Dog and I did a three day, two night trip out to the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Day One
- Reach North Fork Sauk trailhead at 10am. FS 49 had many a pothole and was washed out at one point, but I got through in a Prius just by being careful.
- Raining steady and walking through puddles for flat section until Mackinaw shelter, which seems to have collapsed completely just in the last few days. Last report had pictures of it standing up. Good place to fill up water or make camp before the climb
- See no other hikers for 26 switchbacks up a grueling 3400' climb out of the valley. Views reward more and more as fog lifts and rain slows down.
- Snow starts to fall at 5pm coming into White Pass campground on the PCT. Please avoid camping right at the ridge, as it is being allowed to grow back after years of overuse. Take a short trail down to the campsites just west of the ridge.
- Cold night and as two inches of snow fall. Not fit for a non-insulated hammock, and sleep is scarce.
Day Two
- Beautiful snow-covered peaks. Take a lazy morning and start out for White Chuck Glacier on the Foam Creek Trail at 10am.
- Trail is difficult to follow with the snowfall, but it soon starts melting as it heats up, leaving many a puddle. A section of the trail heading towards the ridge at 48°02'35.1"N 121°07'39.6"W features some treacherous ups and downs and the trail can be hard to follow. Be careful!
- Reach as far as a view of White Chuck Glacier, but have to turn back to be able to get down to Mackinaw Shelter tonight to avoid another night in the cold.
- Hike back to White Pass with gorgeous views of mountains as far as I can see. Snow is gone but for the high peaks, creating a gorgeous contrast of color. My dog makes many passes at marmots along the trail (make sure to keep dogs on leashes, even if they are well behaved!)
- Pack up and hump down switchbacks to camp by Mackinaw Shelter and the North Fork Sauk.
Day Three
- Hike back to the trailhead under warming sun and old growth forest.
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