White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021

UPDATED 7/24/21 - returned this week as hubby was climbing Glacier Peak. Just a few addendums: all but 2 snow bridges are melted out on Foam Ck Trail; mosquitoes were terrible at White Pass Camp as were the marmots - I ended up hanging my pack even though I had no food/scented items in it. Bear Grass along Foam Ck Trail ready to pop! 

NOTE: There is a sign posted at the TH announcing that the North Fork Sauk Trail (649) will be closed from Mackinaw Shelter to the PCT 8/5 - 11 and again 8/18-24th, 2021 for long term maintenance. Photo attached.

We only hiked to White Pass so this report only covers the trail up to that point. We passed some people doing the Pilot Ridge Loop so hopefully they will post trail reports upon their return. The trail is completely clear all the way to White Pass - campsites are all dry and free of snow. The trail has also been cleared of brush. The last push up to the pass is no joke - 1000' per mile is tough! There are still some streams crossing the trail after Mackinaw shelter - not just the one off the trail that's mentioned in previous reports. Water is still available at around 4400' and again around 5300' - 5400'. Flies son this section were annoying. The last 1000 feet opens up to beautiful vistas and meadows. This truly is a beautiful place! Wildflowers are plentiful right now, and the blueberries are getting close - maybe another 1 to 2 weeks. We saw yellow/white/magenta/common paintbrush, lots of western anemones/mouse on a stick, indian pipe/pinesap, twin flowers, pink wintergreen, bunch berry, coral root, elephant's head - etc. etc. etc. Amazing! Hikers coming down said mosquitoes were bad, but because it was windy we had no issues. 

Friday morning we hiked up the Foam Creek Trail towards the knoll described in the WTA trail notes. We crossed 8 snowfields/bridges. A couple were a little sketchy - safe until....they're not. Glacier Peak was completely socked in so we never got to see it but there was still plenty of beauty to behold! We passed 2 NO/SO PCT hikers and they asked what the "bushy animals" were. Apparently they weren't used to seeing marmots (from Alabama & Vermont). On our hike out we passed a lot of people hiking in - mostly climbers, but some doing the loop and everyone was really friendly. The joys of hiking w/no face masks and fellow PNW who love the outdoors!