Once our group of eight made it to the ridge top, which wasn't as tough as the book made it sound, we were all, "ooh" and "aah" as we strolled through meadows, picked out peaks in the distance and plucked many varieties of berries.

We continued along the ridge to the PCT, where we headed south to the bowl that holds Lake Sally Ann. There was a nice campspot there which we noted for the future and then filled water bottles and took a refreshing dip.

Instead of making it into a loop with the Cady Creek or Meander Meadows trails, we headed back the way we came, figuring if it was good in one direction, why not do it twice.

It was a long day, but we made it the almost 14 miles in about 8 hours. One of the best hikes of the season!

Gary, John, and I did a loop trip up Poe Mountain, along Poet Ridge, up Indian Head Peak, and out via Cady Ridge. Other than the section on the Pacific Crest Trail it was all new to me. The route on Poet Ridge varies from easy trail to non existent. A little route finding experience is helpful. I have more details in the big report on my site.

The wildflowers were at or just past their peak. More peaking than not. It's a great time to visit the Cascade Crest south of Glacier Peak. Bugs were bad in camp but not too bad while moving.

On day 2 we hiked and scrambled up Indian Head Peak. The meadows all over the mountain are awash in colorful flowers. Virtually no snow left on the whole route. On day 3 we summited Kodak Peak then followed the Crest Trail south. Cady Ridge was also covered in blooming wildflowers. A really fantastic trip.

For the three days we covered about 30 miles with side trips and gained 10,600'. I have more details and a whole lot of photos at my site: http://www.hikingnorthwest.com. Go to "Trips - 2011" on the left margin.

Aug 14 - 16, 2010

Saturday morning left the Cady Ridge trailhead at 10:30. Cady Ridge is relentlessly steep, with some ups and downs, but mostly a lot of ups. I prefer this kind of trail that gets you up high brutally but quickly. Reached my first stop and lunch break – Lake Sally Ann – at 1:30. Lunch and a dip in the lake were sublime. Then I headed back south on the PCT toward Dishpan Gap and then Blue Lake. The real impetus to get back to Blue Lake for the third time was a TR I read describing a tarn on top of the unnamed peak which rises up from the ridge before the steep descent to the lake. I hauled my pack up there in eager anticipation, but found instead a large, solid patch of snow. No water, no place to pitch even a small tent. (In any normal snow year it would probably be different). Considering that the consolation prize was Blue Lake, it was no major disappointment and I found the same lovely site on the shelf about half way down to the lake. Left everything at the site and went down to the lake where I sat staring up at Johnson Mtn and thinking that there was still plenty of evening left to get up it and back. Rather than going the long way around, I decided to go straight up. It worked okay and the views from the top and the abandoned look-out were well worth it. I took the trail back down and continued to revel in the glory of views and very late blooming wild flowers. (It’s worth the detour.)

Sunday morning I headed back to dishpan gap and left my pack, taking just my scramble pack toward my destination – Indian Head Peak. I missed the chance to summit it with Bad Dog earlier this summer, so this was a “must do”. It seemed to loom larger and more forbidding as I approached. Fortunately, I had caught up with Earplug Doug a mile or so before and had some refreshingly pleasant chatter to distract me. (Thank you, Doug, if you’re reading this. And sorry about the missed turn there by Blue Lake.) Finally I reached the place I thought daffish had described in his TR and started up. It was a hot day, with a mitigating breeze, but I knew the total sun exposure was going to be brutal for my four-legged, black-coated companion. The climb was arduous, but it wasn’t difficult until the very end, just before the summit. After traversing along the ridge you need to hug close to the rocks and go around to the other side to scramble up the heather. The climb took two hours, including multiple stops for Maxie dog to lie cool off in the patches of snow. At first I couldn’t get the register tube open and was very disheartened, but gave it a whack on a rock and off it popped. I read only two entries from this year, which surprised me. I had thought I would lunch at the summit, but the sun was blazing and it was oddly swarming with insects. I thought they were flies, but soon discovered they were ladybugs. I also learned that ladybugs, unbecoming of their name, bite quite hard.

The descent was easier than I expected (always easier when you know where you’re going). I took the same route down, though I saw something that looked like a more distinct trail, following a different ridge which would have popped out farther north on the PCT. The best part of the trip back to Dishpan was a cascading stream just north of Kodak. If you sit on the rock below the trail, the water washes over your head (maybe you have to be short like me). There we had lunch and Max got a good rest before continuing back to Dishpan and on to Sally Ann for the night.

Even on a Sunday night, there were others at Sally Ann, including two guys who wandered in at about 7 and proceeded to talk to each other at top volume the remainder of the evening. I wonder why people think they need to shout to each other or that everyone else wants to hear what they have to say. Oddly, the other time I camped at Sally Ann I had exactly the same experience with a pair of women. It’s not gender-specific. Even so, Sally Ann remains a favorite. The swimming is great, and the waterfall is scenic and soothing. Views are always spectacular.

Monday. Got up with the sun and high-tailed it out, as I needed to be in Tukwila by 1:30 after stopping in Seattle to drop off Maxie and shower. I made it by 1:35, my tardiness due to an irresistible urge to jump in the Skykomish River near Index, which consumed 15 minutes. I’m glad I left early though—it was a scorching hot day up there. Time to TH from Sally Ann: 2 hrs 40 minutes via Cady Ridge.

Another great weekend.

Our original ambitions took us up Cady ridge and after a few days we'd come out Poet's Ridge on the faded trail #1544. Cady Ridge did not disappoint. Steep and dry at first but eventually rewarding us with sweeping views and meadows of wildflowers.

We eventually caught the PCT just as the mists started to turn to rain. Our plan was to head north to Dishpan Gap and camp with Glacier Peak at our doorstep. We found the site we wanted but Glacier was already gone and the rain was getting heavy. We settled in, played Scrabble and drank our two night's supply of wine.

The next more we awoke in a cloud and decided to bail.The likelihood of the weather breaking was slim so we packed up wet and headed out. Poet's Ridge would be brushy, wet and difficult. It would have to wait for another day. We headed south on the PCT for 5 miles to Cady Pass and the Cady Creek Trail. The PCT is simply fantastic: old growth, gentle grading of the trail, wild flower meadows and despite the clouds, views.

The Cady Creek Trail is well maintained. Brushy and wet at times but otherwise without problems. Wildflower meadows are just now coming into their peak season.