Wildflowers are in the early peaking stage above timberline. Near the summit, some meadows were blue with lupine or yellow with glacier lillies, and the air was full of valerian scent. The weekend of 8/27,28/2011 should be subalpine wildflower heaven, and probably Labor Day weekend also. This bizarrely high-snowpack year, it's more like late July up there. Future readers: normally, I'd expect July or early August to be the best time for flowers. Variable.
Visibility should be a major consideration in choosing this hike. The sweeping long-distance views include Baker, Rainier, Glacier Peak, east side Monte Cristo, Sloan, Pugh, and everything in between, and are the prime attraction, so it's a mistake to do this in impaired viz. It is unusually scenic now with the persistent snow on the landscape.
There is still some snow along the upper ridge, an insignificant impediment. Two small pools might be used as water sources, but the ridges are (finally) getting a bit dry and the last good running water is from the stream that the trail crosses 3 times before emerging from timberline.
Major resources have been put into this popular trail. New deluxe privvy at the trailhead, impressive trailwork in the forest, new turnpike replacing old puncheon. There are still some drainage issues in the higher subalpine sections, but overall it's in excellent condition.
This trailhead is notorious for insects, but wasn't nearly as bad as I've seen it. Ordinarily, be prepared to saddle up and get away quickly, do not let the bugs intimidate you. You're bigger than they are. There's a lot of Them. Worst bugs are at the car. Bring DEET.
The Index-Galena road has been washed-out for years, so you must drive to Skykomish and then north on the Beckler River road, part paved, the rest good gravel.
Bear hunting season starts Aug 1st, these vast meadow areas are prime bear habitat, so expect bear hunters and consider some brightly-colored clothing.

I had not been out backpacking since February. Bob and Kolleen mentioned they planned a trip up West Cady Ridge to Benchmark Mountain. I had been up far enough to see some terrific views on West Cady Ridge on 11-16-08 but wanted to continue on to Benchmark. Camping on or near the summit would be even better. We drove up Highway 2 to Beckler River then over Jack's Pass and down to the Skykomish River. A right turn brought us to the road end trailhead. There was a big group getting ready to go and we headed out ahead of them at 10:12 am.

The route begins at a steady gentle grade gaining 1800' in 3 miles to the beginning of the ridge. Views begin here and never really let up. Either out to peaks or around to the miles of meadows. The trail is in fine shape. We had one log to crawl under and one to step over on the way up and both were gone on the way down. Over cast skies in Seattle gave way to blue sky in the mountains. We stopped at 3 miles for a food break. It was getting a little hot.

Bugs were annoying at the trailhead but much less of a problem up higher. Snow is melting fast. We saw the first patches at about 4500'. Most were short. There is still some longer patches farther along the ridge but none caused any problems. The first views were back wet towards Baring, Gunn, etc. Kyes soon came into view and then Glacier Peak. Not a lot of flowers out yet. We saw many bunchberry along the trail. Just a few bleeding hearts, columbine, and queens cup in the forest.

We passed one day hiker. The big group did not catch us. There are several ups and downs along the ridge. Not too bad overall. The trailhead is at 2500' and the summit is 5816'. We kept moving at a steady pace though photos did slow us down. Dropping down from the last bump we found more snow and the beginning or fields of glacier lilies. They were as thick as I have ever seen. We saw a camp at the low point but chose to continue on.

Climbing up with all the glacier lilies slowed us considerably. At a trail junction we went left a short way to find a large campsite. This was only a few hundred feet below the summit and has trees for shelter and very nice views. We decided not to stop here. Instead we climbed to the summit hopeful of finding space for two tents. Although there is snow on parts of the trail up it is easy to follow the ridge to the top. It was almost 2:30 when we reached the summit. There was maybe one tent spot. I dropped my pack and headed down the ridge. Benchmark Mountain is a ridge with a slightly higher spot in the center. The path continues past the top staying right on the crest. Just west of the crest there is still snow. No problem finding water.

I found a square cut out spot on the crest. Another spot on rocky dirt was not totally flat but would work for one more tent. I went back to the summit and we all went to the sites. Bob and Kolleen took the larger spot for their Tarptent Double Rainbow. I brought me Tarptent Rainbow. We had camp set up quickly. With nearly 7 hours of daylight left we sat down to relax. Fantastic views from the summit. The Pacific Crest Trail is just a ridge over to the east. Skykomish Peak was close by. Kyes is to the northwest then Sloan, Bedal, Pugh, Baker, Glacier, and so many more. Even Mt. Rainier was out to the south along with Stuart, Daniel, and Hinman.

