13.37 miles of hiking • 2500' elevation gain •
I hiked the PCT from Stevens Pass to Lake Valhalla. The trail travels an open forest ridge and then climbs through meadows and forest to the lake. I saw just a couple other hikers coming out from backpacking. A lot of people were at the lake, having apparently hiked from the Smithbrook Trailhead. I decided to hike to the top of Mt. McCausland, since it was just a sort of steep 1/2 mile hike from the PCT. I saw no one on that spur trail and had the summit, the views, and biting insects all to myself!
