South Fork Cascade River — Friday, Jul. 19, 2024

Update:  As of 9PM July 19, Cascade River Road is closed at Marble Creek due to the Pincer 2 Fire, started July 18th.  I was through here at 6PM with no hoopla, they will have to let the campers farther up straggle out. 

"...extends about 3 mi. near the river, then the route follows the U.S.G.S. trail in this magnificent wild valley.  The trail climbs steeply at about 4 mii. to detour Box Canyon, open timber (4600') is found near the outlet of Berry Patch Creek's basin.  A grade climbs to Mertensia Pass (4940'+) - meadow camping.  Continue upslope in open forest to Salix Creek and the old lateral moraine at 5200 ft. (est. 8 mi. from road).  The streamflow gaging station below the lake is government property."
                     
                    Cascade Alpine Guide   1977

Took this out to the brush-view rock, above Box Canyon, maybe 6 miles (road walk adds a little under 2 miles to the distances in the CAG).    USGS map   Someone since I last visited has cut out all the logs - really big ones, too.  A few are cut like a tunnel, imagine how hard that was on their arms!  At one point I had to backtrack a quarter mile to retrieve the rake I forgot after tying my shoe.

Trail is there the whole way, nice in places and very brushy in others. Over your head.  And the prickliest, stingiest stuff.  Some of it went right thorough my pants, my unprotected hands.  Too brushy for even the ticks!

Just before the rock you'll notice a lower trail R blocked with sticks, this is the one I found the first time I was here, and I believe to be the original.  Only half-ass looked for it today, but with the pile of sticks it can't be missed.  Turns out Porcupine Woman piled the sticks, her Report from a couple years ago describes this area in detail.  They made it a little farther from the rock, trail finding can be easier with 2 people.  These guys made it through, 1 way downhill.

I had my overnight gear and would have camped and looked another day, but the nearest possible camp was over an hour back.  A small creek is crossed a few minutes before the lost bit, but no flat places to lay.  5 hours in, 4 out.  I added a few flags, raked a bit.  More than anything it needs more feet on to beat down the soft stuff.  I will figure this out!

I did more research writing this Report than I did preparing for the hike, time to go back!  If anyone is interested I would do this again next Wednesday, create a campsite near the stream (or use camp near rock from PW's Report), work on the trail for a few days.  Forecast cooler temps will be nice.  Comment below, or I may go somewhere else.