White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Friday, Aug. 7, 2020

This is a very popular hike and for good reason. Mountain meadows galore, wildflowers galore, spectacular views galore (when the clouds have lifted). We did this clockwise over 3 days 2 nights. The climb up to the PCT intersection on day 1 is no. joke. We took our time and made use of the airconditioning at the many small mountain spring crossings; lots of water running this time of year, so easy to water the pup and refill on the first day. Finished our first day at 9 miles in at the campground which was filling up fast, so get an early start.

PLEASE ABIDE BY THE NO CAMPING RULES ON THE RIDGE, as is marked on the green trails maps.

The campground has space for quite a few tents and even a pit toilet with a spectacular view. People do tend to get packed in, so be respectful and keep noise down in the evenings/mornings.

Pro tip: if there is even the slightest chance of moisture in the forecast, bring your gaiters. Our feet were soaked from a day's worth of hiking through dewy undergrowth.

We were told it was buggy but not really! We took the long way around to little blue lake and blue lake as we had the dog. We almost missed the blue lake spur trail as the cairn is a wee bit hidden from the road, so keep an eye out for it as the trail hooks up left across the meadow after little blue lake. Camping at blue lake was spectacular.

Johnson peak was quite worthwhile for a quick side trip on day 3.

Pilot ridge was long and with ample views of peaks from north and south.

The steep descent back down to the river on day 3 is NO JOKE - brutalizing. Absolutely brutal. 

Worth a repeat and we'll be doing it again next fall.