[pct-l] Cascades via Pacific Northwest Trail from PCT

[Gary Swing]

The Pacific Northwest Trail intersects the PCT close to the Canadian border. I was wondering about the practicality of backtracking from the border at the end of a NOBO PCT thru hike and continuing to hike on the Pacific Northwest Trail through Ross Lake National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park. It looks like getting backcountry permits to follow the PNT west from the PCT along Ross Lake is impractical because the park website indicates that these permits are only available on a first-come, first served basis, with no reservations, from a ranger station. Of course, there is no ranger station along the route. Can the PNT route from Holman Pass over Devils Dome and then south along the East Bank Trail of Ross Lake be hiked legally? An alternate route would be to hike southwest down Ruby Creek Trail to Hwy. 20 and then hitch to the park headquarters in Newhalem to get backcountry permits for the North Cascades.

Cheers,

Gary