Backpack - White Pass, Blue Lake & Pilot Ridge Loop

This is a replacement to the original Entiat backpack, necessitated by the Pomas Wildfire.  The route follows the White Pass/Pilot Ridge Loop, which is described in more detail here. The plan is to complete the trip in 3 nights/4 days, with a layover day at White Pass. The total distance  of the base trip is 30 miles with 8,200’ of climbing.  The optional hikes add about 7 miles and 2,500’ of ascent.  

Day 1:  North Fork Sauk River TH to White Pass camp: 11 miles, 4,500’ ascent, 800’ descent

Day 2: Optional day hikes from White Pass Camp:  

To Portal Peak 4.5 miles roundtrip from camp, with 1,400’ of ascent and descent.  

To saddle below Marmot Knob: 4.2 miles roundtrip from camp with 1,200’ of ascent and descent.  

Day 3: White Pass camp to Blue Lake Camp: 9 miles, 2,000’ ascent, 2,100’ descent.  Optional sidetrip to Kodak Peak adds 0.8 miles 470’ of ascent and descent 

Day 4: Blue Lake Camp to North Fork Sauk River TH, 10 miles, with with 1,700’ of ascent and 5,235 of descent. Optional side trip to Johnson Peak adds 1.5 miles 650’ of ascent and descent.  

The proposed route is shown here.  

Leader permission: Leader permission is required, which you can obtain by sending an email to the leader.  When you request leader permission, please accompany your request with the answers to the questions available at this link.  You can download these questions, type in your responses below each question, save and email to me;  or copy and paste into an email and put your responses there.

Weather: I expect low overnight temperatures will be in the 30s. You should check the current weather report shortly before departure.  Rain should be expected, and you should bring a raincoat, rain pants, and pack cover and clothes that will keep you warm when wet (no cotton!). The trip is subject to change or cancellation if the predicted weather is unusually poor or there is substantial smoke or nearby fires. 

Maps:  Green Trails 111SX Mountain Loop Highway, Sloan Peak 111, Glacier Peak 112, Benchmark 144

Conditioning:  This trip requires excellent conditioning.  We will average about 2 mph on the trail, including breaks.  You should be able to climb Mt. Si with a full backpack in 3 hours or less, and be able to repeat the climb the next day.  

Full vaccination and booster are required.

Gear notes:

1. There are no reliable bear hangs in this area, so Ursack or bear canister are required. 
2. You should bring some method of water purification.
3. Bugs are certainly possible; bring bug repellent.  

Additional gear requirements listed in the trip application.

Meeting place and time:  

9:00 AM, September 2, 2025, North Fork Sauk Trailhead, which is about a 3 hour drive from Seattle.

According to WTA:  On the Mountain Loop Highway, drive 16 miles south of Darrington or 26.2 miles east of Verlot to Forest Road 49. Turn east and proceed 6.4 miles to the sign for the North Fork Sauk parking lot.

EV access:  Depending on the electric car, the trailhead will be accessible by an EV.  The trailhead is about 200 miles roundtrip from Seattle.