PCT: Washington

Planning

At a glance

We walked Washington in three pieces over 28 days from early to late August 2023. We went northbound from Cascade Locks to Stevens Pass (317 miles), out and back from Hart's Pass to the border (57 miles), and southbound from Holden to Stevens Pass (98 miles). That's about 472 miles in all. We took two zeros in Wenatchee and one at Winthrop and neros at White Pass and Spectacle Lake. The longest days were 30.1 miles to Blowout Mountain and 28 miles to Cispus Pass.

Fire closures

While we were in Wenatchee fires closed two parts of the PCT north of Stevens Pass. The Dome Peak Fire closed Suiattle Pass to High Bridge (miles 2554.6 to 2574.5) from mid-August until about September 1. The Blue Lake Fire closed the McAlester Trail junction to Snowy Lakes north of Rainy Pass (miles 2588.8 to 2603.4) into late September and the Sourdough Fire closed SR 20. The smoke was also bad for two or three days.

We skipped ahead to Mazama and hiked from Hart's Pass to the border and back first so we would reach Canada if the fires or smoke got worse. Then we went back for the closed section on the PCTA's 2023 detour from Holden and walked southbound past Glacier Peak to Stevens Pass. That left about 66 to 70 miles from Suiattle Pass to Hart's Pass still to walk.

Stehekin was our biggest miss. The town stayed open but the trail on both sides of it was closed so we never got there.

Water

Plan around the norovirus warning if there is one. In 2023 there was a warning out of White Pass for stagnant pools and streams so we did water carries of 10 to 12 miles. The Halfmile water data is several years old and some sources dry up so check the current PCT Water Report before each stretch. By that data these are the longest gaps between sources:

Gear

Everything we carried in 2023 is in the PCT pack list. Here is what worked hard in Washington and what we changed.

• New shoes. After about 1,000 miles we swapped to a fresh pair and the difference was almost night and day.
• Wet gear. The last two days in Washington were rainy and we hiked in wet shoes and socks. Our tent was still wet when we set it up in California a few days later.
• A food jar for berries. The jar we carried for food doubled as our blueberry jar before Stevens Pass.

Towns and resupply

Trail magic and trail angels

We found trail magic at Trout Lake, White Pass, Chinook Pass, the Urich Cabin, and the power lines before Stevens Pass. Trail angels gave us rides into Trout Lake and around Wenatchee, Mazama, and Winthrop. A trail angel near Winthrop hosted us at a 20-acre ranch.

If you want to give trail magic in Washington the best spot we found was Chinook Pass.

Cascade Locks to Trout Lake

What it was like

The climb out of Cascade Locks was tough, partly because we'd just had a nice meal with friends. After that Washington didn't disappoint: peaks, mountains, and lots of fresh berries. We left the basalt of the Columbia River Gorge and Oregon's burned areas behind and the trail entered old-growth forest. It was lush and green with ferns on the ground and lots of sun coming through.

The camps before Trout Lake were good and had great views of Mount Hood behind us on the first couple of nights. Day 97 was 19.4 miles to Rock Creek and Day 98 was 24.2 miles to Huckleberry Mountain. On Day 99 we reached Blue Lake by noon and stayed for the rest of the day. We take time off in town but not enough on trail and we wanted to do more of that.

Day 100 was the big mile day into Trout Lake: 10 miles by 10 a.m. and 20 miles by 2 p.m. and 23.6 miles in all. We hitched in and people going the other way gave us sodas and beers while we waited. A shuttle also runs.

Camping

Rock Creek was a nice camp. Huckleberry Mountain and Blue Lake had views and Blue Lake had stars. In Trout Lake we stayed in a church's backyard.

Towns

Trout Lake is a small town and the first real trail town in Washington. It was very friendly to hikers: trail angels were well organized, a parade was on that weekend, and we had huckleberry pancakes and shakes. We stayed in the backyard of a church.

Water

The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 10.6 miles, from Panther Creek (mile 2184.1) to Trail junction to a spring (mile 2194.7).

