White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop, Kodak Peak, Dishpan Gap, Pilot Ridge, Blue Lake High & Bald Eagle Mountain — Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

From the trail head at Sloan Creek we traveled to Mackinaw Shelter and spent one night. Light bugs, well traveled trail and many people departing as well as entering the wilderness...too many people in fact. The next morning we traveled to the junction of the PCT and on up to White pass where we spent another night in the crowded campground...a line to the toilet. Beautiful views and a 1.5 mile trek down the Foam Creek trail and up off-trail to the ridge of White Mountain for spectacular views of Glacier Peak. Many NOBO PCT hikers moving up to Canada...great stories from "Georgia man" and advice. Next morning hit the PCT and headed down to Kodak Peak and Dishpan Gap...water in very few spots. Wonderful view of 2 F-18's flying low and up and over near Bryant Peak. From Dishpan we turned West on trail 650 over Wards Pass and on up to trail 652.1 - better known now as "Steep and Dangerous". Be careful here as the trail is thin, rocky and steep. We were awarded a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains as well as Big Blue Lake from 6200' overlook. Down into Big Blue Lake is again steep and slippery. We spent 2 days in Big Blue Lake climbing Johnson Mountain and relaxing around the beautiful lake. Again, more people than we would have liked. The near 12 miles out the final day awarded us with fresh Blueberries, spectacular views, fog and a very log covered route on trail 652 back down to 649. Beware the steepness of trail 652 as it is not for the faint of heart.