My friend and I hiked the PCT south from a road access just north of Government Meadows to Chinook Pass as a warmup for a longer trip later this summer. Left one car at the WTA hiking guide location just over Pyramid Pass on FS787. Rough road for first .5 mi after leaving FS70.
We camped at Urich Cabin campsite. PCT thru hikers told us the water there was infected with "Nora" virus according to PCT blog. Symptoms after two-three days bad runs, nausea lasting several days. Do not drink notice posted on the web. I have not looked up the posting. We got the word in time and had enough water from home. Treated some of the water with chlorine tabs overnight. This is a very dry section of the PCT. Next water 5.4 mis south. Next water after that 6 mis south. We used headnets for bugs the first evening.
Trail is in good shape. A few logs down between Govt Meadows and the spring near Norse Pk trail junction, maybe 3-4 per mile in wooded section north of the Norse Peak fire burn. Good camps near the spring. About 13 mis. We saw lots of thru hikers southbound going to Mexico and fewer norhtbounders section hiking. Bugs present but no headsets needed here.
Second day, we hiked on to Chinook Pass, about 10.7 mis. Many many day hikers from Sourdough Gap on. It was a sunny Saturday. I estimate we passed 80 hikers coming up the trail between the Gap and the parking lot over 1.25 hours. All happy, many families. All official parking lots were full. Every highway shoulder space below and above the two parking lots was full all the way over the pass to Tipsoo Lake parking lot at 12:30pm. We did not encounter this volume on Thurs when we left our second car, but the lots were almost full at 2pm. Basically, with new entrance limits to the Sunrise entrance, plan B for all visitors is Chinook Pass. Much heavier use than in years past. Crystal Lake trail parking lot was full with shoulder parking too.
When we returned to collect the first car, we met two "trail angels" set up with snacks and cold drinks for PCT hikers where we left our car. Good conversation with them. Very fun. This section of the PCT is surprisingly scenic with many views of Mt Rainier and broad vistas due to the burn. I was surprised and pleased.
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