I've had my eye on the Cady Creek-PCT-Little Wenatchee loop for some time, and it's the middle of July, so what could possibly go wrong? I did a solo backpack trip intending to spend one night at Lake Sally Ann, and the next night at Meander Meadows. I ended up doing only one night at Sally, and headed down the "short cut" of the Cady Ridge Trail. Here's my first WTA trip report! (And thank you to all the countless trip reporters that I've relied on over the years...it's about time I pitched in!)

I started off down the Cady Creek Trail, and after the first easy section, I encountered several enormous blow downs I had to navigate my way around, but not too much trouble. I came across a couple of snowfields which covered up the trail briefly, an omen of what was to come. Then a creek tributary took over the trail, so I had to bushwhack over mossy logs and swamp ground to get through that section. At some point, you'll see a three-rock cairn after this muddy mess--bear to your left to get back on the trail.

You'll also have to ford across a very strong current stream, but not a long ford. Water was almost up to my knees (I'm 5' 9"). Bring your water shoes. It's doable if you're used to this sort of thing. I'm not. Brrrr!

I went up the PCT heading north toward Sally Ann. Eventually the snow appeared and the trail pretty much vanished. I cannot emphasize enough that you must carry GPS to navigate yourself through this. A compass is helpful, too (for you Gaia devotees, you know what I mean...Gaia loves bouncing your position around, and doesn't pinpoint you exactly). As I gained the ridge, I was despairing about if I should turn around. By sheer happenstance, a group of hardy Canadians were through hiking the PCT in the opposite direction. So, I was able to navigate my way to Sally Ann with their snow tracks! (Of course, confirming my position with Gaia). This group was the only people I saw the whole trip.

I got to Sally Anne, and it's almost completely frozen and snowed in. Fortunately, there is a flat, dry piece of ground right above the lake, with room for about two tents. Whew! You can get water from Sally Ann, but be careful not to fall in her ice sheet. The night was restful, views were spectacular, and I played John Denver on my portable Buckshot speaker.

Since I was by myself, and I knew it would be just more snowy misery on the way to Meander Meadows, I decided to cut the trip short one day and head back to the trailhead via the Cady Ridge Trail. I got my fair share of snowy misery anyway, and there were no Canadian snow tracks to guide me. The first section wasn't too bad, I just had to be very careful navigating myself through endless snow traverses. Then a godawful bushwhack and slippery snow section followed. At one point, I slipped and slid down about 40 feet, catching a tree to arrest myself before I fell off the mountain. Ironically, that fall actually got me back on the "trail", so maybe it was the Mountain Goddess smacking some sense into me. I was rattled, to be sure. But nothing for it, I got back up, and bushwhacked my way until I finally reached the Cady Ridge. Here, I could see some footprints. Evidently, people hiked up to Cady Ridge, and then sensibly turned around. From there, there was more slippery snow to slog through, but at least the navigation wasn't too bad as the trail played peek-a-boo. Then finally the Cady Ridge Trail dried up, and I started the very steep descent down.

First day: 9.5 miles to Sally Ann via Cady Creek-PCT. Second day: 7.5 miles from Sally Ann to Little Wenatchee Trailhead via Cady Ridge Trail.

Road: Pretty crummy, bring your AWD high clearance forest road buster. Low clearance cars might be able to pull it off, but they will be punished.

Required: GPS, trekking poles, sunglasses for the snow glare

Recommended: Microspikes (gives you decent traction on that icy, slushy early summer snow), compass, gators, ice axe (I didn't bring an axe, but there are some steep angle snow traverses where some may feel more comfortable with an axe. But don't even try to attempt this without at least trekking poles unless you're Spider-Man!)

I hope you're aren't dissuaded by my trip report. It's an absolutely gorgeous hike. I would just say don't do it alone, and be ready to snow navigate. And as of now, there is dry ground camping at Sally Ann. Go for it!

Autumn is in full glory along the PCT, and mushrooms are at their most mushroomy in the swamps below. Catch the incredible colors during these last few days before everything is blanketed with snow.  The mountainside was glorious, glowing with breathtaking yellows and reds; caught from sunrise to sunset, cloudy or rainy, it was all incredible.

