PCT (Lolo Pass) to short of McNeil Point

13.51 miles of hiking • 3000' elevation gain •

This was a late decision to hike up to McNeil Point before the snow starts to add up. We wanted something a little different, so we hiked the PCT from Lolo Pass instead of going up to Top Spur. This added 5 miles round trip and ate up a bit of time, but, it was a very pleasant forest hike, with a section that had a view of Mt. Hood. Once we were on the Timberline trail, we hit snow shortly after that ridge where the trail opens to views. The little lakes were already starting to freeze over. At the McNeil junction off of the Timberline trail, there was plenty of snow and the trail really wasn't visible from there on out. We got up the ridge, and the clouds just closed in on us even more, so, we decided not to proceed to McNeil Point, since there were no views, and it was getting late.