Meander Meadow - Dishpan Gap - Cady Ridge Loop — Friday, Jul. 7, 2017

Friday afternoon we began what was intended to be a two night loop starting with Meander Meadows via the Little Wenatchee River trail. The first four miles were nice and easy(though slightly overgrown) along the valley below Cady Ridge, followed by two intense miles of climbing, as noted in the hike description. We camped just below the trail's intersection with the PCT at one of several established sites, a few of which were still slightly snow-covered. The pit toilet at is completely destroyed at these sites. 

The next morning we set out for Lake Sally Ann, hoping to spend a few relaxing hours there before continuing on. Unfortunately the snowpack had other plans. Immediately after hopping on the southbound PCT we were met by faint footprints in deep snow along an intense grade. It took us over three hours to reach Sally Ann, a feat that would have been impossible if there had not been a group with a GPS laying footprints a ways ahead of us. Through this section there were only brief instances when we were able to see the trail at all, and had we been a bit further behind the group with the GPS it would have been impossible to continue. After hitting Sally Ann we continued another 2.5 hours in similar conditions, eventually reaching the portion of the PCT that begins descending back to the Cady Creek valley where the snow began to lighten. 

After reaching the junction of the PCT with the Cady Creek trail we decided to tough it out and make it all the way back to the car rather than spending another night. The first crossing of Cady Creek was swifter than expected (we all took off boots and crossed, the water hit about mid thigh on me, 5'6") and the second was made difficult by the fact that the snow melt had covered the trail in water making it difficult to determine where we ought to go. We were on the cusp of bushwacking our way out when we finally found it! With that final hurdle behind us we hurried back to the TH. 

Overall a beautiful trip, but one that was a lot more than any of the group expected. I cannot recommend it to anyone lacking snow navigation experience/technology, and would still use caution for a couple of weeks as the snow runoff creates unforseeable and potentially dangerous situations along the trail.