Road 49 had the usual potholes and rocks that made for slow going but no problems getting to the trailhead. Started out on the trail at 7:30am and was the first time I had trouble finding a parking space here. Some vehicles were parked down the road because of all the vehicles. In spite of all the cars I saw few people on the trail.

The North Fork Sauk River Trail was snow free and cleared out all the way to the PCT. No blowdowns and trail was in great shape.

After reaching the PCT I hiked as far as White Pass. The trail was snow free to White Pass as well. The wildflower show was spectacular, I have never seen so many different types of wildflowers blooming at the same time. I saw some flowers I have never seen before. As always the views here never disappoint, just have to really work for it. No matter how many times I have hiked this, the climb from Mackinaw Shelter to the meadows is always a tough climb but well worth the effort.

Was back at my vehicle at 5:00pm. Quite a bit of my time was spent taking pictures.

North fork Sauk trail to the PCT is doable without traction gear. Some of the snow bridges on the PCT are melting out and might be more difficult to cross in the next few weeks. White pass camping area is about 90% snow covered, hard packed and easy to walk on. I spotted about 8 cleared spots to pitch tents. People are still skiing on White mountain so the good spots fill up fast. If you're spending the night there refill your water from one of the falls on the PCT. I don't know where the white pass camp water point is, but due to the snow I assume it's not worth the effort. From the parking lot to the white pass camping area is just under 10 miles one way with 4500 ft of gain. I would advise taking a lunch break at the lower camp or the log bridge before tackling the switch backs. 

I was in the area to hike the nearby Bald Eagle Mountain Trail but I hit snow early on and had time for further explorations.  I decided to hit up the North Fork Sauk & Red Mountain.  FS 49 is rough but passable for any vehicle if you go slow over the potholes.  There were several cars in the parking lot despite it being Monday.  Most of the cars were still there when I got back; perhaps a big party bound for Glacier Peak?

The trail to Red Mountain starts a stone's throw from the parking lot.  This trail is short, steep and overgrown but easy to follow.  After a mile-long cardio workout, you reach the Red Mountain viewpoint with its low but stunning view of the North Fork Sauk Valley.  A path leads further up the mountain but it seems to peter out after a couple hundred more feet of climbing.  After that it seems to be a bushwhack if you want to summit Red Mountain.

I descended back to the North Fork Sauk and headed toward Mackinaw Shelter.  The trail is easy to follow with only a few obstacles.  There is a huge red cedar across the trail that has an easy to see (but tricky to negotiate) scramble path around it.  Some sections of the trail are overgrown with thick vegetation, so sing a song to scare away the bears.  Other than that, it's just the usual mud, high water stream crossings, puddles and rocks to manage.  The trail is snow-free all the way to Mackinaw Shelter and beyond; surprising, given what I encountered on the Bald Eagle Trail nearby.  I climbed uphill for a good while and still didn't hit snow, though I could tell by the surrounding mountains that there's a heavy pack in the high country.  I ran into a pair of skiers returning from the White Pass area who had huge grins on their faces.

I returned to Mackinaw and set up camp for the night.  The weather was perfect and the sound of the nearby river lulled me to sleep as it got dark.  The mosquitoes were bad in camp but thankfully I packed repellent.  Some previous campers had made makeshift furniture out of the remains of the shelter.  Way cool.  There was also evidence of people using the shelter as firewood.  Way uncool.  Please don't burn historic artifacts.  Would you use the old houses of Monte Cristo or the Pilchuck lookout as firewood?  I think not!

I packed up the next morning and headed back to the car.  On the way I was attacked by a mama grouse who I assume had chicks or a nest nearby (didn't see them).  Yep, vicious attack chickens is what you have to look forward to on the good ol' North Fork Sauk Trail!  But seriously though, if that happens to you, be very careful where you step because the chicks are camouflaged and difficult to see.  They freeze in place and press to the ground to hide from predators, but that makes them easy to accidentally step on.

This is a great hike that mostly serves as a gateway to the alpine wonderland of Glacier Peak, but is still a great destination in its own right.  The forest and its huge trees are simply awe-inspiring!

"The hobbits felt encouraged, and looked up hopefully at the broadening daylight in the sky. At the far side of the glade there was a break in the wall of trees, and a clear path beyond it. They could see it running on into the wood, wide in places and open above, though every now and again the trees drew in and overshadowed it with their dark boughs."

J.R.R. Tolkien "The Fellowship of the Ring"

Most of the road is OK - just potholes, but there are two spots where it has washed out a bit so be careful if you don't have high clearance.  The first major creek crossing requires boots if you want to keep your feet dry.  Poles will help too - it's a little tricky to keep your footing on the rocks.  There are also a couple of major blow-downs.  The path around is obvious but a little bit of a scramble.  Both of our GPS's put the mileage at 5.7 from the parking lot to the shelter, which is unfortunately collapsed.  However, there is a really nice area by the river to sit and eat and rest.  We headed back from the shelter, making about 11.4 miles total.

The clouds cleared a bit on the way back and we had some nice peekaboo views of the snow-capped peaks.  Also, if you look carefully on the way - there are at least a couple of spectacular waterfalls on either side high up on the slopes.  Very cool!

For what it is it's great! Road was potholed but XTrek made it no problems. It's a well formed trail meandering beside a river, sometimes in view, most often in earshot, peek-a-boo views of Sauk mountain and other peeks in the distance, mostly under canopy cover (making it a good drizzly/rainy day hike). We made the river crossing with no problems, I used gaiters since I had brought them but friend crossed without them Good est. campsites for backpackers, one even had a privy. Gaia app put the MacKinaw shelter at 7miles in, a bit further than WTA. Did see a black bear so be food aware!

(USFS TIP: there is an unlocked outhouse at the trailhead but USFS is not maintaining it so while unlocked it is not advised for use due to COVID, is not being cleaned, and not TP stocked, but there is a hole if needed!)