Struck out on a Friday evening from the Cady Creek trailhead at the end of FS 65, taking Cady Creek Trail (#1501) along for a few miles. Good campsites just after a creek crossing at about the 4 mile mark, and just before the climb up. There are a few places where you're walking more along a stream-bed then a creek, but some dextrous hopping gets you through.

The color show started the next morning with the climb up from Cady Pass, turning onto the PCT and climbing up past Lake Sally Anne to Dishpan Gap

Every blueberry bush has turned a vivid flaming red or orange. It's unreal, and gorgeous -- my camera may have gotten bored of the colors, but I certainly didn't.

I dropped my bags and headed up to Kodak Peak. There's a good trail on the north side, looking down on Meander Meadow; it climbs steeply, but is reasonably safe feeling. Glacier Peak was out and glorious; I stopped for a few photos before heading down the Bald Eagle Trail and turning into (and dropping a knee-jarring thousand feet) to Little Blue Lake .

I set up camp at Little Blue Lake; I'd passed perhaps four other people during the day. The next morning, I woke up and hiked to Blue Lake, a steady climb, before the precarious climb up the Blue Lake High Trail. 

I have to admit -- I didn't love it. I'm not usually great with heights, and seeing the path drop off at 50 or so degrees next to me felt precipitous. It was fine -- well-cut, smooth, and not slippery -- but I measured every step, carefully.  If you don't like exposure, the Bald Eagle trail is doable, but not wonderful; avoid Blue Lake High Trail at all costs.

Catching my breath at the top, a trail runner jogged past me, looking barely winded. 

I eased myself down to the Bald Eagle trail, and all but jogged home along Cady Ridge Trail. 

All I can say is wow - fall colors were on full display and unlike anything I've ever seen before.  The trail is steep and slow going right after the switchbacks, but once you're up on the ridge, all the pain disappears and the views really open up. We could see Glacier Peak, Rainier, Mt Daniel, Hinman, Overcoat Peak, and tons of other peaks from the ridge. Fresh blueberries also lined the trail once we got close to the PCT. To top it all off, the sunset was incredible as well. Couldn't have asked for a better fall overnighter.

Did this as an out and back to Lake Sally Ann via Cady Ridge. Fall colors are popping right now and there are lots of ripe berries along the ridge that slowed my pace a little. Trail is on great condition and I saw less than 10 people all day, most on the short stretch of the PCT between Cady Ridge and the lake.

Road is bumpy near the end but is fine if you take it slow.

It was the best of trails, it was the worst of trails...  Hiked up Cady Ridge, over to Dishpan Gap, down to Meandering Meadows and finished on the Little Wenatchee River trail clockwise as a day hike (clocked 16 miles round trip). 

The WTA description details a counterclockwise loop starting on the Little Wenatchee and finishing coming down Cady Ridge - I would not suggest this, in fact I wouldn't suggest the Little Wenatchee River trail to anyone, but more on that later.

The hike up to Cady Ridge is steep in some spots, and there is a stretch that is definitely a slog, but there are tons of blueberries to snack on and keep your energy levels up. Once you make it to the ridge, it's absolute paradise. Amazing views every which way, the fall colors are in full effect. Take your time to take it all in! 

Hiking down to Meandering Meadow was pleasant, but it couldn't hold a candle to the majesty of Cady Ridge. When I return to this area, I won't go back down to the meadow, viewing it from above was nice enough. Next time I'll explore more of the ridge views and perhaps loop back down via Cady Creek trail, make a larger backpacking trip from the PCT, or just double back down on the ridge trail. 

After passing through the meadow, down the switchbacks to the Little Wenatchee River trail, things got brushy, really brushy. We couldn't see our feet for long stretches of time. We had to use out hiking polls to push encroaching vegetation including devils club away from our legs 70% of the way. I also managed to get stung by a yellow jacket that I couldn't see (we heard buzzing, I was behind my friend, and felt a sharp sting in my calf despite wearing leggings).  So heads up, there may or may not be a yellow jacket nest about 3 miles from the trailhead. If you are going to do this part of the trail, wear long pants and if you are doing it in the AM, be ready to get wet from dew.

Only saw 6 other people on the trail the whole day - two solo backpackers heading down, one PCT hike, a pair of overnight hikers, and one other day hiker.

All in all, it was an amazing day in the Central Cascades.