On Sat. July 8 I planned on hiking to Lake Byrne which is near Glacier Peak. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the White Chuck River road had been washed out at least a couple years ago! This is why I should read trip reports and road condition reports!! So when I arrived at the road washout, at 1.7 miles from the road beginning, I was a little pissed to say the least. The White Chuck River trailhead is at 10 miles from the road beginning! Because I got there at the relatively early time of 8:20 AM I decided to try and make it to Kennedy Hot Springs which is at around 5 or 5.5 miles from the beginning of the trail. This means that a total round-trip distance of 26 to 27 miles would need to be covered. So I took off running up the old road. The road was washed out at two locations in the first couple of miles but was in relatively good condition all the way to the trailhead. In fact the road was actually pleasant as the area does not appear to get many visitors, the forest was lush and the river rumbling could be heard at all times. The first mile of the White Chuck River trail was relatively nice if not a little over-grown in spots but thereafter the route became downright challenging and dangerous. I counted 11 landslides which I had to either skirt around in the riverbed or climb up and over. A few of the slide areas were a little nervewracking to cross below as rocks were heard falling! I made it to the confluence of Kennedy Creek and the White Chuck River only to find that most of the manmade structures and the trail had been obliterated by the river. I found the remnants of a camp area and a toilet (wallowa) after crossing Kennedy but I couldn't find a way to cross the White Chuck River. I couldn't find the hot springs. Besides I was worn out and it was already 2 pm, so I started back. I found an interesting cache near the Kennedy creek camp area: A USFS owned First Aid kit and backpack stored in a bucket. It appears that this is all that is left of the USFS patrol cabin which reportedly was located near here. I ran back to the car and made it back before 7 pm. This was one of the hardest hikes I have ever done due to the fact that a good portion of it was actually cross-country travel and travel across slide zones. Someone could probably mtn. bike to the trailhead if the bike is easy to carry around the first two road washouts. But most people won't find the White Chuck trail to be very appealing. The most appealing aspect was that I had it all to myself even though I was in a large wild valley bottom.

We made the 80+ mile trip from Rainy Pass down the PCT and out the White Chuck Trailhead between 8/16 and 8/23. Here are some of the issues that we ran into that we hope will help you on your trek. First, at the Rainy Pass trail head there is a sign that notes you need a special permit, only available from the local ranger stations to stay in the North Cascade National park and the Chelan Recreational area. We could not delay our trip a day to get one, so we went anyway. It would have been nice if they would have had a box at the trailhead to take care of this. Second, Both the Fireweed and North Fork camps were closed due to bear activity. You are very likely to see or hear at least a couple of bear on or near the trail in this area, we did and many others we talked to did also. Third, both the Suiattle and Milk Creek streams have very heavy silt and could foul your filter quickly. Take care or you water needs before staying on these streams. Fourth, The distance from East Milk Creek south to Milk Creek is shown on some maps as 3.3 miles and on some as 6 miles. There is now doubt that it is closer to 6 miles. This section is also completely dry. Not even a puddle or a drip. Fifth, there was a trail maintaince crew staying down in Milk Creek and are doing a great job up both set of switch backs. Thank you! The only stretch that we hope would be on a future plan would be from Mica lake to Glacier creek. There are some areas that are narrow, rocky of brushy. Not all of it, just some stretches. Last, note that the camps between Bridge Creek and High Bridge camp have bear cables, food lockers and garbage cans. There is also a bus that will take you between the two at times scheduled at the camps. You could also arrange a layover day via the bus at the local lodge down on Lake Chelan. I hope this helps and remember to take plenty of film.

