Even though the trail to Knapsack Pass is listed as being unmaintained, it is quite hikeable by the average hiker, albeit there are numerous BIG steps, some mud holes, and several blowdowns.



Three of us left the unofficial Knapsack Pass Trail and followed a reasonably defined track to the summit of Fay Peak that required a bit of scrambling near the summit. From the summit of Fay we continued on the track to Knapsack Pass. From the Pass there is a very well defined trail to the summit of First Mother.

The plus was that it was a beautiful September day with patches of summer flowers along the way. The minus was that there were hordes of mosquitoes on the summit of Fay Peak and Knapsack Pass. In my 46 years of hiking in the Cascade I do not ever recall having hordes of mosquitoes in September. But then I also do not remember seeing avalanche lilies in September at 5,000 feet. There are still snow patches in the trees surrounding Mowich Lake. It has been a very strange year in the Pacific Northwest.



Special note: The porta potties at Mowich Lake could use some serious maintenance.

There were snow patches at Mowich Lake, but very little snow on the trail from the lake to Knapsack Pass. This trail is heavily used and gets little maintenance. It offers fine views of Mowich Lake and Rainier's summit, as well as access to Spray Park, but has many maintenance problems. These include mud-holes galore, many eroded spots, many wooden steps in bad repair, and a few blowdowns, all at the trail's lower elevations. The only blowdown that was difficult at all is one that fell lengthwise along 10 ft. of trail. Each of these bad spots has its own bypass trail, making the complete trail quite wide and messy in some places. Across the Pass, there is still deep snow beginning at the foot of the talus trail, and it was fairly hard. A toe penetrated less than an inch through the softened surface layer, and crampons would have been good to have. Because of the bugs and lack of crampons, we turned back before reaching Spray Park. Other parties on trail on this Friday: 5-6. Wildlife: Marmots, including 2 baby marmots. Flowers: Purple asters, common red paintbrush, heather. Don't forget to put your permit in the windshield, as these are checked.

Lately I've read some TR's about Knapsack Pass so I thought I'd check it out. The temperature at Mowich was cold enough for me to wear my hat and gloves for the first 20 minutes on the trail until I warmed up enough. The trail is in great shape for being ""not maintained."" The last 300' or so up is pretty steep but offers one great views to the north for those multiple few second breaks needed to reach the pass. Took a short break up top and soaked in the views. Decended to the south and lost the trail for a bit after getting to the flats. Checked my map and walked around for a bit and figured out the trail and found a cairns that helped lead the way. Reached the WT and recognized the junction from my overnighter a month and a half ago.

Headed east on the WT and branched off to the south heading towards Echo and Observation Rocks. Followed the ridge towards Observation Rock since I knew that I would not summit either rock with my lack of scrambling experience and discomfort with exposure, I'll save that for when I'm with others. Got to 7400' and saw some ice climbers climbing up just west and below Observation Rock. I then went down to get up close and personal with the Flett Glacier. It was really cool to hear the movement from within the glacier, it did freak me out at first though. About 15' from the base was a chunk that had broken off and I was bale to get a few pics of the crevass that was formed after the collapse, which was quite some time ago. Even though this glacier is small compared to most at Rainier I enjoyed being so close to it anyway.

I decided to embark in some off trail travel as I made my way down into Spray Park. Along the way I almost stepped on a family of Ptarmigan. After moving below them I snapped a few pictures from about 5 feet away, they hardly batted a feather my way while I was there, but after a few minutes they started chatting amongst themselves, so I left. I found another abandoned trail that had a cache of timber for waterbars along the way.

I saw a tadpole swimming in a tarn and a grasshopper tanning on a rock. Followed the Spray Park trail to Mowich for an uneventful conclusion to an excellent hike.