North Fork Sauk River — Tuesday, Jul. 7, 1998

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

649 to white pass is in great shape the avalanch debris having been cleared. the trail is snowfree to White pass with one exception, a narrow (30 - 50 ft)but steep (30 -35 degrees) snow chute with a lot of exposure ( couple hundred feet long) after the junction with the PCT on the accent. [Advise ice ax] White pass tent sites are snow free with plenty of run off water from the snow patches at the pass. Three other parties there mid week, but we spent two nights and had the second night at the pass to ourselves. Tent sites are on the shoulder below the pass. Trail head posted for no ridge top camping ( Glacier Peak view) nor fires within two hundred feet el. of the ridge top. An awe inspiring place with a 3K ft accent on 2.8 mi. of the trail. Would advise a side trip over the White Mountain ridge to the north to see the White chuck Glacier. at the old sign post at the top of the pass bear 40 degrees to the narrow saddle to the east ( right) of the ""dog ear"" rocks on the ridge. There is a trail most of the way to the ridge pass. Bugs were NOT a problem