Water sources on this stretch (31)

• Mile 2150.8: Spring near a small building
• Mile 2153.6: Gillette Lake, several campsites
• Mile 2153.7: Large stream on a log footbridge, campsite nearby
• Mile 2154.8: Greenleaf Creek, wooden footbridge
• Mile 2155.7: Small seasonal creek, campsite nearby
• Mile 2157.3: Seasonal tributary of Cedar Creek
• Mile 2164.4: Water trough near Three Corner Rock
• Mile 2168.3: Rock Creek, wooden bridge, campsites nearby
• Mile 2168.8: Snag Creek
• Mile 2169.4: North Fork Rock Creek, campsite nearby
• Mile 2170.8: Seasonal tributary of the North Fork Rock Creek
• Mile 2177.3: Small seasonal tributary of Trout Creek
• Mile 2178.0: Larger tributary of Trout Creek with a wooden bridge
• Mile 2178.3: Trout Creek, bridge, campsite, paved Road 43 nearby
• Mile 2181.3: Wind River, wooden bridge
• Mile 2183.0: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2183.3: Creek
• Mile 2184.1: Panther Creek, steel bridge
• Mile 2194.7: Trail junction to a spring, campsites nearby
• Mile 2196.7: Piped spring next to the PCT
• Mile 2200.9: Sheep Lake, a small pond
• Mile 2201.9: Green Lake
• Mile 2206.4: Sign for designated campsite near Blue Lake
• Mile 2206.5: Blue Lake. Camping is allowed only at 9 designated sites, first come first serve, no camping within 250 feet of the lake
• Mile 2209.5: Bear Lake, established campsites around lake, less popular with weekend hikers than Blue Lake to the S
• Mile 2220.0: Mosquito Creek with a footbridge
• Mile 2221.0: Tributary of Mosquito Creek
• Mile 2222.6: Creek below Steamboat Lake, Steamboat Lake Trail # 70 just E of creek, established campsites on lakes eastern shore, campground at N end of lake with outhouse
• Mile 2225.0: Trout Lake Creek, wooden bridge, campsite nearby
• Mile 2229.8: Tributary of the White Salmon River, wooden bridge
• Mile 2230.6: Headwaters of Swampy Creek, wooden bridge, campsites nearby

Trout Lake to White Pass

What it was like

Goat Rocks was high on our list and we'd heard a lot about it from southbounders. It didn't disappoint. It was one of the most beautiful sections of the whole PCT for us. We entered it after the north face of Mt Adams and camped at Cispus Pass after a 28-mile day.

The next morning we climbed Old Snowy and reached the summit. It showed us Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens and our first glimpse of Mount Rainier, which surprised us. The weather was clear and sunny and we were lucky. The day before had been foggy and hikers who went ahead didn't see much.

Then we walked Knife's Edge. It's four or five miles on a ridge with steep ground on both sides, snow, and a glacier. We descended about 2,000 feet into a basin. It was a preview of Washington's constant ups and downs. The climbs didn't bother us as much as the heat on exposed trail.

White Pass is a small general store with good facilities for hikers. We got a hot meal, showered, picked up our resupply, and recharged.

Camping

Cispus Pass had views and was a nice camp after a 28-mile day. White Pass was another nice camp.

Towns

White Pass is a small general store with great facilities for hikers: a hot meal, a shower, and a place to recharge. It had trail magic with tomatoes, cucumbers, coffee, and wine.

Water

The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 6.5 miles, from Small spring below the trail (mile 2232.8) to Sheep Lake (mile 2239.3).

Water sources on this stretch (40)

