This is a multi-day trip described in the book Trekking Washington, and though trail conditions have changed somewhat since the book was published, most of the route is in good shape.
Notable trail conditions:
The forest is reclaiming Trail 643.1, from the PCT to the White Chuck River. What the plants aren't swallowing is being threatened by the combined forces of the White Chuck and Kennedy Creek near Kennedy Hot Springs. On the descent to this river junction the trail comes close to the steep, eroded cliffs. Tread carefully in this short (100-foot) section and you'll be fine.
Follow the cairns across the White Chuck, then on the opposite bank, look for stones embedded in the turf in the shape of an arrow. Follow the arrow up the bank, then you'll be on Trail 646, the Lost Creek Ridge Trail.
From there, the trail to Lake Byrne is steep and occasionally blocked by treefall, but the higher you get, the better it gets. Then, past Hardtack Lake, the path gets easy thanks to some very recent clearing work.
Camping: Blue Lake, on a Monday night, had at least three other parties. I was alone at beautiful Lake Byrne on Tuesday night.
Berries: juicy and fat on the southerly slopes.
Wildflowers: not all played out. Still some alpine buttercup, explorer's gentian, paintbrush and some other things.
Other flora and fauna: Lots of mushrooms growing right on the trails, especially on the ascents to Pilot Ridge and Lost Creek Ridge. Lots of frogs and toads about. A few marmots; a few red squirrels; one large, fresh specimen of bear scat.
Other notable things: as the guide in Trekking Washington advised, I had four final road miles to travel after coming down to Red Mountain trailhead (you enter at Trail 649 and exit at Trail 646, four miles down FR 49).
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