I had this hike on my list for a rainy day, but no such luck today, it was a beautiful fall day. The leaves are pretty much off the trees, so the river is more visible than in summer. There were some 'peak a boo' views of Sloan, but this is a forest walk. The stars of the show are big old growth trees, many different kinds of mushrooms and mossy nurse logs. Wander as far as you like. We walked past the Pilot Ridge turnoff about a half mile, ate lunch and turned back. We wanted to save time to stop and hike down to Sauk Falls and get home before dark. The road is good going in, better than parts of the Mtn. Loop. We had to move one small tree out of the way and there is a stream running across the road about a half mile before you get to the trailhead. We were fine driving thru it, but if it gets worse just park and walk the rest of the way. We saw no one else all day and we were the only car at the trailhead.

It was dark and dreary and threatened to shower all day but I hadn't been out in 3 weeks was was getting cabin fever so I went with a river trail. I had been up this green, mossy, fungus and mushroom covered trail once before but only went 3.5 miles up to a camp by a creek. This time my goal was 5 miles up to the Mackinaw Shelter, the camp before the trail starts to really climb. I got to the trail from the Barlow Pass side of Mtn Loop Hwy, there was snow on the sides of the road at the pass but nothing on the road. The gravel road after the pass was rough in places with potholes but nothing serious all the way past Bedal to the FSR #49 turnoff. FSR #49 was in a little better shape than the main road but was still bumpy in places. I arrived at the trail head and I was the only one there as it would remain for the day.

Once on the trail it showered off and on all day. The trees did a great job of sheltering me from the worst of it but the forest canopy was drippy. On the way back it was actually dry most the time until the last mile when the first real rain of the day hit. The trail quickly enters the Glacier Peak Wilderness (sign was missing, was there the previous trip) and was clear and easy to follow the whole way. There is one big blowdown earlier in the hike but it can be walked around fairly easy. There's water on the trail in places from the recent rains and a few small creeks to cross on the length of trail I did. Snow hugged the trail in patches the whole day but started covering parts of the trail after crossing a bridge at the camp 3.5 miles up. It never presented a problem but is a reminder of the shorter days ahead and that winter is coming. The trail rolled through the forest climbing few times while coming and going from the river bank. Along the way moss was the theme along with fading fall colors, snow, strange large fungi and mushrooms.

I made it to Mackinaw Shelter and stayed for nearly 1/2 hour, had lunch, took pics and checked out the old wood structure. The thing was damp and drippy inside and I don't know if I would want to sleep in it. It was still a really neat thing to find deep in the forest. I almost missed seeing this, its on the right hand side, off the trail, in the trees after a large clearing on the trail. The trail starts to gain elevation after passing it so knowing to turn back if you miss it shouldn't be hard to figure out. This is a great river hike for this time of year, go check it out even if you only want to walk a couple miles each way.

REMEMBER: High Buck Hunt is in late Sept. (9/15-25/12 this year). Bear season starts Aug. 1. It's important to know these dates. This region is popular with deer & bear hunters, so wear some safety-orange. Most hunters are totally savvy. It's a courtesy to wear some bright colors. A safety-orange mesh vest weighs nothing, and you can wrap it around your pack. Get a day-glo hat for autumn, looks kinda spiffy.
[url]http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/[/url]

This was a weekend trip, but you could easily spend 3 or more days in here. Many side-trip possibilities.

