North Fork Skykomish River, Lake Sally Ann, Dishpan Gap, Blue Lake High & Quartz Creek — Saturday, Sep. 2, 2017

The road to the trailhead is still closed about five miles from the trailhead due to the washouts.  Be aware that the Forest Service was out in force issuing tickets, so be sure to have your NW Forest Pass.  There was decent parking along the street and a port-a-potty available, which was good because they privy at the trailhead is locked.

The North Fork Skykomish Trail started out okay but shortly after taking the Pass Creek Trail (as recommended in Backpacking Washington, Hike #38) I started encountering blowdowns and soon thereafter lost the trail entirely.  Even with GPS show that I was standing on the trail, I saw nothing and ended up bushwhacking for about two miles until I hit the Cady Creek Trail.  It was very unpleasant and I DO NOT recommend taking the Pass Creek Trail.  The Cady Creek Trail up to Sally Ann Lake was very well maintained.  Shortly after ascending up the Cady Creek Trail towards Lake Sally Ann the views break out and the huckleberries were everywhere!  I managed to snag the last campsite which was fortunate as I arrived late due to the extra miles added by the road closure and the slow progress from not having a trail to follow for a couple of miles.

The next day, on my way to Dishpan Gap/Blue lake, I stopped by the campsites that are just off the PCT on the Cady Ridge Trail.  They looked unoccupied and although dry, aren't too far from Lake Sally Ann, and if you camel up there, the Cady Ridge campsite has the most amazing views.  There where some REALLY small streams a little further down on the Cady Ridge Trail, but I don't know if they will flow much longer.

The trail from Lake Sally Ann to Dishpan Gap was fairly quiet I thought (for Labor Day Weekend) and the huckleberries were once again everywhere.  Leaving Dishpan Gap toward Blue Lake begins a short but brutal climb up to Blue Lake.  It is worth it though with some very nice views/camping areas.  Seriously though, that climb sucked.  I didn't camp at Blue Lake but continued on to Lower Blue Lake.  There were actually three smallish lakes there.  I had the smallish lake all to myself on the second night.  Lower Blue Lake proper didn't appear to have any campsites directly adjacent to it.

Leaving Lower Blue Lake and heading toward Curry Gap to the Quartz Creek Trail finds you starting off with another climb but nothing too strenuous.  Again there were huckleberries all over the place and beautiful breakout views.  There is a campsite as you near Long John Mountain.  It is shaded, but dry; although there were some smallish creeks nearby; although, I can say if they flow all season long.  Still, it's been rather dry and it's late in the season so I would imagine so.

The Quartz creek trail is rather overgrown in places; although, I never actually lost the trail.  Still, it made footing rather precarious.  There were several water sources along the trail so water on the Quartz Creek Trail isn't a concern.  There are no real views to mention on this trail but there is an amazing waterfall/pool area that is shallow-ish and flows over bare rock.  If I wasn't hiking sixteen miles from Lower Blue Lake to where the road was blocked off I might have stopped and just sat it in it.  I mean, that location was really lovely.