North Fork Sauk River — Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

The ""plan"" was to do Glacier by way of Gerdine Ridge. In reality, the first day we made it to Red Pass. The sunset was wonderful over Sloan and the Monte Cristo peaks. There was a small patch of snow for water and a well used camp just below the pass to the west. Day 2 we went over the pass to the quirky White Chuck Cinder Cone and its surrounding lakes. This would have been a great place to camp but we had only gone a mile or so. So back to the ""old"" PCT we went, to the site of the long gone Glacier Shelter. Stopped by the stream, then to the right through Glacier Meadows proper. Up and up and soon we reached the lake between Pts. 6754 and 7587 (lake not shown on most maps). We dropped most everything and ventured on to the White Chuck Glacier. Clouds swirled about as we explored the waste and pools and streams. Skies threatned all evening. Next morning we contemplated escape routes, deciding to at least look over the saddle south of 7587, just a few hundred feet above. Finally Glacier came out to say Hi. From there we slid mostly to where a path led right(sw). After splitting up to both go the wrong way we made it to the top of the next ridge where 2 guys told us the sheepherders trail to White Pass was just down the hill (s). We took the trail toward White Pass/Mtn. over streams and through flowers with views across to Indian Head. Beyond the junction left to White Pass and by and by right for Red Pass, we were back on the North Fork Sauk trail for the long drop and haul to the trailhead. At the end of the NW contour from White Mountain we found the old sheepherders trail (right on the way down)that we will use next time more directly to Red Pass. Saw our first bear on the way to the river. Walked in the dark a while (what's new).