Ways to meet Sye and Alex as they hike in Washington

Sooo, Sye and Alex are coming to Washington!! Alex asked me to write up a few places you can meet them as they hike the PCT. She will post more information on when they will be at these spots.

These ideas that range from easy (drive to meet them) to challenging (hike with them):

A. Easy ways to meet them

There are five easy and close places to meet Sye and Alex along a road:

1. Highway 12 at White Pass (PCT mile 2303) – White Pass is beautiful, and you can combine this with a berry picking outing. Heck, you probably can fall out of the car at White Pass and find good berry spots.

2. Highway 410 at Chinook Pass (PCT mile 2332) – This is east of Mt. Rainier and close to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. Combine this with a visit to Mt. Rainier National Park, or just drive down for the day. It is about a 3-hour drive from Seattle. Oh, and ditto that line about berry picking.

3. Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass (PCT mile 2402) – It’s Snoqualmie Pass. Need I say anything (except you have to hike or drive a bit to find good berries)?

4. Highway 2 at Stevens Pass (PCT mile 2476) – Everybody knows Stevens Pass.

5. Highway 20 at Rainy Pass (PCT mile 2594) – The North Cascades Highway is a tourist destination all by itself. But by this time of year the tourist buses should be gone and the fall colors should be out. About a 3-hour drive from Seattle.


B. Sort of easy ways to meet them

1. The PCT crosses a lot of logging roads. If you want to meet Sye and Alex along a remote logging road, let me know and I can offer some suggestions.

2. You also can camp overnight close to where they will be hiking. Campgrounds that might be attractive include the White River campground at Mt. Rainier National Park and the Lake Wenatchee Campground near Stevens Pass. Especially up by Lake Wenatchee, there are places you can meet them as they pass by trailheads to interesting day trips.


C. Challenging ways to spend time with them

You can hike with Sye and Alex for a few miles. Here are a few ideas. These are all really nice day hikes.

1. Sand Lake: Join them at White Pass on Hwy 12 and hike north 2.8 miles to Sand Lake. Say goodbye to them and hike back to the car (5.6 miles round trip).

2. Dewey Lake: Drive to Chinook Pass on Hwy 410 and hike south 3.2 miles to Dewey Lake, to meet Sye and Alex as they hike north. Then hike with them north back to your car at Chinook Pass (6.4 miles round trip.)

3. Ridge Lake: Join them at Snoqualmie Pass and hike north about 6 miles to Ridge Lake. Say goodbye and return to Snoqualmie Pass (12 miles round trip).

4. Hope, Mig, and Josephine Lakes: Hike 1.6 miles up trail #1061 (near Stevens Pass) to intersect the PCT at Hope Lake. Meet Sye and Alex there, and hike with them for 8 miles past Mig and Josephine Lakes to Stevens Pass (10 miles loop trip). You will need a ride back to your car (about 4 miles down from Stevens Pass along Hwy 2).

5. Valhalla Lake: Join them at Stevens Pass and hike north 5 miles to Valhalla Lake. Say goodbye and return to Stevens Pass (10 miles round trip.) Or, if you want, go an extra couple miles to Janus Lake. You will be tempted to keep going north as the crest trail really does follow the top of a gorgeous crest north of Janus Lake.

6. Cutthroat Pass: Join them at Rainy Pass on Highway 20 and hike north 3.6 miles to Cutthroat Pass. No lakes (although you look down on one), but high and open country surrounded by rugged peaks. (7.2 miles round trip.)

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many, many other hiking opportunities if you are willing to meet them at other spots. I list these because they start or end where the PCT intersects a major highway. If you want more information please email me at jon@pscs.org.