Cutthroat Pass via Rainy Pass

 We drove up to Rainy Pass on Hwy 20 to hike up to Cutthroat Pass on the PCT, we ended up going an additional 1.25 miles along the trail after the pass. Our total hike was 12.5 miles with 2,000 ft gain.
Within 0.1 mile of the trail we went through this beautiful field of wildflowers.

Although the first 4 miles of trail is in the forest, there were several fields of wildflowers,

along with water crossings

and peek a boo views of mountains.

The trail crosses Porcupine Creek about 1.5 miles north of the trailhead.

 This seemed like an easy stream to step over,

which it was, but looking up between the trees, this little stream had a beautiful cascade coming down over the trail.

 As we gained elevation, we began to have views of Cutthroat Peak,

 and walked through more fields of wildflowers in bloom

 Our views opened up the last mile of switchbacks going up to the pass.

 View to the southwest from near Cutthroat Pass, looking between Cutthroat Peak and Porcupine Peak.











Panoramic view from Cutthroat Pass looking towards the east:

 We were able to see Cutthroat Lake far below and lots of wildflowers at the pass.












From Cutthroat Pass to the north, the trail stays fairly level for the next 1.25 miles,












so we continued hiking northwards and enjoying the views.

Lots of wildflowers along this high trail

 More views as the trail went around bends











Lovely view of the Golden Horn and the Tower before the trail starts to steeply descend down to Granite Pass. This was our turn around spot.

 Views as we hiked along this upper section towards towards Cutthroat Pass

 looking back down to Cutthroat Lake, (the little green spot)

 Heading back down on the southwest side of Cutthroat Pass












some of the wildflowers we saw in bloom along the trail: