Looped around N. Fork of Sauk River counterclockwise up Pilot Ridge with two nights near White Chuck Cinder Cone. N. Fork Sauk can be crossed fairly easily on large logs. Pilot Ridge trail very steep with plenty of roots and rocks. Last water at 4800' until nearly coming to Blue Lake. Don't be decieved! - my watch showed a cumulative elevation gain for over 5200' to Blue Lake. It is a long day but the meadows are well worth the effort. Bear sighted. Meadow trails look in danger of being taken over by grasses along lengthy portions of Pilot Ridge. Connector trail up out of Blue Lake also very steep - might be dangerous in wet or snowy weather. Some mosquitoes, flies about - not bad. PCT overall in good shape but overgrown after the Indian Pass detour. Snowed over an inch above 5500' on the 29th/30th but should be gone now. N. Fork Sauk trail maintained and brushed to fairly high standard. Enjoy!

The weather has been very nice lately and a lot of the trailheads are melting out.The Mountain Loop Highway and other areas in the Darrington and Granite Falls areas of the MBSNF are still not accessible by normal routes. Some trails such as the Goat Lake trail may require parking at alternate trailhead locations which will require an extended trek in on foot or an approach on a mountain bike. The VEHICLE PROWLERS are also out earlier this seanson. The Lake 22 trailhead had sustained about (6) six break-in's in the past several weeks involving breaking windows,Heather Lake had had(1)one vandalism to a vehicle (tires slashed & windows broken),and Barlow Pass area had had (1)one break-in by breaking a window. With the exception of the Heather Lake occurrence,all have been associated with vehicles that have had belongings such as car stereos which had their removable face-places in them,cases full of audio CD's,purses and wallets with personal ID and negotiable cards in them, GPS, MP3 players, DVD players, cellular phones, hiking gear and clothing,and even a briefcase with tax preparation documents inside of it. Myself and the Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers that work in and Patrol the facilities within the National Forest,have contact with persons who have had the above mentioned items with them in their vehicles...most are out in plain view for everyone to see. This is an open invitation for anyone who might not even normally steal something to do so. These are what we refer to as ""CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY"". The criminal elements that prowl the forests do not need an opportunity, they are already out there actively looking. Do not give them the opportunity. Please leave any items that are not a necessity at home or throw them into your pack and take them with you. Some people choose to hide them in the trunk of their vehicles, out of sight. The criminal elements have caught on to this and they know that if they break into a given number of vehicles,a percentage of them will produce "loot". Do not be a victim. Clear out your vehicle and leave a note on the dash of the vehicle which states something to the fact of "THERE ARE NO VALUABLES IN THIS VEHICLE"". This tells the criminal elements that you have actually thought about it enough to have cleaned out your vehicle and left the note to let them know that. Chances are they are mush less likely to take the chance of breaking into a vehicle that has been posted as a "CLEAN VEHICLE". Please report any suspicious persons and/or vehicles to the nearest Ranger Station,Public Service Center,or to the Local Police. Call 911 from any local phone,or contact the 911 Center (SNOPAC) from your home outside Snohomish County,or your Cellular Phone at 425-407-3970 or 3971. Cellular service is nor likely while in the National Forest unless you are at an elevated location,but call as soon is convenient. Your call could be the one that leads the police to the person(s) responsible for the break-ins. DO NOT BE PARANOID ABOUT THESE ISSUES,BE AWARE AND EDUCATED ABOUT THEM. Now get out and enjoy the great outdoors! =(:0)) Deputy Rasar

I did a rainy day hike to the Glacier Peak wilderness today (Tuesday) with my dog Daisy. This is a sweet trail, with giant trees of several varieties, moss gardens, a rushing river, and most importantly a feeling of true solitude and wildness. The whole area of the Mtn Loop Hiway south of Darrington has gotten much more lonely since the ""loop"" was broken by the floods of '03. It is still interesting to look at the damage those floods did. There are several places to stop on the way out and see things like smashed bridges and ""disappeared"" roads. I only went in two miles or so to the aptly-named Rainey Camp. There were a few blow-downs on the trail, but they were hardly more than step-overs. We spent more time out there than the four-mile hike would seem to indicate. Since both the pup and I had full-on raingear, we were in no hurry. I spent a lot of time just watching the snow come through openings in the canopy. The roads were fine though FS 49 had streams running across it in a couple of places. I tried to drive up to the Bald Eagle trailhead but was turned back by snow. I probably could have made it, but all alone, in the dark and rain, no chains, no ground clearance, just a shovel, I wasn't going to take any chances to satisfy idle curiousity. All in all it was a full day, including the car explorations we did on the way in and the way out, like driving up the White Chuck road to the washout area.

