Took off on a gorgeous friday for my annual April day hike in the North Cascades. Wind damage from the recent windstorm was evident all along Rte. 20. Drove just before the closure to mp 130 and set off down the Thunder Creek trail. Patches of snow cover portions of the valley trail even at 1200 ft. Ironically, the trail up to the pass is virtually snow free (it faces the south) until a half mile or so before 4th of July camp, where the snow abruptly deepens and snowshoes are useful. Fortunately, two campers (hi Tom & Jessica) brought shoes and tramped down the snow for me so my postholing was minimal! Terrific views of Colonial, Snowking and the Neve glacier, which are absolutely buried in deep snow. The real problem was the significant damage left by the storm--i counted 48 blowdowns (several are real obstacles) across the trail. Will take a lot of work to clean up! Great early hike--im ready for a great season!

My son thought this hike was a lot like the girl next door---very nice and underrated. you can hike in in the afternoon which gives you the morning to get to the trailhead. the campground is nicely laid out with a clean pittoilet. the wilderness office mentioned a bearwire but we were unable to find it---i suggest the tree about 20 paces west of the trail--campground junction--it has a sturdy limb at just the right height. Good water access and neat owl but no bears at night. If you go--help us work out the Ruby Mt trail--see the report by Vertigo of 6-18-2000 for Ruby Mtn for good access directions---the trail would be spectacular if maintained but alas has been officially abandoned. wow, what possiblities!!!unimaginably great views if one to get 4000 feet + to the top........ anyway i don't know how Vertigo ever made it to the top. we ran into a huge, pervasive and ultimately defeating windfall area after only 250 feet of elevation gain. this trail would be the perfect project for an ambitious hiking club. the start is only about 1/2 mile east of the campground. post a report if you get thru or around the windfall.........thanks

Colonial Creek CG is closed and partially chained off so you have to park about a tenth of a mile from the trailhead. The trail is in perfect condition, the only hazards being the standard minor stream crossings. Snow starts at 3340', almost precisely at 4th of July Camp, but only in tiny patches. We stopped there to take in the ""catharctic"" view we'd read about in Copeland's guide. Not bad, but we expected more - too many trees in the way. It's a nice place to take a beginner for a fun night of camping. Heard one avalanche coming off Snowfield Peak. Good view of Primus Peak also. There's still a lot of snow up on those glaciers.

I figured with more warm weather in store for the weekend, id better get up to the N. Cascades before all the white stuff is gone. Hgwy 20 was closed at mile 134 due to slides, so i stopped at Colonial Creek. I left my snowshoes behind, shocked by the lack of snow. Even more disturbing were the mosquitoes cruising along the Thunder Creek trail. A few snow patches remained here; but the trek up to the pass was virtually snow free for the first mile or so. The last 3/4 mile of the trail is obliterated by a couple feet of old snow; route finding skills a must at this point. I was fortunate to enjoy perfect (mid fifties) weather, great views, and best of all, complete solitude! -Stan