• Mile 2232.8: Small spring below the trail
• Mile 2239.3: Sheep Lake, campsite
• Mile 2239.4: Riley Creek
• Mile 2239.6: Small seasonal creek
• Mile 2240.6: Trail side Mutton Creek
• Mile 2241.6: Stream
• Mile 2241.9: Lewis River
• Mile 2243.5: Small pond
• Mile 2244.8: Killen Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2245.5: Small lake
• Mile 2248.4: Small creek
• Mile 2248.5: Muddy Fork, large creek with wooden bridge
• Mile 2249.0: Large tributary of Muddy Fork, wooden bridge, campsite nearby
• Mile 2249.4: Excellent Lava Spring, campsite nearby
• Mile 2253.5: Small tributary of Midway Creek
• Mile 2253.7: Seasonal Midway Creek
• Mile 2254.3: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2255.8: Pond, campsite nearby
• Mile 2256.2: Lake
• Mile 2257.2: Small Lake
• Mile 2261.1: Small stream, small campsites nearby
• Mile 2266.0: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2268.7: Seasonal Walupt Creek, small campsite
• Mile 2269.3: Sheep Lake
• Mile 2272.3: Cispus River
• Mile 2272.7: Tributary of the Cispus River
• Mile 2278.7: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2279.2: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2279.6: Stream
• Mile 2281.6: Lutz Lake, campsite
• Mile 2282.5: Campsite at Tieton Pass, small seasonal spring 1/10 mile E on side trail and 200 feet W down hill, both may be dry late season
• Mile 2282.6: Small stream 120 yards E of PCT
• Mile 2283.5: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2286.7: Hidden Spring, 3/10 mile E of PCT
• Mile 2292.4: Ginnette Lake, campsite
• Mile 2293.3: Stream at the end of a switchback
• Mile 2294.1: South Fork Clear Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2295.3: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2296.7: Sand Lake, campsite
• Mile 2297.2: Small pond, campsite

White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass

What it was like

Out of Goat Rocks we entered what we called the Snoqualmie wilderness. The trail got harder with more rocks and more ridges and it took us longer to cover miles. The views kept us going with a lot of mountains to look at and Mount Rainier closer.

There was a norovirus warning for stagnant pools and streams after White Pass so we made long water carries of 10 to 12 miles. We passed an old cabin called the Urich Cabin where locals on quad bikes had trail magic with beer and Gatorade. They were curious about the PCT and hadn't expected to be on it. It was interesting to talk with folks from rural America.

Sheep Lake and Chinook Pass had some of the best views in Washington. At Chinook Pass someone had set up a canopy in the parking lot with coolers of food and drinks, a first aid kit, and foam rollers for tired legs. It was our first proper trail magic. We didn't expect to see anyone there at the end of the day but there were lots of people. A remote highway doesn't suggest much but day hikers come up for the nearby lakes. We also saw llamas and goats on the trail working as pack animals to carry supplies to the lakes.

Day 106 was our longest in Washington at 30.1 miles to Blowout Mountain and it had a nice camp and views. The descent into Snoqualmie Pass and the climb out were the hardest of the stretch. At Snoqualmie Pass we stayed at the Washington Alpine Club. It's a hikers-only cabin that gave us breakfast and dinner, a place to stay, laundry, and a shower. A friend drove up from Snohomish with good food and took us for ramen. It made getting back on the trail the next day hard.

Camping

Cowlitz Trail, Blowout Mountain, and White Pass were nice camps and Blowout Mountain had views. Sheep Lake was a camp near Chinook Pass.

Towns

Snoqualmie Pass. The Washington Alpine Club is a hikers-only cabin near the pass. It gave us breakfast and dinner, a bed, laundry, and a shower. It was everything a hiker needs.

Water

The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 10.8 miles, from Small spring next to the trail (mile 2349.9) to Reliable creek (mile 2360.7).

Water sources on this stretch (43)

