There is more fun to be had on this hike when it's done in the rain! Stomp thru the mud, then splash thru the puddles, try and splash your hiking partner (wait, maybe not, if they have the car keys). Then shuffle thru the big maple leaves and hug the big old growth trees. The trail is in great shape wide and well built, but this IS the Cascades, expect water, lots of water on the trail. We hiked about 4 miles in, to a nice sturdy bridge, but I don't think it is the one over Red Creek,as the creek was pretty puny. There were no real issues at all. The road going in is good, although there is a stream crossing the trail about a quarter of a mile away from the TH, so if it is too deep for you to safely drive over it with your car, just park and walk the rest of the way. We found the loo unlocked, with plenty of TP. Although we hiked in steady rain, the windstorm had not hit (yet). Of course, we saw no one until we passed 3 trucks going in as we were driving out. We got an early start and were back home in Everett by 4.

1.5 day backpacking trip. From the North Fork Sauk river trail to the 8.4 mile, 5,800 ft junction with PCT. North on the PCT to Kennedy Creek (17.8 miles total), and back. Trail is clear and easily traveled to the junction with the PCT. Very minor snow patches nearing the upper end of the N fork Sauk trail. Plenty of water on the trail, even 1/3 of the way and 2/3 of the way up the climb between Mackinaw Shelter and junction with PCT. No need to crawl into the ravine when you hear water (as I did), it crosses the trail a bit higher up. As you turn the corner towards Red Pass, there is some solid snow. Microspikes or crampons recommended if early in the day. Once you enter Glacier Peak Meadows (just past red pass), there is up to 4' of snow. I entered around 11:30 AM, and sank in about 1.5'. There were day-old tracks that sunk in about 3'. By now I suppose it has snowed there again, and snowshoes or skis could be needed. If it snows while you are there it would be quite difficult to exit without snow travel gear. The huckleberries in Glacier Peak Meadows are still abundant and edible, though a bit past their prime. Spectacular views and easy hiking (once you leave the snow behind) from Glacier Meadows down to the robust bridge over White Chuck River. The only blow downs which require a bit of agility to negotiate are on the last bit of the northbound approach to Kennedy Creek. There are also a couple of muddy mires as you approach Kennedy Creek. Turned around at Kennedy Creek, and camped near White Chuck River, for a 22 mile day. As soon as I got on the trail the next morning (3AM), a porcupine was southbound on the trail. He obligingly climbed a tree and let us pass. Got some rubber legs climbing from the White Chuck at 4,200 ft to Red Pass (6,500'), and had to rest a few times traversing Glacier Peak Meadows. However my plan to cross back through before the sun hit the snow worked, an I easily traveled over the snow crust with microspikes, arriving back at Red Pass at 7AM, with dry feet. Happy to see my truck when we arrived at the parking lot at 1:30 PM, and bonus it was not even broken into by the thieves which frequent this area. Saw some hunters in the parking lot, but no one else the entire trip.

Trail run up to White Pass and White Mountain. Great old growth forest and mushrooms in first 6 miles, brushed out climb through avalanche slopes, blueberries all the way to PCT, marmots,ravens, and hawks to summit. Lots of springs provide water on upper slopes to PCT and White Pass. About 3 hours to summit, 2:15 back to car. High-Hunting season has started, be aware.

This is an easy road to drive to trailhead. Its in good condition. We hit the trail at 0900. Its a hour to turnoff to Pilot Ridge trail. Great log to walk across the creek. No handrails, but level and wide. The trail is in good shape but relentless in climbing for about five miles to end of the ridge. On the way up, the last water is one stream at around 4 miles and a small seepage right after it...top off. Its dry till Blue Lake at almost another 7 miles. This is a great ridge hike with some great views of Sloan, Monte Cristo range along with a slew of peaks to the south. We were too late for flowers but the day was filtered sun with a nice breeze...ie few bugs.The hike took 10 hours to get to Blue Lake. We made camp at end of the lake...too tired to hike up to the balcony on the High Blue Lake trail...next time. On Friday, hiked up the High trail, 45 minutes up...super view..great spot for one tent. The mist was pouring up the east slope as we descended down a well built steep trail. Then it was off to join the PCT and go north along the ridges and passes to end up at High Pass. The views and meadows were great...again aided by an overcast, breezy day. There are 3-4 seepages/creeklets on NE side of Kodak Peak. There is also good water at Reflection Pond. It was a 10 mile hike in about 7 hours to White Pass. Several good campsites below the pass with small creeklet. We setup tent and then tookoff to check out Red Pass...great hike on a high ridge overlooking the valley of the North Sauk. Red Pass is great sidetrip because of view into upper Whitechuck valley, glaciers and Glacier Peak. Then on the way back, we did a quick side trip to Foam Basin....would really like to see that earlier in year with the flowers and waterfalls...again next time. The next day, on the trail at 0600, five hours later at the car....not before a grand walk thru the N Fork Sauk valley with a lot of very mature, large cedars/firs. Ideally this trip should be a four day trip to allow more time for some exploring,etc...probably earlier in August for max flowers or later for some Fall foliage. But no regrets, this is a great ridge backpacking tour of Glacier Peak area.

Been conditioning myself for this since spring to do the loop in one day. Started out from the North Fork Sauk Trailhead at 6:00am. Parking lot was full, but saw very few hikers on the trail. Took the Pilot Ridge Trail which required an easy ford across the Sauk(There was a large wide blowdown across the river). I took this route because it is less exposed and get the major elevation gain done early, not knowing how many elevation gains and losses there were going to be on this hike. The Pilot Ridge trail has not been cleared, but the blowdowns were easy to get around and after breaking out of the trees on the ridgeline there were some brushy areas when it entered the trees again. After an elevation loss and gain on the ridge the trail breaks out into some spectacular meadows with awesome views and some of the first great views of Glacier Peak. I passed the trail For Johnson Mountain and dropped down to Blue Lake. There was a junction for Bald Eagle Mountain and I took the left to the Lake. After thinking most of the climbing was done, there was a bear of a climb from Blue Lake to a ridgeline where I stopped and took in the views, hydrated myself, and ate something. The trail then dropped down to Dishpan Gap and where I joined the PCT and headed to White Pass. After the scramble up from Blue Lake the elevation gains and losses on the PCT were not bad and the outstanding views didn't make me notice. Beautiful section of the PCT, was hard to put the camera down and words cannot describe it. Reached the junction with the Sauk, and the forest walk when I reached the river was a welcome relief after such a long hike. I heard a lot of bugs on this hike, but they were not a problem and I didn't even use bug juice. I think the cool wind at the higher elevations kept them at bay. The forest service website says this is a 26 mile loop, but speaking to some other hikers and my own calculations it was more like 30. Did not get back to the car until 7:00pm. A long and awesome hike.