I found a big tree below the ridge to hang food. Bob was busy melting snow for dinner and drinking water. The high was forecast to be in the low 60s at that elevation but it was much warmer. With no shade the snow was the only way to keep cool. This problem was not indefinite. After dinner clouds began to come in. We heard voices and saw three hikers below to the east. Turns out they were nwhikers. We hollered and they came up to visit. They took the first big campsite and were out for a little more hiking. After that we saw a hiker on the summit. He came to visit. Tag Man is also an nwhiker. He was in the 8 person group from Bremerton that we had seen at the trailhead. They took the campsite a few hundred feet below the summit.

After they left we were along on top. The wind began to pick up and made it less comfortable to stay out of the tents. Not a great sunset though the clouds were turned a little orange as the sun set. By 9:00 we headed indoors. The wind was much stronger than forecast. It was a steady 10 mph with gust to maybe 20+ mph. The ground was very soft where my tent sat. I placed big rocks over the stakes as they did not stick well. I figured I would be fine.

At about 11:30 two stakes gave way. The tent was flapping and woke me up before the collapse. My Rainbow turned into a Rainbivy. The pole still give me a foot of headroom. I could get dressed and head out to try to set it back up and have the flapping or I could do nothing. Nothing won. It worked pretty well. At 5:30 am I did get up and saw a 10 lb. rock had been moved by the wind to allow the collapse. I placed an even bigger rock and went back to bed.

It was mid winter when we climbed out of our tents with puffy layers, and raincoats on. Felt like February not mid July. We broke camp at 8:45 and the wind wind died down a little earlier. Total cloud cover at 5:30 slowly broke and we had nice views before heading down. Sun on top of some clouds was great to photograph. As we dropped off the summit and went over the next high point we dropped back into some clouds. We met one group of dayhikers on the ridge and a few others on the lower trail. Not very many folks on the route all weekend.

It was a great weekend. Sun and heat followed by clouds and cool. Miles of great meadows. Whole slopes of glacier lilies in full bloom. It was great to camp on the summit and see what we had of a sunset and sunrise. It was a relaxing weekend as we had a long stay on the summit. Nice to get out with Bob and Kolleen again and nice to get in a backpacking trip. West Cady Ridge is a great meadow walk and the summit of Benchmark has some amazing views. I will be back.

55 photos have been posted at: http://www.hikingnorthwest.com. Go to "Trips-2010" on the left margin.

West Cady Ridge 1054 snowshoe overnight. Much more snow than I'd expected; continuous above 4200', getting consolidated but still mushy. Snowpack looks healthy; expect snow on this trail into early July. A perk of early-season hiking: the landscape looks, uh, really cool with all this snow on it, less dry and barren than Sept.
Last minute change of plans due to unseasonal avalanche danger (see photo 4). An unusual volume of snow has been dumped on the Cascades this May/June, and this was the first really warm weekend, breaking 70 F. in Seattle. NWAC put out a special statement, esp. for 6000-8000' and the volcanoes (see photo 4). If you don't mind snow camping, I'd say this is a good Plan B for a situation like this: clear weather, still lots of snow, maybe something else precluding your Plan A. It is a relatively short drive from Seattle (Beckler R Rd north from Skykomish on US2; N Fk Skykomish R road is good, the usual potholes).

Sat. 6/12/10:
0500 overslept
0600 leave N Seattle
0720 Beckler R Rd
0755 trailhead (its legendary bugs were on vacation this morning)
0845 leave trailhead
0955 first snow 3850-4000'
      continuous snow above 4200'
1025 full sun gear, now it's a snowshoe trip (did not use snowshoes on descent)
      Seemed longer than I remembered, some up-and-down; you lose a couple of hundred feet at two saddles along the ridge.
1430 summit
2100 sunset N of Cadet Pk

Trail in excellent condition up to snow. 1 windfall awkward for horses, a go-around, but easy for hikers. 1 minor water drainage problem.
Bugs are ordinarily life-threatening at this trailhead, but not too bad this weekend. They are coming out; bring DEET.
3-4 trails radiate from this trailhead, enabling 6 different loops. Be advised: unless somebody has built a bridge over the N Fork Skykomish on the Pass Creek Trail, that will likely be impassable at early season high water. I waded it once in later summer, knee/thigh deep, walking stick. Do not commit to a loop returning via Pass Creek Trail unless you know the crossing conditions.
Dummy here had fantasized about going to Dishpan Gap, Bald Eagle Ridge and out Quartz Ck, but there's way too much snow, slow going. Stopped at Benchmark summit at 2:30 PM, camped on several feet of snow, and spent the weekend watching the sun move and getting in touch with our Inner Vegetables.
On a clear day, there's plenty here to watch for 12 hours or so.
Probably not a good place to camp in summer, but when it's under several feet of snow, it's low-impact.
Without a stove, it's drier than it is in summer. The little pond is snowed-in. Last running water is maybe 3500', before you get out of the trees.
View report: Rainer, Kaleetan, Chair, Big Snow, Chimney Rock/Overcoat, Summit Chief, Hinman, Stuart, Chiwaukums, Nason Ridge, David, Whittier, Saul, Clark, Dakobed Range, Tenpeak, Indian Head, Skykomish, Glacier Peak, all those things west of Glacier Peak, Baker, White Chuck, Pugh, Sloan, Three Fingers, Cadet/Monte Cristo/Kyes, Iron, Gunn, Merchant, Baring.... you get the idea.
A calm comfortable night under settled high pressure. Awaking to a cloudless dawn, we watched the first wisps of mist form at the crest. This incoming moisture built into the unthreatening cumulus that obscured most of the sky by later afternoon.
Saw no people or footprints until our return, a few miles from the trailhead. I've been here several times; not getting tired of the view.
Just walking the dog.

