Cutthroat Pass/PCT Backpacking Trip August 7-8

Anali, Peter and I planned a quick backpacking trip over the weekend in the North Cascades area of Washington. We had two cars at our disposal so we decided on a through hike. The weather was very wet on the west side so we opted for a hike more to the east from Rainy Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail to Cutthroat Pass then down to Cutthroat Lake.

Anali and I realized that it was our first backpacking trip together since she was in middle school! The PCT was awesome and the ascent to the pass was fairly gradual and not too strenuous. The camping area was about a mile prior to the pass so we went up to explore and take photos. It was a good thing that we did that because it was more socked in with clouds the next morning when we climbed back up. The pass reminded us of scenes in Lord of the Rings! We got drizzled on that evening and most of the night but the campsite had a small, tight grouping of evergreens that sheltered us from the rain. That is where we cooked, played cards and swatted mosquitoes.

All in all it was a great hike and we finished it off with wine tasting at Lost River Winery and Mexican food in Winthrop! The first of many more such trips into the backcountry...