Just got back from a 3-day, 2-night loop in the Henry Jackson and Glacier Peak Wilderness. Starting from the Little Wenatchee Trailhead, we hiked up the Cady Ridge Trail to Lake Sally Ann and the PCT, day-hiked north along the PCT to near White Pass (with a side-trip up Kodak Peak), and then back out to the car via the PCT and Cady Creek Trail.
Cady Ridge Trail was in great shape. A few steep and loose sections, but nothing that crazy. Fairly easy to navigate even with a large pack. Once you are on top of the ridge, the walking becomes much easier for the last several miles. Great views of the surrounding terrain and Glacier Peak. Wildflowers are definitely a little past peak here. As a previous report says, lots of annoying fly things on the Cady Ridge trail but no mosquitoes that we saw. No water.
Lake Sally Ann made for a great camp site. Lots of spots to choose from, and only a few other groups mid-week. Mosquitoes were present but easily kept at bay with a little citronella and an intermittent breeze. Easy to get water from the stream flowing into the lake.
On Day 2 we hiked north along the PCT. We had thought about camping somewhere along the crest for better views, but were worried about lack of water sources. There turned out to be an abundance of small streams and trickles along the PCT between Lake Sally Ann and White Pass. I would be worried about most of them drying up in the next few weeks though. We made it nearly to White Pass before turning around for the day. Took a detour up Kodak Peak on the way back to Lake Sally Ann and had dinner up there while we watched the sun go down. AMAZING views from the top, Glacier Peak kept going in and out of the clouds. This would make a great (dry) campsite, though you could grab water from one of the little streams along the PCT just north of the peak for probably at least a few more weeks. Lots of wildflowers along this whole section of the PCT but again seems to be a little past peak already. Peak bug season seems to be past already as well...we didn't notice too many.
To make a loop and hopefully a more gradual descent, we decided to return via Cady Pass and the Cady Creek Trail. If I had to do it again, I would just go back down the Cady Ridge Trail. All sources have the Cady Creek return at about 8-9 miles from Lake Sally Ann, but it felt like FAR longer. The Cady Creek trail is passable, but super annoying. Lots of roots, rocks, and tall brush make for slow walking and there are basically no views to speak of whatsoever. There were a good deal of ripe salmonberries, huckleberries, and thimbleberries to break up the monotony, but that was about the only good thing I have to say about this trail.
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