Arrived at the trailhead late Thursday night and stayed at Sloan Creek campground overnight. Road is passable but not enjoyable :/
On Friday hiked to Mackinaw shelter first (about 6 miles). Fairly flat with some ups and downs. Old growth forest, roaring river nearby, tiny streams and berry aroma in the air. Really enjoyed this part. Take a break at Red Creek!
Mackinaw Shelter is no more since at 2017 (?), but it's still a landmark, marking a nice lunch spot or a destination for an overnight camp. From here you can either stay the night, turn back and return to the trailhead, or hike all the way up to White Pass.
If you are fat and in terrible shape like myself, this 3000+ ft ascent won't kill you, probably. But you'd seriously consider your life choices by the time it's too late to turn around :) The trail uphill is rocky and requires a lot of attention. There virtually no water until the very last stretch so plan accordingly (refill at Mackinaw shelter!). Bathroom spots are very limited to say the least, so again, plan accordingly.
At White Pass, there's a ton of awesome tent sites. This camp is very popular with climbers and hardcore hikers, so it's not surprising to see a steady stream of 20-30 people arriving there throughout Saturday morning.
All in all, loved this hike, will definitely do it again!
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