I'll have to admit it.... I have had a love affair with this trail for 25+ years. Every visit to the North Fork Trail brings a new joy - one more huge old Douglass Fir, one more darling Pika , one more PCT through hiker to meet.
We arrived at the North Fork Sauk Trailhead late Thursday afternoon. The plan was to hike up to the PCT in the cool morning at reach Glacier Peak Meadows by mid-afternoon Friday. The two of us started up Thursday night for a short 2 1/2 mile walk to Red Creek Bridge. It's a lovely spot near the river, with plenty of space for the three parties visiting that night.
Friday was the long hike up the North Fork Sauk trail to the PCT (near White Pass campground) . The trail was in excellent condition - thanks I understand, to the work of the local Forest Service trail crew. The trail was brushed out, logs cut, and tread very smooth. The switchbacks (I counted 21 turns) up to the PCT are infamous - hot and steep. One you arrive at the PCT junction, there is a lovely view of White pass, Mt Rainier, Sloan Peak, and more. There is very tasty water at the junction of N Fork Sauk and PCT.
After a break at the junction, we continued north on the PCT to Red Pass for our annual Red Pass family Photo-shoot. Glacier Peak was in clear lovely view. The hike up to Red pass is gradual but can be tiring and we took it slowly. Trail conditions also excellent! There were just a few blueberries and will be more soon.
Up beyond Red Pass the PCT drops down 1000 -or-so feet to Glacier Peak Meadow. in about 2 miles ,there are several lovely campsites. Plenty of water is available. There is even a brand new toilet courtesy of the Darrington Forest Service. We also met the trail crew from the PCTA, who were making a big difference all along the PCT several miles to the north of Red Pass.
There was fresh snow melt and that means some mosquitos - just annoying and not a problem as you are hiking.
Now for the love affair - there is no more astonishing beautiful scenery than the world of Glacier Peak Meadows. Even busy over-achieving through-hikers and GP summit climbers stopped to say - WOW. I hope we all live to see such beauty.
2 nights in the meadows and our food was finished, time to go home. One day, about 7 hours hiking to get back to the trailhead. Thank you North Fork Sauk Trail.
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