One of the most intriguing aspects of being in New Zealand is adapting to the reverse seasons. As we approach Fall here, I find myself reminiscing about the stunning autumn hues of the Pacific Northwest. Just before our departure, Trailcutter and I embarked on a journey to Cutthroat Pass to witness the breathtaking golden larches.

Arriving at the Cutthroat Pass Trailhead early, we were met with the usual hustle and bustle of this time of year. After a bit of a struggle, we managed to secure a parking spot half a mile down the highway, a testament to the popularity of this trail.

If you are out here in the Fall, it will be a couple of miles before you see the larches, but the views from early on in the trail will keep you distracted.

Since the larches are such a spectacle, expect the Cutthroat pass trail to be chalked full of people. A relatively continuous line of other hikers, backpackers, and runners is here to view the same thing. These larches draw quite a crowd.

Trailcutter and I had an easy day out with a long lunch break at Cutthroat Pass. We stared off into the distance over the horizon of the Cascades, watching the clouds roll around and snapping lots of photos. So, for this post, I will let the images speak for themselves.

If you are looking for a bit of a challenge or are keen on Washington's 100 highest peaks, the trip out to Tower and Golden Horn may just be worth the trip while you are out here. I suggest more than a single day, though.

For those in for a much longer drive but a smaller crowd and more challenging hike, the larches out by Hoodoo Peak might be worth considering.

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After what has amounted to a (mostly) disappointing climbing season for myself, I felt I needed to experience a PNW classic to boost my spirits. Of course, with the infamous golden larches in bloom, it seemed an ideal time to retreat to the North Cascades. After a reasonable amount of searching for a hike, I decided on the route up to Cutthroat Pass. After all, though it is often overpopulated, there is a reason so many flock here to view the golden hillsides.

With overcrowding in mind, I left right after work and headed for the trailhead, hoping to secure a space where I could sleep for the night before getting a relatively easy start. Cutthroat Pass has always had a full parking area, but after being away for a few years, I was surprised to see the parking area nearly full, almost all of the cars containing other trailhead sleepers.

Luckily, I grabbed one of the last few spaces near the trailhead, threw up my window covers and settled in for a good night's rest.

I was on the trail by around 7 am, yet there was already a steady stream of hikers and backpackers flooding the trail. I am not certain if the time away was skewing my perception, but the trail seemed extra busy even for such a popular hike.

The first stretches of trail winding through the woods went by quickly. I stopped often to enjoy the peekaboo views of all the surrounding peaks, Black Peak looking especially regal standing high above the valley below. Though the larches don’t start until a few miles in, the lower trail was already flecked with fall colors. Of course, I had to stop and admire them all as I strolled along, which slowed me to a tourist's pace rather than my usual quick hiking pace.

Once I hit the switchbacks that begin the main climb up towards Cutthroat Pass, my pace slowed further as I stopped to photograph what seemed to be almost every larch. I stared in awe at a sight I have seen so many times but did not realize how much I missed while being away. Of course, with the conga line of people making their way up the trail, a fast pace was nigh impossible.

This time the larches, a bit to my surprise, were still a bit green on some of their tips, but the golden color was out to satisfy my craving for a uniquely Western North American sight.

After reaching the pass, I wandered about a bit aimlessly, enjoying the deep reds and bright yellow colors of fall in the North Cascades. After a few minutes, I noticed a nearby peak that seemed easy enough to ascend. Hoping to get a bit more solitude than what I was experiencing at Cutthroat Pass, I decided to head for it and see what the short climb might hold.

Looking now at Peakbagger, the small mountain is only labeled as Peak 7345. From Cutthroat Pass, the climb was simple enough: Class 2 with a very short, moderately exposed ridge near the top that is only 20 feet long. As I had hoped, though, I was all alone on this little pile of rock to enjoy the sights all by myself for a few minutes. The summit views of all the surrounding mountains were quite nice and left me with an excellent spot for a quick snack and some photos. The views of Tower and Golden Horn were especially fantastic and left me with a grand sense of nostalgia from my climb here many years back.

After satisfying my hunger for a brilliant view, I began my descent back toward the car, taking my time as I wandered down.

I thought the trail was busy on my way up. But, my goodness, the nearly steady stream of hikers, backpackers and trail runners going both up and down the trail to Cutthroat Pass left me feeling like I may not be visiting this particular area for a visit to the larches in the future. There are more secluded spots that I will save my larch adventures for in the future.

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