Benchmark - Dishpan Gap - Bald Eagle - Curry Gap - Quartz Creek Loop
The longest of the 6 loops that can be done from the N. Fork Skykomish trailhead, about 31 mi. Counterclockwise, it features a quick ascent to wide vistas above timberline; jaw-dropping views of Glacier Peak, the Monte Christo Range, and all of the central Cascades; high open ridge hiking, and deep forest approaches. Can be dry in late season but strategic water is available. Broad stunning views are the major appeal of this route, so choose clear visibility.
Thanks to road crews, the N. Fork Sky Road is open again. I was here last year, with 5' diameter culverts tossed about like giant's toys; watch for these 2 washouts and appreciate the road crews' work.
Index-Galena Road is still blocked. Drive to Skykomish, then N on Beckler River Rd to Jack's Pass, then down to the Skykomish, cross it, take the first right up the North Fork.

West Cady Ridge #1054
Trail maintained in excellent shape. Bugs at trailhead are astonishing, but they don't last. Water is flowing in the forest streams but the ridge above gets extremely dry in late summer. There are still snow remnants but these won't last long. At maybe 6 miles, there's a tiny pond which persists; it's clean now but gets foul later. Fine views make Benchmark a worthwhile day hike. Early flowers (avalanche lilies) are past, but midsummer flowers (valerian, lupine) are peaking. Reliable water at Pass Creek just before Cady Pass. There's one bug for every flower.

PCT #2000 Cady Pass to Dishpan Gap
Inignificant snow on trail (at this time here last year, an unusually high-snow year, snow and trailfinding were an issue). Plenty water on east side of Skykomish Pk. Good Camping at Lake Sally Ann (expect company). Later on, the streamlets just below Ward's Pass will be the last water you'll see for a long ways, but there's still plenty snow around Ward's Pass and Dishpan Gap. Saw campers both places.

Blue Lake High Route #652.1
Make time to check this out. The trail climbs to within 200' of Pt. 6562 (unnamed, higher than Kodak, June, Skykomish, or Benchmark). Treat yourself to a climber's view: drop your pack at the pass and very gingerly tiptoe the easy steep stroll to the summit, else face uncomfortable questions from Mr. Peter at the Pearly Gates someday for skipping this opportunity. There's a reason I've spent 3 nights here. It's pristine, keep it that way, don't move rocks. There's a big summit snowpatch for water.

Bald Eagle Mtn #650
This trail is much less traveled and maintained -- brush, slumping, gullying, drainage issues -- but still open without significant impediments and it is a real gem. In a couple places, the trail is less than glaringly obvious; know how to navigate. Equestrians note: I don't know what a horse can do, but there's a 10-15' blowout on a steep slope less than a mile from Curry Gap that I'd call somewhere between "scary" and "impossible" for a horse. There's a short steep spot N of Bald Eagle that might be borderline ice-axe terrain in early season with hard snow (no trouble now). ENE of Bald eagle is a flat meadow and a pond with a horse camp. S of Long John are 2 reliable water sources: the stream in the steep ravine and a fine spring just east of there at a horse camp; this place gets very dry, so treat this spring with the respect a desert spring deserves. Approach it on the W; there's a pool right where it comes out of the ground. Keep your dog away from it.
East of Long John, there may be little or no water. Here, the trail follows a sharp ridge with glorious views both N and S, and vast, steep subalpine meadow slopes on the S.
Note: W of June Mt. is a trail trap for westbound hikers who've not already come this way. I've fallen for this twice. There is a T in the trail. Do not cross the T; turn back left and down the stem of the T. This leads to switchbacks down the S slope that finally cut back W to Long John. I suspect a map error on my old Green Trails map, which shows the trail descending to the N of June Mt's SW spur. I think the trail's been re-routed. If you try to cross the T; you'll find the trail end abruptly on a rock at a viewpoint.

Quartz Creek #1050
4 mile cruise, plenty water. NOTE: if you have an old map, this trail now runs entirely on the east side of the river. My old map shows the first 1.5 miles on the west side. Pleasant deep-forest hike.

You can also do a loop from the N Fork Sauk: Curry Gap - Bald Eagle - Johnson Mt - Pilot Ridge.