We chose a new-to-us hike in the Indian Heaven Wilderness, the Sawtooth Mountain Loop at the north end.
The day was warm, about 75 degrees, with an east wind gusting to 25 mph, which felt good.
We started at the intersection of the Pacific Crest Trail with Forest Road 24, the Sawtooth Trailhead. We hiked south on the PCT, encountering several thru hikers hurrying north. These hikers are cutting it close to make it to Canada before bad weather sets in.
In 1.3 miles, we turned onto the Sawtooth Mountain Trail 107, which is the old PCT/Cascade Crest Trail before it was rerouted in the 1970s to contour around Sawtooth Mountain instead of going over it. The trail switchbacked up the north slope of Sawtooth Mountain, passing several viewpoints.
In about a mile, we reached the high point, passing about 100 feet below the jagged summit. We saw a scramble trail to the summit rocks but decided not to attempt it, particularly with the strong wind gusts we would encounter on top.
We switchbacked down the south slope, with a stop for lunch in the shade, then hiked across the saddle between Sawtooth and Bird mountains. Lots of views along this section and good bird viewing, including a migrating adult bald eagle and ravens doing some group social activity.
We descended to the south junction of the Sawtooth Mountain Trail with the PCT at 3 miles total. We turned north and headed back to our start through mature Pacific silver fir forest. At 4.4 miles, we closed the loop and continued on the PCT back to FR 24 for a total 5.7 miles and 960 feet elevation gain. We decided this was a keeper to do again in the future.
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