We set out for Peggy's Pond & Cathedral Rock around 11 am on Saturday and quickly made our way up the hill to Squaw Lake and grabbed a bite. No major problems on the trail other than the copious pack animal suprises. Weather was high clouds and occasional sun that kept the temps moderate. The forecast, however, was iffy, and seemed to have kept a lot of people from a reportedly crowded trail.

 

After reaching Cathedral Pass, we descended briefly towards Deep Lake and then cut north towards Peggy's Pond. This was harrowing in a few places where scrambling was the only option. We reached Peggy's Pond at about 2:50, set up camp and scrambled around in the upper basin to the west on Mt. Daniel. Part of the trail up the slopes was completely eroded away, so the trail in this area is not easy to follow. The meadows and creek bed were home to some stunning red and yellow wild flowers, and the stark, harsh alpine environment elicited comparisons to a desert in springtime on more than one occasion.

 

Only a handful of people stayed overnight at Peggy's Pond and meadows above it, perhaps unwisely disregarding the forecast. Sprinkles started by 10 pm and rain continued until we hit the trailhead the next day at 11 am.