Reached parking lot by 9:15 and it was overflowing. Parked about 0.25 mile from the main lot. Started ascent by 9:30 and it was a gradual elevation until the 3rd mile (~950ft). Next mile gained another 900 ft and then the 5th mile gaine another 900ft. To the peak was another 450 ft in about 0.4 miles. Stayed there for 30 - 40 mins. Not lucky enough to see Mt.Baker, it was cloudy just on Mt. Baker. Seems like Baker is asking me to do it again sometime later. Had a little snack and my dog had some fun with the snow patch and chasing bees. Started descent around 12:30 and reached the parking lot by 2:15, the line was little longer than it was in the morning. On the way up, bugs were not a problem as it was not that warm. On the way down they were just swarming and i was lucky enough to escape with just one bite. Only consolation is along with bugs, there was quite a few butterflies. 

• I would recommend high clearance vehicle for this TH, but saw some sedans and one minivan at the parking lot. 
• Bugs are definitely an annoyance, suggest having a face net and/or bug spray. 
• Restroom is almost full and out of TP. 

I think this hike might have snuck into my Washington Top 10.  That said, a few things to note relative to previous trip reports:

• There were definitely bugs out today, primarily flies.  Mostly the annoying kind that swarm and land on you but don't bite.  However, one of our party got a pretty nasty bite from a horsefly at the summit.
• Still plenty of water flowing in the creek crossings, which was much appreciated on a hot day.
• Plenty of wild flowers still in bloom in the meadows on the way up to the peak.

Thanks to the wonderful rangers in Marblemount and Glacier who helped the 4 of us change our permit after our original plan for a 4-day trip in the Cascade Pass / Sahale Arm area was made unwise by a fire. I'd been torn between there and Copper Ridge anyway so I was thrilled we were able to get walk-up permits for here. 

On Saturday we did the relatively short hike to Hannegan Pass Camp, but it took an exhausting 3 hours because of our late start (due to Marblemount detour) and the heat. We were told to expect crowds there (no permits were available at Boundary Camp) but we easily found a fine site for our 3 tents and there seemed to be enough for everyone even on a nice summer weekend. One member of our party did a sidetrip to Hannegan Peak. The bugs were terrible anytime we stopped on the trail and in camp -- biting flies during the day and mosquitoes at dusk. That's when I realized that I had somehow failed to pack my headnet as my friends had, so...

On Sunday morning I decided to ask hikers heading out if they'd either sell me their headnet or lend it to me to be returned, cleaned, along with homemade brownies. The first person I asked insisted on just giving it to me, an incredibly nice gesture which I will pay forward. Then we hiked 7.5 hours to Copper Lake. The only significant water sources between Hannegan Camp and Copper Lake are a waterfall about 10 minutes before Boundary Camp, Boundary Camp (which requires a 5 minute walk down from the trail and then back; we each carried 3 liters from there), and Egg Lake (only in a bind since it requires descending a good distance off the trail). Much of the climb on the ridge was nicely shaded in forest. We enjoyed the (unstaffed) lookout despite a fair amount of smoke in the sky. The smoke cleared and the sun came out when we reached Copper, and the ensuing swim was a highlight of our trip.

On Monday we hung out for a while at Copper Lake, taking a walk onto the peninsula. Then we returned to the lookout and were entertained by a family of a mother and 6 baby ptarmigans, before proceeding to Egg Lake in 4 hours. We took the first campsite, near a bear box and toilet; there seemed to be another toilet but no bear box for the other campsites at the end of the lake, so those foiks had to come back to the bear box near us.  Our campsite came equipped with a paperback book and a paintbrush, more interesting than the stray tent stake that you typically find. (We carried them out.) Unfortunately a chilly breezy fog descending on us that afternoon and evening, making a swim unappealing. But it meant we found no bugs (and, more important, no bugs found us) despite previous reports that Egg Lake was super-buggy.

On Tuesday the sun came out, with moderate temperatures, for our hike out, which took 5.75 hours. We took a cooling, cleansing dip in the stream by the trailhead before heading to Graham's for some real food.

Flowers were amazing throughout the trip.

I asked the ranger when the full Copper Ridge Loop might reopen after the 2022 fire damage. He said a crew was working on the PNT section adjacent to the loop this year, and then would start on the loop next year and probably spend a couple of years on it. Obviously that is neither official nor certain but it would mean no loop until at least 2027. 

The road to the trailhead is full of big potholes but any car can handle it.

Haven't seen a recent trip report for the area, so I figured I'd update!

Finished an overnight backpacking trip to Egg Lake on 7/17-18/24, with an evening trip up to Copper Ridge Lookout. We are in full summer conditions! Really no snow on trail, including up to the lookout, save for a few steps. I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone by the end of the week though. Soooo many wildflowers! Make sure you fill up with water before you leave Boundary Camp! No water after that until Egg Lake. 

Had a lovely swim in Egg Lake; someone with a smartwatch measured that it was 57º. It was refreshing after a hot/humid hike. Bugs were pretty bad up at the lookout that evening, but a head net and my hardshell jacket made it bearable. Bugs also found me at my tent and posed a bit of an annoyance in the morning. They followed me until Hannegan Pass as I hiked out; head net for the win. No bear sightings. Please use the bear boxes at camp for food and toiletries! The sky was a little hazy at sunset, I now think it was from the new fire near Easy Pass.

Hiked up to Hannegan Pass and Hannegan Peak last week on 7/16 for a one nighter. Trail is completely snow free and in great shape. The road has some pretty big potholes, but is overall in good shape. There was no water for the first 2 miles or so of trail, but the trail passes a few streams from the 2 mile mark to the campground on the west side of the pass (before you enter the national park) at just past 4 miles from the trailhead. I don't know if these trailside streams would be reliable in late August as they were all fairly small, but the Hannegan Pass campground has reliable water. The campground itself was nice and uncrowded mid-week. There are maybe 8 sites or so that we saw--possibly more. They are spread out nicely so walk around a bit to find a good one. Permits are not required to camp at Hannegan Pass camp, but are required on the east side of the pass in North Cascades National Park.

Two things to watch out for with this hike: the bugs were out in force. Saw a few mosquitos and a TON of biting flies. I must have had over 50 bites, literally. They were biting me through my shirt and there was no way around it. The bugs really settled down once it got dark and then it was perfectly peaceful, but around sunset and sunrise they were unavoidable. I wish I had treated my clothing with permethrin, and I was very glad to have a bug net.

The other thing to look out for is exposure. It was hot when we started our hike at about 3pm. In the afternoon, most of the trail up to the pass is very exposed. The last mile or so is forested, but the first 3 miles lack shade and at times water, so it is hot. Hiking out in the early morning it was cool and the trail was not in the direct sun, so that was refreshing. But the afternoon hike to the pass was very hot. Bring lots of water and take breaks if it's a hot day.

Overall this was an incredible one-nighter with no permits required! I can't wait to come back and hike out to Copper Ridge.