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Home to the spectacular Northern Cascades, the Washington
section of the PCT rivals that of Central California and the
Sierra Nevada in terms of dramatic, mountainous scenery. The
Washington PCT also boasts some of the trail's most fickle
weather patterns, especially in September when most thru-hikers
and riders enter the state. Some years, September in this
northernmost PCT state is bright and sunny, others it's cold
and rainy - be prepared.
The section begins at the Bridge of the Gods (elev.180'),
on the Columbia River, and ends at Monument 78 on the Canadian
border (elev. 4,240'). An additional seven miles was added
beyond the border by the Canadian government to provide access
to Highway 3 in British Columbia's Manning Provincial Park
(elev. 3,800').
The Washington PCT starts with a lengthy climb out of the
Columbia River gorge and into the Indian Heaven Wilderness,
a lake-blessed land abounding with huckleberries. Next, the
trail rounds Mt. Adams (elev. 12,276') and heads into the
rugged Goat Rocks Wilderness (where scenery is similar to
that of the High Sierra) to traverse the Packwood Glacier.
The PCT crosses Highway 12 at White Pass encountering dozens
of lakes in the William O. Douglas Wilderness. Between White
Pass and Highway 410 at Chinook Pass, the trail skirts many
more lakes as it approaches the towering monarch of the Cascades,
Mt. Rainier (elev. 14,410').
From Chinook Pass the trail has an easy, rapid run to Interstate
90 at Snoqualmie Pass, which is fortunate, since this stretch
traverses numerous clear-cuts that offer little cover from
often-present rain.
Entering the North Cascades, the PCT climbs up a deep canyon
to a pass, only to descend another deep canyon and then repeat
the cycle again. It traverses popular Alpine Lakes, Henry
M. Jackson, and Glacier Peak Wildernesses before crossing
the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, North Cascades National
Park, and Pasayten Wilderness. The prime attraction here is
Glacier Peak and the North Cascades' 750 perennial snowfields
and small glaciers, which collectively account for about half
the snowfield area in the lower 48 states.
Visiting Washington in September, hikers and riders are treated
to the bright yellow needles of western larch and the crimson
hues of huckleberry bushes -- a colorful conclusion to any
PCT journey.
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