This was a truly spectacular adventure that's well worth the hype. We ran this loop counterclockwise in 14 hours (including an hour long break at the boat dock for a swim). Our total stats recorded were 42 miles and 10,700 feet of elevation gain.
Overall, the trail is in excellent shape right now. Blow downs weren't that bad, overgrown brush wasn't that bad, route is snow-free, there is plenty of running water all along the route, and holy cow were the wildflowers in full bloom. We saw bear scat but little to no wildlife sightings. It's summer in the North Cascades!
Some of the highlights of the day for us:
- The epic and runnable Jackita Ridge and Devil's Ridge. These stretches of trail were deserved rewards after the demanding uphill, and we were seriously impressed with how well-maintained and smooth they were.
- At the Devil's Dome summit, stuffing our water bladders with snow for a chilled electrolyte slushee treat.
- Swimming at the Rainbow Point campground! After 33 miles, this much-needed dip provided a brief reprise from the lowland heat.
Reasons why we loved this time of year:
- We avoided the heatwave for the first 75% of the day, enjoying cool morning temperatures and a great breeze on the high ridge lines. It wasn't until we descended to Ross Lake that the 90 degree temps swallowed us whole.
- Plentiful water sources meant we never had to carry too much, and always had a cool stream to dunk our hats in. Our CCW route also made water crossings safe and easy.
- Jack Mountain (and surrounding peaks) are quite beautiful with the late-season snow lingering, and I'd like to believe that the wind from these snowfields helped cool us down.
Reasons why we also see why people love waiting later in the season:
- The bugs were pretty brutal. I mostly noticed mosquitos on the trail, but back home had more bites from black flies and unidentified pests. They were worse up high than down low - probably due to the heat.
- I imagine that the fall colors and blueberries make this route worth the wait for those who prefer a fall adventure. Will have to come back again in September next time!
Comments
Thank you for the excellent trip report! I have a couple questions I hope you can answer before I head out on this trail for a solo, 4-day adventure: 1) I've read that the scree fields can get treacherous, such as along the side of Jackita Ridge. Did you find them that way? 2) I just want to double check that there is no snow anywhere on the trail? If not, I won't bother packing my microspikes. 3) You say there is plenty of water along the trail. Was it mainly creeks, patches of snow, or something else where you were able to find water? You may or may not have noticed this, but do you think there are trees along the route substantial enough to hold adequate bear hangs? Thanks again for any info you can offer!
Posted by:
CoraGG on Aug 14, 2022 12:29 PM
Hello! Easy answers! (1) I can understand why some people would call these "treacherous," but if you take your time, use trekking poles, and are careful where you step you'll be totally fine. We didn't find them awful, but a fall here would be bad. These slopes are also very short-lived and make up 0.5% of the entire trail so not worth fretting over. (2) No snow at all - leave the microspikes at home! (3) Water from creeks was always available. It's been a couple of weeks but with our snow year I'm sure the streams will be plentiful. (4) Tons of trees throughout the route and near every campsite, it will be easy to find good bear hang options. Enjoy your solo trip!!
Posted by:
rachelld on Aug 14, 2022 06:39 PM
Excellent! Thank you so much for easing my worries. I can't wait to get out there, it sounds beautiful.
Posted by:
CoraGG on Aug 14, 2022 09:35 PM