North Fork Sauk River, White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Friday, Jul. 18, 2014

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Got a late start on Friday afternoon backpacking from the North Fork Sauk TH up to White Pass. Total travel time was about 5 1/2 hours. The trail is in good shape overall. A couple of sections along the Sauk wind through dense brush encroaching upon but not obstructing the trail. Snow is not an issue at all west of White Pass, but snowfields are intermittent south along the PCT from White Pass and more so north of Red Pass in the other direction. Due to rain, fog, and snow on the ground I did not travel farther than Red Pass to the North or more than a mile south of White Pass along the PCT. All of the campsites at White Pass are snow free. Plenty of beautiful wildflowers and robust marmots.