General tips: fill your water bottles every time you get the chance because there can be considerable stretches between opportunities. For anyone wondering, the log across the Sauk is plenty wide and flat- very easy to cross. Bring DEET, a head net, and long pants. Lots and lots of blueberries, huckleberries, and thimble berries, amazing views, and wildflowers.
Day 1: We did this loop counterclockwise, camping at the trailhead the night before to get an early start. We stayed at Blue Lake the first night, which made for a pretty strenuous day, but I was very glad we did it in this direction to get the biggest day out of the way at the beginning. Strava says we gained 5100 feet in about 13.6 miles from the trailhead to Blue Lake. I truly thought my soul had left my body by the time we got to the lake, but we made it with enough time to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Highly recommend visiting this lake- despite the bugs it is a gorgeous setting and there was only one other small group there.
Day 2: The second day we took the “high” route above Blue Lake. It’s a stiff climb up a loose scree slope but not technical and the trail is easy to follow. Very glad to have gone up this way not down. The views from the top were outstanding and well worth the effort. After descending the other side, the trail eventually connects with the PCT, and is far gentler. Our last night was at White Pass. Pretty crowded with lots of backpackers and climbers headed for Glacier Peak. A commercial outfitter had their large group camped right on the meadows. Not cool, my friend. Beware the tippy privies at White Pass camp, let’s hope no one finds themselves riding a “sled” down the hill with their pants around their ankles. (A new Olympic event?) There is water at White Pass despite rumors to the contrary. Follow the trail all the way downhill past all of the campsites to find the creek.
Day 3: The third day we circled back down to the Sauk, back at the cars by noon.
Trip Report
White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Friday, Aug. 2, 2024
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
Comments
Dreamer Deceiver on White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop
A meadow requires meadow plants. An area of packed dirt and grass in a campground is a campsite. It used to be a meadow, just like the dirt patch you were camped on. But in an effort to minimize impact and not crush any incremental healthy and flourishing meadows, people have decided to camp on the same area over and over again, thus creating an "established
campsite". Established campsites are necessary for selfish people like you and me who want to experience "untrammeled" wilderness, but still need a place to put our tents. That's why the FS closed the meadows up on the ridge, so they (the meadows) could regenerate and thrive, and to concentrate camping to the lower portion of the campground. Recreation in the wilderness will always have an impact; pretending it doesn't is akin to burying your head deep in one of those wobbly toilets.
Posted by:
Dreamer Deceiver on Aug 07, 2024 10:34 PM
Kate Neville on White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop
It's true, every "established campsite" used to be an untouched meadow at one time. Overall, I think Forest Service (and backpackers) have done good job of encouraging the concentration of campsites in places where they will have the least impact and 99% of campers out there seem to be doing their best to minimize their footprint. What I saw last weekend was a commercial outfitter who chose to pitch multiple, large tents (five or six multi-person tents) directly on meadow grass. Not at the top of the ridge, not where others have camped before, but down below on pristine meadow. If this becomes a regular occurrence, that entire field will soon be a stretch of bare dirt. While individuals (especially those who are new to backpacking) might not know better, a commercial outfitter certainly does. They are setting an example for their clients, and for everyone who sees them, so the impact goes beyond what they choose to do that one night. They are making money from public lands. They can avoid trashing them in the process.
Posted by:
Kate Neville on Aug 08, 2024 08:30 AM