We hiked clockwise around the loop and out to Whatcom Pass, July 20-23.
To update a few recent trip reports:
The dicey snow chutes up to Hannegan Pass mentioned in a trip a couple weeks ago: one is fully melted out and the other is very reduced: required one awkward big step and then a few on the ice which now has dirt on it to improve traction (I think from the WTA work party that was working on the switchbacks to Hannegan Pass. Thanks, crew!) Should be gone in a week or less?
Bugs: black flies at Hannegan pass, and before and after for a while. Not on Hannegan peak much and much diminished on Copper Ridge. Mosquitos were bad at Copper Lake! Bug net on the head helped. Down to the River and around Indian Creek Camp: not bad at all. Not bad at Graybeal or Whatcom Pass. Some at Copper Creek Campground when we stopped for lunch.
Water: still flowing in lots of places. There’s a nice stream between Hannegan pass and Boundary camp that will probably last a few more weeks.
Blowdowns: lots! Mainly on the trails farther out: down from Copper Lake to the Chilliwack crossing and seemed especially numerous between the suspension bridge and the turn off to Graybeal and Whatcom Pass. That 3.5 mile otherwise easy stretch seemed to last a long time! But it was also toward the end of a long day for us. Some big trees or “branch fests” as my hiking partner called it one rant. Requires some awkward climbing with a big pack.
Brush: I would say it’s salmon berries, thimble berries, ferns mainly, a little devil's club and you can just power through. Sometimes you have to look down to avoid rolling an ankle, but overall, not a big deal IMHO.
Smoke/fires: we didn’t experience any to block our views. Some in the distance I think.
Bears: didn’t see any but other hikers/campers did: at Graybeal and near Hannegan pass. We had bear canisters. There’s a bear storage locker at Copper Creek.
Fords: one of the Chilliwack/Indian Creek fords still midthigh and a good strong flow. Very doable and short, but walk strong. The other is easy. A bit of trail finding is needed here. Look for red tape in trees for help.
The cable car: talked to a hiker who said it was replaced a year ago. Looks very new and felt safe. A cool experience. Suspension bridge was also fun, though wobbly and a one person at a time trip.
My thoughts: It seems lots of people report longer days than expected on this loop, and that was our experience too. The ranger suggested we spend our first night out of Hannegan TH at Egg Lake and that would have been nice, since we got there mid afternoon, but we had to power on to the lookout and Copper Lake and took a few more hours to do that. I found the steep down to the Chilliwack River after Copper Lake not to be that bad. Lots of other PNW trails have similar steep switchbacks. I don’t usually wear them but I wore knee sleeves on this downhill and I think it helped my knees feel more stable. We stayed two nights at Graybeal and day-hiked up to Whatcom Pass. It was nice to have that mellow day. (Though the trip up there is also some elevation gain and had a big/long cedar tree blowdown and a few other minor challenges that might make one a bit nervous. But, I am a little more nervous these days after falling in a boulder field last year and breaking an arm, so...take that for what it’s worth.)
I recommend including a trip up Hannegan Peak at the beginning or end of your trip. Although it is a steep side trip, it’s short and the views are fantastic.
A very cool trip if you’re up for the challenge and gorgeous scenery. Lupine, Paintbrush, Columbine, Asters and butterflies too.
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