Sauk Mountain — Friday, Sep. 20, 2024

Got to the trailhead at 8:30 am on a Friday. No other cars were in the parking lot at that time, and didn't see another person on the entire way up. The forecast said that it might clear up but was going to be partly cloudy. The way up was entirely in the clouds almost. There were a few breaks of blue skies, but not many. There were some ripe blueberries on the trail but not many. Eventually got a little above the clouds and saw some peaks over the clouds across the Skagit Valley. Once on the backside of the mountain where it is much more rocky, I was hearing marmots all over but never saw one. Saw a bunch of Pika, including one that screamed at me as I passed on the trail and then stayed there and almost posed for me as I took a picture. Once I got to the top it was almost completely socked in the clouds, but the old fire look out site is still pretty cool. Incentive to come back on a better day! On the way down the clouds cleared out a little and got some views of the Skagit and some peaks across the valley. The toilet at the trailhead was pretty nice for a pit toilet and was very well stocked with tp.