• Mile 2299.2: Small shallow pond
• Mile 2299.8: Buesch Lake, campsite
• Mile 2300.1: Small lake
• Mile 2300.7: Pipe Lake, campsite
• Mile 2303.5: Snow Lake
• Mile 2306.0: Bumping River, wooden bridge, several campsites
• Mile 2307.2: Bumping River ford
• Mile 2309.6: Crag Lake Creek, small campsite
• Mile 2309.9: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2313.0: Two Lakes, campsite
• Mile 2317.3: Anderson Lake
• Mile 2317.9: Small seasonal tributary of the American River
• Mile 2318.6: Small stream
• Mile 2318.7: Small stream, wooden bridge
• Mile 2319.1: Dewey Lake, campsite
• Mile 2319.5: Dewey Lake, another campsite
• Mile 2324.2: Sheep Lake, campsite
• Mile 2332.4: Piped spring next to trail
• Mile 2340.0: Arch Rock Spring 100 yards N of PCT, crude sign marks the trail
• Mile 2340.2: Tributary of the Greenwater River, campsite nearby
• Mile 2345.3: Meadow Creek, small wooden bridge
• Mile 2345.4: Urich Cabin, campsite, shelter, outhouse, water from nearby creek
• Mile 2349.9: Small spring next to the trail, small campsite
• Mile 2360.7: Reliable creek, 500 feet SW of the PCT
• Mile 2363.0: Small tributary of Tacoma Creek, small campsite nearby
• Mile 2368.4: Spring next to the PCT
• Mile 2369.8: Small seasonal spring, 50 feet from PCT on a use trail
• Mile 2374.3: Small seasonal spring
• Mile 2376.3: Stream
• Mile 2377.0: Stirrup Creek
• Mile 2379.1: Seasonal headwaters of Meadow Creek
• Mile 2380.9: Large creek below Mirror Lake
• Mile 2381.1: Large creek below Mirror Lake, second crossing
• Mile 2381.2: Mirror Lake, campsite
• Mile 2382.1: Small stream
• Mile 2382.5: Reliable Cold Creek
• Mile 2385.1: Stream, campsite
• Mile 2385.6: Reliable Olallie Creek
• Mile 2386.7: Rockdale Creek
• Mile 2388.3: Lodge Creek
• Mile 2390.9: Stream
• Mile 2392.3: Tributary of Commonwealth Creek
• Mile 2393.1: Tributary of Commonwealth Creek, second crossing

Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass

What it was like

The climb out of Snoqualmie Pass was about 2,000 feet in four miles over rocks in 90-degree heat. It was the toughest 17 miles of the stretch. It was worth it. The destination was Spectacle Lake, a beautiful alpine lake with a rocky mountain behind it. We camped at Joe Lake the night before and reached Spectacle Lake by 11 a.m.

We found a camp on the peninsula and spent the day in the lake. We swam, read, napped, and ate cold pizza and a rotisserie chicken from Costco. We called it a trail nero, a rest day on trail. We had almost never taken one because every time we took time off we were in a town. It was more refreshing than a day in town because you really get to relax with no internet and let your feet rest.

It was 71 miles from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass. Along the way we saw lots of marmots eating grass with their babies in a rocky section after Spectacle Lake. Before Stevens Pass we found wild blueberry bushes while looking for a campsite. We checked that they weren't lookalikes and then picked a jar for ourselves and our host. Huckleberries and blueberries were a highlight of Washington.

Friends picked us up at Stevens Pass and took us to Wenatchee. On the way we stopped for lunch in Leavenworth, a Bavarian-themed town. We took a zero there and two nights off.

Camping

Spectacle Lake was a nice camp on a peninsula with views. The camp before Hope Lake had views and berries. Joe Lake sits at 5,171 ft.

Towns

Wenatchee is a town east of Stevens Pass. Friends picked us up and hosted us for two nights at their home and we spent a day in Leavenworth, a Bavarian-themed town.

Water

The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 6.2 miles, from Deep Lake outlet (mile 2430.4) to Large creek with a potentially difficult ford (mile 2436.6).

Water sources on this stretch (42)

• Mile 2396.7: Ridge Lake, campsites nearby
• Mile 2400.7: Three small ponds
• Mile 2404.6: Small spring fed pools
• Mile 2407.6: Delate Creek, wooden bridge, campsite nearby
• Mile 2408.5: Stream
• Mile 2410.2: Lemah Creek, bridge washed out in 2014, campsite nearby
• Mile 2410.8: Large tributary of Lemah Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2411.4: Stream
• Mile 2412.4: Stream
• Mile 2417.3: Small lake
• Mile 2417.8: Small lake, headwaters of the Cooper River
• Mile 2422.2: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2423.1: Small stream
• Mile 2423.6: Waptus River, wooden bridge, campsites 100 yards N
• Mile 2424.1: Stream
• Mile 2424.3: Spade Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2425.1: Creek
• Mile 2425.7: Creek below Deadhead Lake, campsites
• Mile 2430.1: Trailside water from Spinola Creek
• Mile 2430.2: Ford the large creek below Lake Vincente
• Mile 2430.4: Deep Lake outlet, campsites nearby
• Mile 2436.6: Large creek with a potentially difficult ford
• Mile 2436.8: Creek
• Mile 2437.8: Stream
• Mile 2439.7: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2440.4: Deception Creek
• Mile 2440.7: Large creek
• Mile 2441.3: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2442.3: Deception Lake outlet, wood bridge
• Mile 2442.6: Deception Lake
• Mile 2445.4: Seasonal stream, campsites
• Mile 2445.6: Creek
• Mile 2446.6: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2448.5: Seasonal stream, several small campsites
• Mile 2449.5: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2451.5: Hope Lake
• Mile 2452.3: Mig Lake, large campsite, toilet
• Mile 2456.0: Small seasonal creek
• Mile 2460.3: Tributary of Stevens Creek
• Mile 2461.7: Tributary of Nason Creek
• Mile 2462.7: Nason Creek
• Mile 2465.1: Small creek, campsite

