White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Monday, Jul. 23, 2018

I hiked the loop clockwise, spending the first night at Macintosh shelter next to the river. I was expecting lots of mice, but wasn’t bothered by a single rodent here. Next morning up early to hike the next 3 miles up to the PCT before it got hot. The first portion of the trail here is exposed and rocky, but not bad, before it evens out some.  PCT was great, of course. Lots of marmots, flowers just starting, a nice little breeze and people watching. I camped night 2 right before the Blue Lakes fork, and the next morning started down the lower Blue lake trail. Pilot Ridge trail was mostly snow free, there was only one fairly wide, long snowfield that I inched across first thing in the morning, otherwise, only a few trees down here and there. The meadows were amazing. It’s a pretty cool trail. I know there was at least one person ahead of me, but I saw no one the entire trail, from Dishpan gap to the river. The river crossing is across downed logs, and there  isn’t a clear path back to #649, but try to stay straight and slightly to the right off the log, you’ll end up in a ripe blueberry patch, then you can eat your way straight up the hill, back to the trail. My car fared well at the TH, but I unknowingly picked up a stowaway...a mouse, which is unfortunately very cute, but has probably made a fine nest out of wire insulation and car seat innards somewhere in the back. Also, bugs were fairly voracious.