WHERE:    From Portland follow I-5 north  to the North Cascades Highway (hwy 20).  Follow highway 20 east to Rainy pass where there is parking on the left

THE TRAIL:  This trail begins at 4800 feet through sub alpine forests covered with creeks even in August.  Most people take this trail to Cutthroat pass which is about 5.5 miles and 2000 foot elevation gain.  The common response I received upon inquirer how far someone went was "all the way" ... meaning all the way to the pass.  I was going up while others were coming down and you get the impression that there is nowhere to go after the pass ... its the end!!!  The trail was pretty easy for a 2000 foot gain and began to open out of the forests at about 6000 feet.  At this point campsites began to appear below the meadows leading up to the pass.  There was also a creek that was running at a surprisingly good volume about 250 feet below the pass with no other water sources going into the valley except for a few patches of snow.  It makes me wonder if there is a spring where water from the larger snow patches on the other side where seeping through.

As I got into the open I noticed the rain clouds beautifully hugging the steep mountains on the other side of Rainy Pass in North Cascades National Park (NCNP).  I couldn't wait to get to the top and get some good photographs that this romance between clouds and mountains produced.  Soon I got to the top of the meadows and Cutthroat Pass (I didn't turn around to see the mountain/cloud dance I so looked forward to photographing for about 15 minutes).  At the pass I got my first glimpse east and I felt like I was in god's personal cathedral with clouds hovering just over the peaks and Cutthroat lake below.  Pictures can never do justice but I took them anyways and then turned around to photograph the clouds which hovered a lot lower than to the east.  These peaks are definitely grander and have more prominence than the Rockies!

The PCT loomed along the side of a ridge with no apparent obstructions until it wound around a bend.  I figured on continuing along the trail until there where no more new views or it got late.  After a couple more bends where cornered a completely different valley stood before me with towering mountains to its sides and behind (this was right above Granite Pass).  It was like walking through an enchanted door.  Again I was at a new scene and noticed the PCT looming along the sides of the mountains with what looked like little obstruction of views.  Again I followed as I dropped down about 500 feet to Granite Pass.  The trail gets a bit steep and narrow at times so don't let the views make you to careless.  After about an hour I reached Methow Pass and a window to a new valley (not quite as impressive as the last two).  Heading back I ran into Paul and his kids (adults who are his children that is)  John and Allison.  They were very cool people and I enjoyed talking to them for the 4 1/2 miles or so back to Cutthroat Pass.  The family seems to do a lot of backcountry outings together and I talked a lot with Allison about different hikes we had done:  We agreed that we probably have it better in the northwest than in Colorado where she will be going to school:  This despite Colorado's reputation for "extreme" mountains.