Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section K - Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass, Lake Valhalla, Lake Janus and Grizzly Peak, Pear Lake, Dishpan Gap, Lake Sally Ann, Glacier Peak Meadows, Kennedy Hotsprings, Kennedy Ridge & North Fork Sauk River — Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2020

This is a trip report for the 56(ish) miles of Section K from Stevens Pass to Mica Lake, as well as some unintended detours. First, the temperatures:

9/8/20 Lake Valhalla 57.7˚F

9/8/20 Janus Lake 64.4˚F

9/8/20 Pear Lake 57.0˚F

9/9/20 Lake Sally Anne 58.1˚F

9/9/20 Reflection Pond 57.2˚F

9/10/30 Mica Lake 60.8˚F

Beginning at Stevens Pass the first eighteen miles or so of the trail are lovely, with gentle grades, numerous lakes to swim in or perch beside and excellent views. The view from the top of Grizzly peak, with its ripe berries, flocks of birds and glimpses of Glacier is particularly exquisite. Popular Valhalla Lake has a nice beach, making for good swimming. Janus Lake is marshy and warm. At Pear Lake there is a large clearing where several groups can camp and a pair of good spots for swimming. 

North of Pear Lake the good views continue with Sloane and Kyes peak rising beyond West Cady ridge. Past Lake Sally Anne, which also has good camping and swimming spots, the berry bushes and unobstructed views continue, now of Kodak and Indian Head Peaks. Past the fork for the North Fork of the Sauk River turn off (more on that later), the trail is dusty and windswept as it winds its way up to Red Pass and down into the barren upper reaches of the White Chuck valley where a nice stream and good campsites can be found. 

However, once down in the White Chuck valley all bets are off as the trail disintegrates, with dozens of downed trees, verdant overgrowth, broken bridges and a few patches where mud and streams have claimed the trail. Still, with grace and balance, all major river crossings over the white glacial flows are manageable, and despite the overgrowth, route finding isn't necessary.

From the low of the valley the trail, still in poor shape with several improvised detours, climbs to fire creek pass and back down to Mica Lake. Mica Lake is deep crystalline blue, though a protected shady spot for lunch or camping is hard to come by. 

Unfortunately, as of September 10, 2020 the Downey Creek Fire had closed the Suiattle River Road and Trailhead. Therefore, backtracking from Mica lake, the next river valley south which would appear to connect out is the White Chuck.

Warning: although many maps still show trails in the White Chuck valley, and although signs on the PCT still point to these trails, they no longer exist. It turns out they were wiped out by a 2003 flood, with 17 years of unchecked forest growth reclaiming what wasn't obliterated by the deluge. 

Although the Kennedy Ridge trail still is somewhat follow-able, once it reaches the flood plain, nothing remains to follow. Bushwhacking, clambering over log jams and traipsing across sand bars is the only route that awaits. Not an ideal trail when re-routing to avoid forest fire closures. 

An additional backtrack from that thicket, the next river south, which does indeed connect out is the North Fork of the Sauk River. This trail is in excellent shape and after a long decent, a speedy and easy path through groves of truly gigantic trees is all that remains between the journey and the parking lot. 

Trip total 91.98 miles with 40,408 feet of up and down.