Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass — Friday, Oct. 5, 2001

North Cascades > Pasayten

Laura, Paul, and I thought we'd head up to Cutthroat Pass to do an easy overnight trip to see the larch trees. However, as we drove up Hwy 20 near the trailhead the rain wasn't letting up. Paul quickly searched through the 100 Hikes book and suggested an alternate trip to Grasshopper Pass. The description of open ridge walking and wonderful views combined with little elevation gain has all three of us intrigued. The problem was that it meant a longer drive east in the hopes of dryer weather. We weren't disappointed. Take Hwy 20 and turn off at Mazama. Then drive up - up - up the road toward Hart's Pass. Just before the pass turn left toward the Meadows campground and park at the end of the road (elevation 6400'). If all you want to do is see larch trees you can turn around and go home now. There are larch trees everywhere, even at the trail head. From the TH is a short 1 minute hike to meet up with the PCT. From here head south toward Tatie Peak. the trail gains only about 1000' from the TH to the pass. It's all pretty gentle even with the few switchback on the trail. Most of the time the well groomed Cascade Crest Trail (PCT) traverses along the side of the ridge all the time offering wonderful views south toward Handcock Ridge and further along the trail more north down Ninetynine Basin. We followed the PCT for several miles until we were about due east of Peak 7528. Just below the peak is a nice little basin area full of established campsites. If you look hard near the bottom of the basin there is ever a small stream of running water - really the only water we found from the TH to Grasshopper Pass. The trail was suprisingly not busy. The two days we were on the trail only had us meeting 7 other day hikers. We were the only ones to make the trip an overnighter. We made camp and then with lighter loads continued on toward Grasshopper Pass. From the pass we had wonderful views of Tatie, Mt Ballard, Azurite Pk, Glacier Pass, Goldenhorn, Holliway Mtn, the Needles, Robinson Mtn and of course so many golden larches. The temps got down into the lower 20's at night and we were even treated to our first snow flurry of the season. Expecting snow that night we were suprised to find clear skies the next morning. That didn't last long though. About a 1/2 mile before the trailhead we saw another snow flurry. A friend of mine has talked about doing the PCT from Harts pass to Rainy Pass all year. After seeing this short stretch of the PCT (about 5 miles) she's got me sold. It's now on my list of trips to do next year.