Enjoyed a two night - three day backpack starting at N. Fork Skykomish and exiting the W. Cady Ridge Trail. Short story: Berries, big trees, butterflies, birds, views, and lots of solitude.
Road/Parking: Forest road in is washboarded in places, but we saw a sedan at the trailhead, so anyone can make it! Parking was almost full when we arrived before 1pm on a Friday. Toilet was clean and stocked. Parking lot was less full when we exited on Sunday afternoon.
N. Fork Skykomish trail to Dishpan Gap (9 miles): the trail up the river is so mellow and well maintained, it was hard to believe we were gaining elevation. We only saw a couple of parties coming out and we kept stopping to eat all the berries, including the most giant salmonberries I've ever seen. I was nervous about the ford at 5 miles in...I overthought it. My partner did it by stepping on rocks. I put water shoes on, and did manage to slip in but it was all in good fun. There's a log crossing as well, if that's more your style. There was one tent at the campsite past the junction. At this point the trail takes a hard left and is marked by pink tags on trees. There's a few blowdowns but very easy to navigate. Water: we walked down a dry creek bed and found water about .5 miles before the gap because we were nervous about getting water for the night - we found it! And then crossed a creek about 1/3 mile before the gap, which probably won't be there in another few weeks. Campsites: There's not a lot of proper campsites to be had at the gap, we got one just off the trail from the junction, but we looked off the PCT and many were not really proper sites and in meadows. Bugs were annoying in the evening, but not unbearable and completely disappeared after dark.
Dishpan Gap to Benchmark Mountain Camp (9.5 miles): We stopped at Lake Sally Ann to filter water and to enjoy some Vaux swifts. There was some folks heading North on the PCT, all backpackers, but we had long stretches of solitude. The surrounding views of mountains are stunning here. Then we dropped down to Pass Creek, where we filtered water for the rest of our trip - this was necessary as there is no water (besides a trickle of a creek) and muddy tarns for the rest of the hike (note 10 miles, so we carried a lot of water!). There's ample tent sites here and a toilet. We turned off on the west cady ridge trail and saw no one until we reached camp. Campsites: we planned to camp at benchmark mountain. We saw the "mountain from the trail" and tried to take a social trail up...it went nowhere. We lucked out when we went to the trail marked on the map (you will be well past the mountain if coming from the east). Just off the trail there are a few tent sites - we met some nice folks who were setting up camp and showed us where the other tent sites were. That evening we made our way up the mountain (a 1/2 mile trail) and there is one proper tent site at the top, albeit very exposed. There are berries everywhere and we enjoyed. The views of Glacier Peak and the surrounds are top notch. Bugs were a little annoying but not bad.
Benchmark Mountain - West Cady Ridge Trail - trailhead (6.6 miles): We woke to fog and the mountains around were shrouded. We enjoyed more berries and wildflowers on our way out. The W Cady Ridge Trail is very rocky and in a gully for some parts, until the last few miles, which are in beautiful forest. There are at least seven blowdowns on this portion, all are navigated easily by under/over or around. We only saw two trail runners and a day hiker making their way in. Water: There's some streams in the last couple of miles, but otherwise this stretch is completely dry except for some muddy tarns about 1 mile west of Benchmark. We saw and heard lots of birds on the way out including a western tanager and evening grosbeak.
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