North Fork Skykomish River, West Cady Ridge to Benchmark Mountain & Dishpan Gap — Sunday, Sep. 4, 2005

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

Set off on the West Cady Ridge trail at 6am, a bit before sunrise. 5 other cars and a horse trailer in the lot. The hiking up the forested ridge was nice in the pre-dawn cool mist, everything black and white. Had to dodge horse apples a few times. Reached point 5375 around 8am and enjoyed watching the sun lance rays through the frosty firs and burn off the mist around Monte Cristo and surrounding peaks. A pretty section of trail, with views down west Cady Creek and to southern peaks including Rainier. Passed the horse camp on slopes of Benchmark. Near the junction with the PCT met first hiker, heading the way I had came, who had spent a chilly, rainy night huddled under a tarp. Reached PCT at 9am, and hustled down to where it meets Pass Creek trail. Cady Pass at 9:35am. Through this section squirrels were chewing off heavy fir cones that dropped with loud thumps. Reached ridge crest heading north towards Skykomish Peak. Berries ripe and good, bushes red and lighting up all the surrounding ridges. Plenty of bees, too. What views! Met four other overnighters who also reported a chilly and rainy night. While trail was contouring point 5642 took time to watch two ravens sport in the drafts. One was making extraordinary sounds I've never heard in a raven. Hard to describe but something like a cowbell being struck rapidly, a ringing tapping noise. Reached Lake Sally Ann around 11:20am, a few campers leaving there. Approaching Dishpan gap, a military jet was just glimpsed racing under the ridges and peaks to the north; up Indian Creek or the Sauk as far as I could tell. Reached Dishpan at 12:10. Briefly considered and rejected idea of a side trip to Sauk Gap, as inviting as those meadows appeared. Instead, headed down N Fork Skykomish trail. Appeared freshly maintained in parts approaching Dishpan Gap, and at other points downstream. Very nice campsite in basin approaching Dishpan, and another about a mile farther downstream. A flat, even trail for the most part, through open woodland initially and then deeper forests towards the end. Multiple empty creek crossings in this dry season. Reached Pass Creek trail junction at 2:55pm, road at 3:30. Road section is initially tame but as it approaches 63 I can see why it is closed. Back to car at 4pm for a total of 23-24 miles in 10 hours. Pictures of PCT looking north towards Cady Ridge and Sauk Pass from Dishpan Gap.