4:00 AM Wake.
5:00 AM Leave Seattle.
7:30 AM Leave N. Fork Sauk trailhead.
8:30 Pilot Ridge Trail, N. Fork Sauk crossing. Sawed a few knobs off the log, couldn't get them all. There are several good, wide, level crossing logs. They might be intimidating to some people, esp. at high water. The corgi did not hesitate. A pole with a sharp point might be useful if you find this spooky. The big log in the 2nd photo has no knobs, easily shinnied, easy to get around the root ball at right.
Pilot Ridge gets very dry by August. There is a reliable water stream perhaps 3500'? or lower? among the switchbacks in the forest. Load water here. There is another stream higher up, just about when you start to see the sky, but this was a moist trickle at best now, 9/29/12, I did not use it. The next water was stagnant snowmelt below Johnson (fairly clean, filterable), and the next good water was Blue Lake. I brought a filter but did not use it on this trip.
11:15 Lunch overlook at ridge. Sloan and Monte Cristo were not lifting their skirts yet. We had cool overcast for the ascent. When clear, the view here is impressive. Stunning meadows.
3:30 PM Johnson summit.
4:30 Blue Lake. Nice campsites, but no evening or morning sun.
5:30 Pt. 6562 summit. The N side of Blue Lake High would probably require ice ax in earlier season. It was dry now, some snowpatches nearby. Made camp in 30 yd. visibility. Clear with full moon by 10 PM; A life of sin and dissipation brings such luck. Thank you, NOAA weather service, utterly reliable nowadays. Moonlight & starlight impaired sleep.

Parents, supervise your children. Congratulations for getting them to 6500', but please teach them that moving rocks in pristine locations is vandalism, and that nobody wants to see their stupid, childish cairns like the one I found at the summit (the moderators prevent me from using appropriate language). I repaired the damage as best I could and even got some of the rocks right back to where Nature put them. Only greenhorn idiots make cairns. Don't build campfires, either (end of rant).
No water between Blue Lake and Dishpan Gap. Campsite but no water at Dishpan Gap (maybe some stagnant icky pools here and there). South of Dishpan Gap, you'll find two obvious rocky 100' horns; there's a nice but very small stream and campsite here; look for social trail. Be very careful not to contaminate any water; please keep your dog out of it.
Kodak Peak is an easy scramble/walk, and well worth it. There's a campsite on the ridge just above the PCT at Kodak Peak.
There are two streams in the meadow E of Kodak Pk, usually reliable, mere trickles 9/2012. A "desperation trickle" S of Indian Pass. Campsite west of Indian Pass (social trail). There was a fine, strong flow about 10 minutes N. of Indian Pass; that's your best water between Dishpan Gap and NW of White Pass.
There are two large, stagnant, icky, filterable ponds between Indian Pass and White Pass, but the strong flow 10 min. North of Indian Pass is the best water between Dishpan Gap and White Pass.
Many migrating hawks, especially harriers. No bugs, but got stung once. Blueberry foliage ranges burgundy-to-blood red.
Below White Pass, there were 3 flowing streams above the PCT junction, and 3 below it. We filled-up at the highest (6 water sources above the highest switchback, some were mere trickles). If you are ascending from Sauk R., there is a reliable stream in the avalanche chute, maybe the 3rd switchback. Get some water here.
5:50 PM Highest switchback.
7:00 PM Mackinaw Shelter.
7:35 PM Red Creek bridge (thank you, Darrington MBSNF). If ascending, get some water here, but there is also a steam at about the 3rd switchback above Mackinaw Shelter.
8:25 PM Pilot Ridge Trail jct. Moonlight, trees 3-4' diameter.
9:10 PM Trailhead
Just walking the dog.

 Decided to hike this trail all the way to the PCT. Started out at 10:00am. As I was hiking I was having second thoughts because of all the smoke, but it looked more to the south. I spoke to a hiker coming down and he said it wasn't to bad where the trail meets the PCT. The trail thru the forest to Mackinaw Shelter is in great shape, but a grind. At Mackinaw Shelter it starts gaining elevation and it does not stop. The switchbacks and the trail overall is exposed to the sun and heat except for a few short jaunts thru forest after Mackinaw. As a day hike this was a tough hike on my 50 year old body, next time I will have to make this an overnighter and break it up. Didn't like the 3 and a half mile steep climb after a 5 mile hike, then going back. When I reached the PCT I took one of my cameras out of my pack and realized the batteries for both cameras were still on the chargers at home:/ Because of the smoke it obscured the views, but I wanted to take pictures of the patches of color in the upper meadows. I don't know how healthy all the climbing is with the smoke, don't think it could be good. I hope they open the Suiattle River Road while I'm still able to hike, I'm really drawn to this wilderness. Was back to the car at 6:00pm. I think I'm going to feel this one tomorrow.