Pete Lake, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, Waptus Burn & Delate Meadow — Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

Driving in was easy, the road is passable even for lower slung sedans (took my wife's Toyota Camry last year, don't recommend it if you have options) but take it easy as the chuckholes are deep and will damage a lower vehicle. Parking is limited and this can be challenging on a wknd. Cars were stacked up anywhere the driver though they could be flit in which led to some crowded road conditions. Pete lake trail is a good warm up and I got started at 0800. it's 5.8 miles of fairly level ground all the way to Lemah Cr. There are a few really nice sites at the crossing but, as it was only 1015 when I arrived this wasn't really an option. The connector to the PCT from here is short but it's worth noting that there are a few downed trees through here and have been for years. There is a decent campsite at the N. end of the connector. The PCT from this connector to the switchbacks up to Escondido Tarns is a bit overgrown with a lot of downed trees that have been there for some time. This can make routefinding a bit slower as losing the trail is a real possibility through this stretch before you start to really gain any altitude. The switchbacks, while not the steepest or longest I've ever been on, are certainly demanding of respect. These will work you over if you aren't ready for them, to say nothing of the fact that at the top you're around 9 miles in from either direction. Your committed now! As I was about halfway up the switchbacks the weather started to change (in spite of the weather forecasts I'd checked in the AM). A cold wind and, eventually some light rain. The tarns being above treeline (5600'~) and having grown up climbing in the Rocky's where electrical storms are a daily event around 1400hrs-1700hrs, I felt a powerful need to descend. Never mind that it was only about 1330hrs and electrical storms are far, far from common in these parts. My plan, as I was going pretty light, was to whip out my rain jacket and strip down to my underwear to preserve my dry clothes, a trick I also learned about in the Rocky's! It never came to that, though I hear I have the legs for it. The Tarns were...underwhelming though that may be due to the fact that it's late August. They appeared to be little more than muddy holes and the campsite that are mentioned in the Mtnrs guide for loop hikes are in an area listed as fragile and request that you camp elsewhere. The campsite is pretty exposed and doesn't look like a lot of fun in changeable weather. I moved on, though I had intended to camp there sans tent. The PCT from the Tarns to the Waptus Burn connector was a steep drop to 4200' It's slick so watch your footing and, if you're climbing this way instead of descending beware that it'll be a real calfburner! Not much to say other than you'll eventually have great views of Mt. Daniel and Mt. Hinman. Not much else to say other than the entire descent to Pete Lake was pretty steep, though I did run into two men who were on their way to Waptus Lake. It was no quite halfway to Waptus Pass and it was about 1630hrs, which was still a good 3-4 hours away if you can maintain about 2.5-3mi/hr all day. I made it to Pete Lk at 1730. It was now crowded and I had to settle, not that it's not all settling. For those that look for camping in solitude, like me, this is definitely not the place. It's like a drive in campground w/o the RVs and cars. People had fires going (in spite of a burn ban), they were loud and obnoxious and tend to look at folks like me, with no tent, all alone, like I'm a little crazy. I felt that perhaps I should just close this out but, as I'd carried gear for 2 night I may as well get one. I should've stayed at the site at the jct. to Escondido Lk. This was a good trip. I took it on as a bit of a test piece to see if I could still crank out some miles and I could, 19 of them in 10 hours, with a medium load, 30lbs. It is, however, not the most scenic trail stretch I've ever been on as you're deep in the trees often. If you're short like my wife you'll definitely struggle with the PCT section as the trees are large and, even though you walk around many it's always easier with long legs.