Lauren and I set out for our annual backpacking trip. We had chosen the Bald eagle loop. When we got to the trail head at the end of road #49, (North Fork Sauk River Rd) We had two flat tires on my Jeep. After several minutes of utter despair, (no cell phone reception) we were saved by a road maintenance worker with a radio in his grader. He radioed the Darrington ranger station who made a call to Les Schwab Tires. He stayed with us until it was verified that Les Schwab would come out to put new tires on my Jeep. By this time it was getting late so we took off from the Bald eagle Loop trail head and made it to Curry Gap where there was a surprisingly nice little creek for a water source. We camped here the first night. Lots of bees but no other problems. Up nice and early the next morning we hiked to Upper blue lake for the next night. At a high spot on June mountain we got cell phone reception and verified that our JEEP HAD TWO NEW TIRES! ( Thanks Jason) No water along the way at all but miles and miles of blue berries. Our camp at Upper Blue lake was spectacular, with views out the valley at sunset. We planned a fairly short day of hiking the next day so had a leisurely morning and set off with all of our water bottles full, thinking to make a dry camp that night on Pilot Ridge. It became clear fairly early on that hot day that we were going to drink all of our water, so would have to walk all the way to the river that night. By the time we could hear the river on the steep descent of Pilot Ridge we were a couple of hurtin'units. We pitched the tent in the first flat place we found next to the river and had a great nights sleep. Next morning after wading the river(finding no log with suitable access)we made it out to the Sloan Creek campground and walked (with packs, Lauren wanted to be sure we got a good workout)the three miles to where the jeep was parked, with spanking new tires. A stop at the Burger Barn in Darrington was a fun capper to our trip.

Well I did the North Fork Sauk Loop to White Pass and down Pilot Ridge. I had been to White Pass 5 or 6 times before and really wanted to make this loop trip. There is a lot of easy hiking on this loop. The first 5 miles takes you through the old growth forest very gradually to Mackinaw Shelter. From here the trail switchbacks and takes you 4 miles up 3000 feet to the PCT between White Pass and Red Pass. Here there are signs telling you DETOUR, because of the bridges that are out. A few people asked me if you can still get to Red Pass and the answer is yes. Also if you don't then you have made a mistake because it is very excellent and only 1.3 miles 500 feet gained. I chose to keep going and I knew the trail ahead was the easiest. It drops elevation for 6 miles to Indian Pass, but it drops it at such a slow pace that you almost think you are walking level the whole way. I actually saw tire tracks between Reflection Pond and Kid Pond! Someone had a Bicycle way up there. At Indian Pass there are detour signs. This is where the Crest trail now takes you down Indian Creek and over to Buck Creek Pass. My route was taking me up Kodak Peak and I still had some steam in me so I kept going. 1.5 miles and 500 feet is the only other up the first day. Now on the other side I was going to find the first site possible since it was getting late. There is a very nice spot just on the North side of the Little Wenatchee River junction. 15.5 miles the first day 3500 feet gained. This campsite is directly in the middle of this loop. The next morning I headed towards Dishpan Gap and it was an easy mile. The trail to the Blue lakes leaves the PCT here. It is 3 miles and very level for the first mile. Then there is a fork in the road that says Blue Lake high route not maintained for stock. I chose to take the high route which I beleive is a shortcut in mileage. Though it did take me nearly straight up 500 feet and straight down 500 feet right to upper Blue Lake. I would reccomend this for people not staying at the Blue Lakes because I would not have seen the upper lake at all had I not gone this way. And it really wasn't that hard of climb. Just below Upper Blue Lake is the Pilot Ridge junction and from here the trail takes you, again very easily and gradually, up 500 feet. Once you reach the top of your climb you junction with Johnson Mountain Trail and then drop 100 feet. Now you hike flat for at least 2 miles and then up a little down a little for 1 or 2 more. Now you leave the meadows that you entered way back at the Blue Lakes and drop nearly straight down for half mile or so in the woods. The trail levels out and then goes straight back up for another half mile or so still in the woods and a little annoying to me. Though it does bring you out at the ridgetop for one last meadow the length of a football feild. Now the trail heads down to the North Fork Sauk River. Sometimes the trail is nicely switchbacked and sometimes it drops you straight down. It is a 3000 foot drop none the less. Once at the North Fork Sauk, you need to cross on a series of logs. This crossing is fairly easy. Just on the other side is the North Fork Sauk Trail and a short, easy 2 miles back to the car. I would say this to someone wanting to do the loop and trying to figure out which direction to go. If you go to White Pass first, you will be climbing an open hill that can be hot, but there is a lot to view. If you climb Pilot Ridge first, it is cooler, though very boring in the trees. I was very glad I hadn't hiked up the Pilot Ridge hill. There were Blueberries all along this loop in the high country. I saw one deer, grouse, and only 6 other hikers. Looking back at the hike I don't really think I ever left the meadows from Half way up Sauk trail all the way to the end of Pilot Ridge. Now that is great! Also the graded the Mountain Loop dirt road portion and the North Fork Sauk Road. First picture is just before the Crest Trail on the N. Fork Sauk Trail looking South. Kodak Peak is in the middle of the photo. Second picture is taken from the Johnson Mountain junction at the start of pilot ridge looking across at the trail on the side of the hill.