North Fork Sauk River — Friday, Jul. 11, 2003

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

The North Fork Sauk Trail (#649) is my favorite way of accessing the Glacier Peak area early in the season (early to mid july) because the upper reaches of the trail where snow would normally be found at this time are on south facing slopes and melt out earlier than other high trails. This trail gets you to camp at Glacier Peak Meadows quicker than the Kennedy Hot Springs route and with more travel through high flower filled meadows with great views. Green Trails maps - #111 and 112). Elevation gain approx 4300'. Distance from Sloan Creek Campground to Glacier Peak Meadow camp - approx 11 miles. Starting at Sloan Creek Campground the trail wends its way through very nice old growth forest for 5 miles along the N. Sauk gaining very little altitude. But soon after Mackinaw Shelter the trail ascends steeply for the next 2 miles though slopes opened to the sun by an avalance which ocurred a couple of years ago. Hot travel in this section. Be prepared. At seven miles the trail levels out high on the valley wall and continues east to the Pacific Crest Trail. This last 1 mile walk along trail cut into 45 degree meadows full of flowers and unobstructed views is my favorite section of this trail. At the Junction of the PCT you have a marvelous choice: either head south to White Pass or North to Red Pass and Glacier Peak Meadows. I chose to head over Red Pass to Glac Pk meadows - a basin under Glacier Peak. This basin is a wondrous place - the head waters of the White Chuck River with the canyon of the White Chuck glacier a short hike from the basin and a cinder cone right next to the trail just above the main camping area. When I arrived the upper reaches were still snow covered (northern exposure-more sheltered from sun than the south side of Red Pass) but had begun melting out. 1 mile north of Red Pass all snow is gone and many camp sites are open. In mid to late summer when the whole basin is melted out it is hard to find an unoccupied camp site here on weekends but this early in the season I encountered only one other party in the whole basin. I had my pick of camps. One risk of coming this early is that the weather is not so dependably dry as in August. It did rain most of the night I came but in spite of the clouds I did catch a few misty glimpses of Glacier Peak so close above this incredible basin. Come now and beat the rush! Bon Voyage!