White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Saturday, Jun. 29, 2019

What a spectacular hike!  We left the trailhead around 11:45AM and didn’t see any other parties on the trail until about 7 miles in. We got to the TH in a Prius (what what) so no excuses.  We did bottom out once...but it wasn’t that bad. The first six or so miles of the N. Fork Sauk Trail are cruiser forest romping. After about 6 miles, the trail starts heading upwards (and upwards) but all very reasonable switchbacks.  Plus, that’s when the wildflowers start in earnest - cliff paintbrush, columbine, some sort of orange lily.   There is an AWESOME meadow traverse along the PCT heading into White Pass that is just the best.  Many marmot friends.   We camped at White Pass and were the 2nd party to roll in, meaning we got the pick of the campsite litter.  Patchy snow in the camping area, but none where the campsites are.  Kind of buggy. 

On the 2nd day, we headed southbound on the PCT towards Blue Lake.  There was patchy snow - but very easy to cross.  Momo (the dog) loves a good snow rompus so we were happy to have it.  There was a hillside of mucho marmots about 1 mile out of camp.  I think we saw at least 7.   Pretty good views of Glacier from this vantage point and a ton of avalanche lilies.  Dropping down into Indian Pass was lovely and climb back out was very chill.  We took the Blue Lakes High Route and felt very foolish for carrying ice axes. No snow on the trail at all coming down from the pass.  Oh well.  We got the tent set up before a bout of afternoon thunderstorms and rain that gave Momo fits.   It was about as buggy as White Pass.   The lake was gorgeous!

Day 3, we headed towards pilot ridge and got turned around a little leaving camp.  There are a TON of minor trails snaking through camp, but eventually we found the right one (you pass the privy on the left) and head into what seems like a trail that is too brushy to be the right one.  The brush disappears pretty quickly and the trail drops down to the Bald Eagle Junction.  There were stupid amounts of flowers on the traverse out of the lake.  We took a side trip up Johnson Mountain (SO GOOD) and it seemed to only add a mile to the day.   We dropped our packs before the climb so it was quick getting up. The views of Glacier were sublime.  We also saw Rainier and Baker.

No running water from Blue Lake to about 2 miles above the river.  Fill up before you leave the lake!

Pilot Ridge was excellent.  More avalanche lilies.  Fun terrain.  The trail got slightly indistinct at times, but nothing major.   Mega elevation loss (knees, oof) down the river.   Log crossing was fine.  Momo looked slightly nervous, but she was so brave.  From the junction, only another few miles to the TH.   Milkshakes (and onion rings) at the Fountain Drive-In in Arlington - highly recommended. 

Major notes: Don’t need an ice axe, the Blue Lakes High Route is very easy to follow, no water from Blue Lakes to a nice stream about 2 miles from the river,  definitely hike up Johnson Mountain.  Not to be missed!