North Fork Sauk River, White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024

Hiked the Pilot Ridge Loop over three days, beginning at the North Fork Sauk trailhead. The road is quite rough with many big potholes and a small rocky section so a car with some clearance is best. No issue in a Forester, just slow going.

Trail is in great shape and very smooth until the climb up to White Pass. Some small rocky areas but overall great. Several small streams flowing along the way and ripe berries everywhere. No water on trail from the PCT junction to Red Pass. Very cloudy and damp this day at the pass with times of sun in the evening.

The next day continued down the PCT above the clouds in the higher portions and down into deep fog through Indian Pass, then back out near Kodak Peak. There is water in places through this section to Dishpan Gap but very small slow flowing streams. Continued over the high trail to Blue Lake which was fully socked in except for a few hours in the evening. Some mosquitoes but nothing bad.

Made the side trip to Johnson Mountain which was unfortunately fully enveloped in clouds. Trail was in good shape though. Then a long cloudy walk out Pilot Ridge. Rougher trail than the PCT but in good shape. No water between Blue Lake and a small source as the trail drops down into the Sauk river valley again at 4700 ft. Great log to cross the river.