Blog version (disclaimers)

Access: North Fork Sauk Trailhead
Round Trip: 43 miles
Elevation Range: 2080′-7850′
Gear: helmet, crampons, ice ax
Dog-Friendly: with guidance

Route

1. Hike the North Fork Sauk Trail through PCT to White Pass.
2. Continue to White Chuck Glacier Basin and Suiattle Glacier to the 7800' camp by the south notch of Gorgeous Day Peak.
3. Traverse Honeycomb Glacier to the east edge at 6000' around the north ridges of Tenpeak Mountain to Moth Lake.
4. Climb Hoof Peak and return to the glacier to 7100'.
5. Climb Kopeetah Divide and return to camp to exit.

Highlights

• Expansive White Chuck Glacier, Suiattle Glacier, and Honeycomb Glacier
• All visible things in the Glacier Peak Wilderness
• Sunshine and solitude

Lowlights

• Warm temperatures
• Extensive snow travel

May 29, 2023

I'm dropping a quick note for those perhaps looking to explore the place and climb the peak. Our weekend's goals required us to go through the well-known area. I will update the report with actual destinations later.

ROAD 49 TO TRAILHEAD

• Mountain Loop Highway between Barlow Pass and Bedal Campground is closed. Since Road 49 is north of the closure, all traffic must enter via Darrington, WA. That meant extra driving if coming from south of Granite Falls. Google Maps reroutes automatically.
  
• There were more potholes than I remembered; two places that looked like significant washouts at one point were passable in a small car.
• Many parties started the three-day weekend early. I pulled into a packed lot at 6 AM on Saturday, but I believe more spots were available past the trailhead. I didn't check and parked in the single-vehicle pullout 100 feet before the trailhead.

LOWER TRAIL

• There were only a handful of not-yet-blood-thirsty mosquitoes past the trailhead; then it was insect-free out and back.
• A handful of down trees en route, including a couple that required walking over the trunks.
• A mainly flat trail to Mackinaw Shelter at mile 5.25, gaining 900'. The path shot straight up the hillside past the shelter, going through under two dozen switchbacks.
• No water until above the trees. The switchbacks by the ravine could provide access to water by diving into the dense vegetation.
• Snow appeared at 4500', then it was continuous from the edge of the avalanche gully to the last bend before the path went up toward White Pass.
• On the way back on day three, it was mainly dry below 5000'; snow melted incredibly fast in two days.

UPPER TRAIL

• The first few patches over the trail were with less exposure. As the trail climbed through the broad avalanche gully, the exposure increased.
• Three patches before the initial full view of White Pass were pretty airy. I noticed spike marks on the uphill side; glad people used ice axes! Some parts were slick due to the slush; proceed with caution.
• The closer to White Pass, the steeper the boot tracks; the incline lessened right before the pass.
• The Pacific Crest Trail junction at 6000' was still covered in snow, a tad early for the first thru-hikers.

WHITE PASS TO MARMOT KNOB (6770')

• Summer trail (when visible) bypasses the knob to the north before dropping into White Chuck Glacier Basin over the pass.
• We took the saddle west of the high point in the snow and descended steep terrain into the basin.

WHITE CHUCK GLACIER BASIN

• As we made a beeline for the upper basin past 6600', the slew of skiers caught up now that they were on skis from White Pass. Where were all the on-foot climbers???
• One tent perched by the knob at the lower edge of the upper basin, and more would show up as many ski groups scattered throughout the flat area.
• We didn't linger long before taking the off-shoot gully toward Kololo Peaks. We stayed between Suiattle Glacier and Honeycomb Glacier for the next two nights. I highly recommend the spot for those climbing nearby peaks.

GLACIER PEAK

• Judging by the number of tracks on day three, many people visited the basin later on Saturday after we continued to camp. 
• Nearly all parties had left before we descended from Suiattle Glacier mid-morning Monday. After their Glacier Peak climb, we met two guys en route back to White Pass.

Highlights

• Three bluebird days despite possible thunderstorms in the forecast.
• Despite the number of climbers we saw on day one, the basin was eerily quiet.

Lowlights

• A warm three-day weekend, indeed!

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://onehikeaweek.com/hoof-peak/