Knapsack Pass

Accessed Knapsack Pass trail at Ranger Cabin on south side of Mowich Lake. Sign nearby lists trail as "unmaintained" but it is heavily used and in pretty good shape. Early on in forest a few blowdowns, only one presents any challenge, a large tree that fell parallel across the trail. Other reports listed this trail as quite muddy, but it is now apparently late enough in the year where it wasn't too bad. Pretty hike through forest with streams and a small waterfall. Once out of the trees I could take in the red foliage of fall on the open slopes. I passed one couple and a solo hiker. The solo hiker was on his way back from summitting Fay Peak and he gave me tips on that peak and Mother Mountain. There were rocky slopes below the pass and I saw several marmots. Also heard pikas. About 200 feet below the pass I saw 2 guys going off on a path to the right. They were attempting Fay Peak. I decided to stay on the trail to the pass. At the pass was a NP Ranger, I'll call him Ranger Z (last name started with Z). I noticed he had a shovel with his gear. He said he had been doing some trail work. He came from the Spray Park trailhead and was heading back around the way I had came. Ranger Z was very friendly and gave me lots of good trail tips. We watched 2 mt goats up on the slope below Fay Peak. There were still some snowfields up there. I decided, based on the time I had, not to continue on over the pass or attempt Fay Peak. I instead decided, based upon Ranger Z's report and others I had read to go up First Mother. There is a path that isn't hard to follow the whole way there. The path goes up or around several knobs. The high point is pretty obvious, it is the furthest to the northeast that one can reasonably hike to (although the Mother Mountain range continues on). Minimal scrambling was required. It felt great to be up there so late in the season with still nice weather. I looked across to Fay Peak and saw 2 figures on the summit. I waved across and eventually got a wave back. Ate a sandwich and soaked in the views. Could have stayed all day; no bugs, light wind, great temps, great views, solitude; but had to head back. I will definitely be coming back to explore more and hopefully bag some more peaks. Russ from Brooklake wants to come back here with me and do the traverse down the other side through Spray Park, etc. Hopefully next season. Distance to Knapsack Pass only around 2 miles, give or take. Not especially steep but steady. Unfortunately forgot my camera so no photos. Would definitely recommend this one for later in the season.