Returned again this week to catch the wildflowers, which were outstanding. Road has deteriorated somewhat during last week with much more washboard. However still easily passable in passenger car. Active logging in the area, watch out for logging trucks! Bear seen on drive up, caution. Lots of marmots on the east-facing slope once you complete the climb up the west talus field to the ridge. We also saw two very tame grouse near the summit. Minor snow fields from the saddle to the summit, easily navigable without special equipment. Don't feed the chipmunks or other wildlife so abundant in the area! An easy and fantastic hike.

Went up on Friday. I noticed that someone else wrote a report, but no pictures! I wish everyone would post pictures. My comment about this trail, is that if you have to go to the bathroom, you better use the toilet at the start. This is a wide open hike. The other cool thing about this hike, is that you have wonderful views from the parking lot. My Mom watched me do this hike from the car. I gave her my Binoculars and she really got a kick out of it. She used to hike, but is now in a wheelchair. Great car hike for other retired hikers.

The gravel road to trailhead is in very good condition, no problem for passenger vehicles. We accidently separated a doe and fawn on the ride up, and had to stop the car to let them get back together (we were inadvertently driving the fawn -- very slowly -- up the road with the doe behind us). There is a decent pit toilet at the trailhead, and plenty of parking. We arrived about 0915; two vehicles were already in the parking lot. Clouds obscured the summit and most surrounding views, and mist rose continuously up the slope from the very wet vegetation, which was dripping with an immense amount of dew. Two hikers descended while we were still in the parking lot, both sopping wet from the knees down. The temperature was in the 50s and rather cooler than we had expected. The ascent via the many switchbacks that scale the very steep talus slope was wet as well as quite misty and foggy. Plants laden with moisture bent over the trail drenching clothing and skin when brushed. Within minutes there were no views possible at all with the trail vanishing a few steps ahead. The narrow route is in good condition however, and the wildflowers were riotous in their color and variety -- a stupendous display. After more than an hour in the fog we reached the first saddle and crossed from the west to the east side of the mountain. At the this point we encountered the only other group on the mountain so early, already descending. Views to the west, north, and south were still completely obscured, but we got glimpses of various mountains and the Sauk and Skagit Rivers below through the still-rising mist. Around 1100 the mist began to shift rapidly, offering quick peek-a-boo views from the NE to the SW. We moved on to the nearby saddle where by 1130 or so virtually all clouds and mist disappeared. Suddenly we were surrounded by 360 degree views including Mt. Baker, Sisters, Glacier, San Juan Islands, and much more. Sauk Lake below was a wonderful green/blue color and ice-free. There are snow fields at the saddle running fairly continuously to the summit. On the descent the spectacular views and astonishing wild flowers continued. By this time (noonish) the temperature was probably in the low 70s and we were encountering ascending groups every few minutes. When we reached the parking lot at about 1300 we found 16 vehicles arrayed there! And more arrived as we were packing gear for our departure. Insects were not an issue at any point. In addition to the deer we saw numerous birds, picas, chipmunks, and a field mouse (?). The trails was essentially mud-free, and the few heavily eroded sections appeared to had been repaired at some point. The descent through clear skies was spectacular, but somewhat disconcerting given the narrow path bordered by an extraordinarily steep talus slope. The view upward from the parking lot (unavailable to us earlier due to fog) was beautiful, but potentially daunting for those about to set out -- it appears both high and steep.

Road is clear to the parking lot. The trail is clear of snow until the top backside, with only a few patches. Lot of flowers out. Lake is starting to melt out.

First Sauk hike of the season for me. Hooray! Been waiting to hike it again since my last summit on October 27th! Left Burlington at 5:20 a.m. to beat the heat. Road to the trailhead is clear of snow now, although the snowpack is still large enough to cause a couple narrow spots in the road a couple hundred yards from the parking area. The trail itself was clear of snow most of the way up to the camping area at what I call the first summit. (Is there such a thing?) Anyway, before arriving there, I did a couple of easy 80-foot traverses across snow fields, and then had to kick-step up to the camping area where a couple people were camped. I always hike with hiking poles, and they were a necessity here in the snow. The entire saddle is covered in deep snowpack. There were tracks traversing the top of the bowl headed toward the lookout. I was tempted to add mine to them, but thought better of it when a man with mountaineering boots and an ice axe passed me. I only had light hiking boots and hiking poles. Didn't want to slide down to the still-frozen lake below. Saw several ruffled grouse, both male and female, and heard a marmot whistle, but didn't see him. Heard something crashing through the foliage on the face on the way up, which got my heart racing wondering if it was a bear, but it was a large rock that had broken loose up high and came careening down the avalanche chute to hikers' right as you're going uphill. That chute intersects the trail at several points, so watch for rockfall there. The trail has endured some cracking with the winter's heavy snows. There is sloughing at numerous locations, but there is room to walk on the uphill side of these areas. The wildflowers are starting to show, but only a few columbine and some tiny purple flowers that I wish I knew the name of. No bugs yet to speak of other than a few exceptionally large bumble bees who completely ignored me as they perused the flowers. A gorgeous day on Sauk, but shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone! Annie :-)