From US Highway 2, turn north onto Rainy Creek Road (look for signs for "Smithbrook Trailhead") 6.5 kilometres east of the Truck Brake Check Area at Stevens Pass or 25.8 kilometres west of the intersection with State Highway 207 at Coles Corner.  Drive 4.3 kilometres to a large parking lot at the signed Smithbrook Trailhead (no facilities but no fees or passes required).  Rainy Creek Road is a gravel road which is normally suitable for 2WD vehicles, but the first three kilometres or so were heavily rutted and required extra care to drive (high-clearance vehicle strongly recommended).  Be sure to check current conditions before attempting to drive this road (an approach by bicycle would be a good alternative).

Zosia and I actually arrived the previous evening and camped at the trailhead after surviving a rather stressful drive along Rainy Creek Road.  For the hike, we skipped the first couple hundred metres or so of Smithbrook Trail by walking along the continuation of the road and taking a short cut at the next hairpin turn.  The trail rises gently but steadily up a forested slope via numerous switchbacks before levelling out a bit in a basin and then intersecting the PCT at a forested saddle known as Union Gap.  On this day, we encountered a fair number of big fallen tree trunks blocking the trail, but fortunately, most were not too difficult to climb over or bypass.  Once we gained the PCT, we turned left and followed it southward for a little more than two kilometres to an unsigned junction with a spur trail heading northward.  We took this spur trail and followed it up the south ridge of Mount McCausland.  Although we had no route-finding problems, the spur trail is very steep and eroded in some spots, and we had to be extra cautious with our footing both going up and later coming down.  Partially surrounded by trees, the actual summit is surprisingly nondescript and perhaps a bit underwhelming.  Instead of stopping there, we continued a little further on a beaten path (some route-finding required) to the north end of the summit ridge where we discovered a unique summit register container bolted onto a scenic rocky perch.  This was the perfect spot to take an extended lunch break while reading the register contents and ogling Glacier Peak to the north.

Zosia and I spent nearly 1.5 hours at the north end of Mount McCausland's summit ridge before backing out the way we came.  We took our time descending the steep south ridge partly to be cautious but mostly to snap more photographs of Lake Valhalla and distant peaks.  Once we regained the PCT, we easily retraced our steps back to Union Gap and subsequently down to the trailhead.  Although we did not see anyone else follow us up Mount McCausland, the PCT and Smithbrook Trail were both quite busy in the afternoon, and I was surprised how little the poor condition of Rainy Creek Road deterred people from driving to the trailhead parking lot which was pretty full when we finished our hike.  We had originally planned to head further into the backcountry to explore more of this area, but with the poor road condition weighing heavily on our minds, we decided to cut bait and simply move on.  The drive out was expectedly slow, but fortunately, we avoided any scrapes and breathed a huge sigh of relief when we finally returned to pavement on US Highway 2.

	Instead of following the trail from the trailhead, Zosia takes this short cut from Rainy Creek Road.
	Sonny carefully climbs over a large tree trunk blocking the trail. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny reaches the junction with Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The spur trail to Mount McCausland branches off from the PCT at this unsigned junction.
	Zosia follows the trail up the south ridge of Mount McCausland.
	Here is one of the first clear views of Lake Valhalla from the south ridge of Mount McCausland.  At far left is Lichtenberg Mountain and its striking western pinnacle.

Glacier Peak captures all the attention to the north in this view from the north end of Mount McCausland's summit ridge.  A tiny sliver of Lake Janus is also barely visible at lower right.

 

	The summit register is located at the north end (1750 metres) of the summit ridge.  The mountain was officially named in 1988 for Norm McCausland, a long-time employee of Skykomish Ranger District.
	Dow Lake sits just below the northeastern slopes of Mount McCausland.
	This is the view to the northwest from the north end of the summit ridge.
	Returning from the north end of the summit ridge, Zosia pauses at the true summit of Mount McCausland (1758 metres).
	Mount Rainier (right of centre on horizon) is visible from the south end of the summit ridge.
	This is looking southwest from the south end of the summit ridge.

Here is a panoramic view of Lake Valhalla from the south end of Mount McCausland's summit ridge.

 

	Here is one last look at Lake Valhalla as Zosia descends the south ridge.
	Sonny carefully drives out the heavily rutted access road. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance:  12.6 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  6 hours 19 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain:  518 metres GPX Data