Hart's Pass to the Northern Terminus

What it was like

The smoke from two fires had been bad in Wenatchee for two or three days. We decided to skip ahead to Mazama and start hiking where the closures end so we would reach the Canadian border first. Friends gave us a ride to Mazama and another trail angel drove us on to Hart's Pass.

From Hart's Pass it was about 28 miles to the border and then back out. We camped at Campsite 5 and then Hopkins Lake, touched the border, and returned past Hart's Pass. By the last day the smoke had mostly cleared and we could see blue sky. The monument sits right at the border where it cuts through the hill and has the Treaty of 1846 on it. "We did it."

We finished at a trail angel's 20-acre ranch near Winthrop and recorded an update and watched the hills. We weren't ready to stop hiking. We still had unfinished business in the closed section.

Camping

We camped at Campsite 5 and Hopkins Lake on the way to the border and outside Hart's Pass on the way back.

Towns

Mazama and Winthrop. Friends gave us a ride to Mazama and another to Hart's Pass. Trail angels hosted us at a ranch near Winthrop.

Holden to Stevens Pass

What it was like

We went back for the section the fires had closed. Trail angels drove us from Winthrop to Chelan. From there the Lady of the Lake boat took about 40 minutes to Lucerne and the Holden bus took us up to the village. It was a little over 100 miles from there to Stevens Pass.

The detour climbs Railroad Creek from Holden past Hart Lake and Lyman Lakes and crosses Cloudy Pass to rejoin the PCT at Suiattle Pass. From there we walked the PCT south.

The best views were the climb out of Mica Lake and the White Chuck River next to White Mountain. Glacier Peak was one of the places we'd most wanted to see. Day 123 was 23.9 miles to Kodak Peak. Day 124 was 20.3 miles to Grizzly Peak, our last logged camp about 12 miles short of Stevens Pass. The last two days were rainy and wet and we hiked in wet shoes and socks. Our tent was still wet when we set it up in California a few days later.

Camping

Vista Creek sits at 3,615 ft and Mica Lake, Kodak Peak, and Grizzly Peak are all above 5,000 ft. Hart Lake is outside Holden, reached by the alternate.

Towns

Holden and Lake Chelan are the start of the southbound stretch. Trail angels hosted us in Chelan and we got a ride from there. The last trail magic was soda by the power lines before Stevens Pass.

Water

The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 8.5 miles, from Lake Janus (mile 2468.9) to Pear Lake (mile 2477.4).

Water sources on this stretch (62)

