Washington is a dynamic state, to say the least. It's amazing how quickly the landscape can change: Fires rage in the summer, closing trails and burning huge swaths of forest; bridges get washed away in massive floods; and avalanches knock trees over like matchsticks, taking out entire sections of trail with them. The second edition of Day and Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Washington, by local author Adrienne Schaefer, provides hikers with updated trail and road conditions, places to visit in the great mountain towns surrounding them, and information on some of the major environmental events that have happened over the past four years, which includes the largest wildfire season in Washington State history. The second edition also includes five new hikes, one of which travels along the glaciated flanks of Glacier Peak through a breathtaking section of the PCT that was closed 2003-2011. With new maps, photos, and updated trail information, this guide highlights sections of the PCT in the Columbia River Gorge, Gifford Pinchot National Forest with views of Mount Adams, Mount Rainier National Park, and Pasayten wildernesses. The guide includes ratings for scenery, trail condition, difficulty, solitude, and accessibility for children. In addition, it has driving directions. Adrienne Schaefer's love of nature and outdoor pursuits began at a young age, building forts and camping out with her family in the foothills of Washington's North Cascades. As she got older, her love turned into a lifestyle, and she decided to pursue a career in the outdoor industry. A bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation led her to a variety of outdoor-based jobs, including working for the National Park Service and U.S Forest Service as a trail crew member, wildland firefighter, and a climbing ranger on Mt. Rainier. She was also a professional ski patroller for six years and now helps instruct women's backcountry ski clinics in the North Cascades. Adrienne currently lives in the quiet community of Winthrop, on the east slopes of the North Cascades. When not working, she enjoys trail running, gardening, and sharing her love for the outdoors with her husband and two young boys. Cutthroat Pass Scenery: ***** - Children: *** - Solitude: ** - Hiking Time: 5–7 hours - Trail Condition: ***** - Difficulty: *** - Distance: 10 miles - Green Trails Map: Washington Pass 50 - Outstanding Features: Grand vistas of snowcapped mountains and weather-worn peaks, a gradual ascent on a well-maintained trail, and plenty of opportunities to extend your hike once you reach the pass While researching the trails for this book, I ran into a gardener from Stehekin who set out to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the 1970s. He made it all the way to southern Oregon. When I asked why he didn’t keep going, he simply said, “Well, the Pasayten Wilderness was just too beautiful to leave.” He hitched a ride back north and hasn’t left since. While Cutthroat Pass is not part of Pasayten Wilderness or North Cascades National Park, many believe it should be. Since it’s not, however, dog lovers can bring their canine companions. Unlike most hikes in the North Cascades, this one begins with a warmup. The trail is mostly flat for the first 0.25 mile as it travels north through a forest thick with fir, hemlock, and spruce. You hike a few long, leisurely switchbacks before the trail levels out. At the 1-mile mark, a rock offers a place to sit and enjoy excellent views to the southwest toward Corteo Peak. Views open to the west as well, but the trail soon reenters the forest, obscuring the vista. Walking is pleasant as the trail continues its journey north up the Porcupine Creek drainage. At 2 miles, you cross the creek on a footbridge, after which the trail begins a gradual climb to the northeast. In a little less than 1 mile, there’s a small campsite beside the trail, a great spot if the weather is bad, but the camping up higher is much more beautiful. At 3.2 miles, the trail transitions from dark, forested slopes to open meadows littered with wildflowers. Views open in all directions, and for the first time you can see Cutthroat Pass at the head of the valley to the northeast. The trail quickly reenters a short section of trees before immersing you in spectacular alpine terrain. The trail rounds the head of the valley and at 4 miles comes to the best camping in the area. A sign directs hikers to three or four sites that have access to a few small springs, a good place to refill water bottles or let thirsty dogs grab a drink before your final climb to the pass, where water is absent unless snowfields linger. From here, the trail begins a long series of switchbacks. As you wind up the east side of the valley, Peaks 7004 and 7726, to the west, rise steeply above the path you took to get here. The vegetation takes on a scrubbier appearance; harsh winds and fierce storms permit only the strongest of plants to survive. Larch trees, low-lying huckleberry bushes, a