I have been wanting to do this for several years and the kids were at the Beach it is called the Fire Mountain High route in R&R (gotta love the name, appos to Charlie daniels). Got a late start which was not helped by missing the White ChucK Turnoff(FS map an the other car). Arrived at trailhead at 1PM to find lot full except for a spot in the auxiliary, Nice new dunny they bit with NWFP $ but locks don't work. Headed up the trail to find register is about 1/2 mi. up. Saw only one other party going my way (Liz Taylor no less), Note there is a massive blow down in the first mi. of the way trail it will be years before it will be cleared at current funding levels. Ran into Liz and her SO at the crossing of Fire Creek (it is down to a single log which is rotting) and never saw them again. There is no snow until the short switchbacks, I decided to take the uphill route in R&R and passed the site of Fire Chief Cabin marking it on GPS as a possible bivy spot. I ascend the ridge to a flat spot where I had made another waypoint. I kept ascending the ridge and found a path in the heather. That I followed eventually emptying out in a meadow with views of Glacier Peak of course but also the ridge lake Byrne is on and Lost Creek Ridge could see all the way to White Mtn. To her the route was on steep dirt and snow patches. I traversed over to a flat spot on the next ridge and found the route. The Crux is here you must hit a small hidden basin to coss the creek. If you miss it it looks like rappels and ice climbing on rotten snow. I found the basin where I had put a waypoint (kept GPS on all this time to retrace steps. You then rise slightly to fantastic meadow (I assume they are fantastic once the snow melts). I Camped at R&r's recomended site but had to snow camp for a lack of flat ground. Kim Che Ramen, Yum. On Sunday I awoke to clouds. After Breakfast Irish oatmeal and coffee I headed toward Mica. I passed R&R's second best campsite and betaed the route. It is currently a steep snow gulley. I learned a new tecknique of using an Ice Axe in the uphill hand and a trecking pole in the down hill extended works great for heather you have Tiger Claws. It started to rain so I went back and broke camp. A little later the sun came out, several repetions. I found my old tack and used the GPS to find the way when I lost it. Sun was shinning in first meadows to I dried socks, Saw climbers on Sitcum but no one on scimitar. The Sloan Glacier looked a lot more broken up than I remembered, global warning? On the way down I visited the first camp on Meadow Mtn. and was glad I did not stay there it is nice but boring. Uneventful trip down I only saw two people on this trip!!

Road FS23 is clear all the way to the trailhead. I arrived at about 10:30 and there were three cars parked in the lot which turned out to belong to two snowboarders and a skier who backpacked to the peak and spent the weekend, they said the weather was good and the trip was better. Sunday turned out to be a good day for a hike there was a gentle warm breeze that smelled like spring. The trail goes along nice and smooth past The Wilderness boundary and over the bridge. At the 1½ mile point is a blow-down and soon after is a blow-down and wash-out with a steep drop off. The downed trees can be snaked around and previous hikers have worn a flat little path through the slide. It looks worse than it really is but use caution. Continuing on passed the river and up some switchbacks the trail starts to get patches of snow around 3 miles, at 4 miles the snow is continues but packed enough to walk on. When I reached the log crossing over the creek at 5 miles I started to post hole and decided I was ready to head back. Stopped at a nice sunny beach like place on the way back had lunch and sat in the sun with my boots off for an hour or so thinking of the Summer days soon to come. I’m looking forward to going back in a couple of months and exploring the other trails that connect to the River trail.

FS rd #23 has a center hump of snow that made me walk the last 1 1/2 miles to the trailhead, from the Owl Creek crossing. High clearance vehicles would make it all the way. The road walk went by in 45 minutes. There is only intermittent snow on the trail. The wilderness boundary is reached in 1/2 mile of trail. Fire Creek is next at another 1/2 mile, with a great waterfall to view. Turn left just past the bridge on a faint path to see a better view of the falls. At 1 1/2 miles of trail, there is a nasty blow-down and wash-out that wipes out the trail completely. The giant tree and it's smaller victims can be wormed through, over and under. The wash-out has a path across it about two inches wide, with certain death the reward for even a tiny mis-step. I declined this ""opportunity"". There is a cairn about 50 feet before the blow-down pointing to a path upwards to bypass the mess. The top of the path is a giant expanse of downed trees and uprooted stumps. It appeared passable to the determined, but I had seen enough already to justify the hike, so I called it a day and headed back. I don't take chances since I always hike alone except for my faithful companion Daisy. I can't wait for the high country to melt out as this trail apparently leads to huge meadows and then a way trail to White Chuck Glacier. After reaching the car, I drove up the road signed ""Meadow Mtn 3 Miles"". After two miles the road is blocked by a landslide that could only be crossed by the most agressive 4 wheel drives with very high clearance.