• Mile 2467.1: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2468.5: Tributary of Rapid River
• Mile 2468.9: Lake Janus, campsite, toilet nearby
• Mile 2477.4: Pear Lake, campsite, ~0.1 miles off the PCT on TR2480
• Mile 2481.7: Seasonal headwaters of West Cady Creek, large campsite
• Mile 2484.1: Pass Creek, campsites, toilet, trail junction nearby
• Mile 2487.6: Small seasonal creek
• Mile 2488.3: Lake Sally Ann, campsites, toilet
• Mile 2491.5: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2493.4: Seasonal creek
• Mile 2494.5: Reflection Pond
• Mile 2496.4: Small seasonal creek
• Mile 2499.5: Trailside tributary of White Chuck River, campsite
• Mile 2500.6: Trailside tributary of White Chuck River, second campsite
• Mile 2501.0: Tributary of White Chuck River, wooden bridge, campsites nearby
• Mile 2501.6: Ford a Tributary of White Chuck River
• Mile 2501.9: White Chuck River, bridge, water is sometimes silty
• Mile 2503.1: Baekos Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2504.2: Small stream
• Mile 2504.6: Chetwot Creek, small wooden bridge
• Mile 2505.1: Large stream, pair of wooden bridges
• Mile 2505.8: Ford Sitkum Creek
• Mile 2506.1: Stream
• Mile 2506.4: Kennedy Creek, broken log bridge, silty water
• Mile 2508.1: Glacier Creek
• Mile 2509.4: Pumice Creek
• Mile 2509.8: Seasonal tributary of Pumice Creek
• Mile 2511.4: Fire Creek
• Mile 2514.3: Mica Lake, campsites
• Mile 2514.9: Mica Lake Creek, campsite nearby
• Mile 2516.4: Tributary of Milk Creek
• Mile 2518.1: Milk Creek, wooden bridge
• Mile 2523.6: Creek
• Mile 2523.8: East Fork Milk Creek
• Mile 2527.6: Small seasonal tributary of Vista Creek
• Mile 2528.5: Vista Creek, campsites nearby
• Mile 2532.5: Small stream, wooden bridge
• Mile 2533.7: Ford a Dolly Creek
• Mile 2534.3: Suiattle River, large bridge
• Mile 2535.4: Clear stream
• Mile 2536.4: Small stream
• Mile 2537.1: Clear stream
• Mile 2537.4: Small stream
• Mile 2537.8: Miners Creek, log bridge with handrail
• Mile 2541.3: Stream
• Mile 2542.0: Creek
• Mile 2542.3: Miners Creek, second crossing, small wooden bridge
• Mile 2543.2: Large creek
• Mile 2546.2: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2548.1: Small seasonal stream, campsite nearby
• Mile 2548.4: A pair of streams
• Mile 2549.1: Stream
• Mile 2550.1: Seasonal stream
• Mile 2552.0: Ford the South Fork Agnes Creek
• Mile 2552.0: Hemlock Camp, in 2014 signs warned camping was unsafe due to falling tree hazards, South Fork Agnes Creek nearby
• Mile 2554.8: Cedar Camp, along South Fork Agnes Creek
• Mile 2556.2: Swamp Creek, log crossing with hand rail, Swamp Creek Camp, several campsites nearby
• Mile 2559.2: Pass Creek, log crossing, several large campsites, toilet nearby
• Mile 2560.8: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2561.8: Small seasonal stream
• Mile 2564.2: Agnes Creek, wood and steel bridge
• Mile 2564.4: Unpaved road continues on bridge over the Stehekin River

Reflections

Wildfires turned Washington into three pieces for us: northbound to Stevens Pass, the border and back from Hart's Pass, and southbound from Holden. We reached Canada on Day 119 and finished the closed section by Day 124. The 66 to 70 miles from Suiattle Pass to Hart's Pass are still ahead of us. A few days later we added a short Sierra section from Cottonwood Pass to the top of Mt Whitney. The overview covers it.

Washington by the numbers

• Wildlife: 20 marmots, 7 grouse, 5 deer, 1 wolf, 1 black bear, and 1 mountain goat
• Longest days: 30.1 miles to Blowout Mountain, 28 to Cispus Pass, 25.5 to Meadow Creek and 24.3 to Deep Lake
• Best views: wildflowers out of Trout Lake, Goat Rocks, Chinook Pass, the climb out of Mica Lake, and Spectacle Lake to Deep Lake
• Hardest: the descent to Snoqualmie Pass and the climb out
• Zeros: Wenatchee (2), Winthrop. Neros: White Pass, Spectacle Lake

What I'd tell someone starting at Cascade Locks

1. Plan for fire closures. Check the PCTA closure page before each section and have a route around the closure.
2. Check for health warnings. In 2023 a norovirus warning meant long water carries.
3. Time Goat Rocks for a clear day. The views are the main reason to go.
4. Take time on trail. A half day at Blue Lake or Spectacle Lake was more restful than a day in town.
5. Expect steep ups and downs. Washington has few flat miles and the heat on exposed climbs was harder than the climbs.