peak was a short stroll so we decided to check it out early in the morning for sunrise pictures.
The boys set up shop and played cards
Neighbor Greg
Bridgit happy to be in camp
Lots to look at from our vantage point
Sun setting on The Needles
Grasshopper Peak and the Golden Horn
After a delicious dinner of chicken fajitas and a couple of shots of Fireball we watched the sunset and then it was off to bed to get ready for day two of our six day adventure.