Seattle MAC - Backpacking Trip - North Fork Bridge Creek

Will depart from Pearrygin Lakes State Park 7/18 morning. Dick Lambe will meet everyone at the Bridge Creek Trail Head @ 10:00am. 

Backpack from the North Cascades Highway on the Pacific Crest Trail along Bridge Creek to North Fork Group Camp, and then day hike up magnificent North Fork Bridge Creek to the trail-end cirque.

The trail up North Fork Bridge Creek is described in Manning, 101 Hikes in the North Cascades:  "The North Cascades are distinguished by tall peaks - and also by deep holes. Among the most magnificent holes in the range is the huge cirque at the head of North Fork Bridge Creek, where breezes ripple meadow grasses beneath the ice-hung precipices of 9160-foot Goode Mountain, 8518-foot Storm King Peak, and 9807-foot Mt. Logan."

Our group campsite has a bear wire and pit toilet, and is described in Lorain's Backpacking Washington book:  "This choice spot sits on a bench just above the confluence of Bridge Creek and North Fork Bridge Creek, both beautiful clear streams."

Tentative plan:

Day 1: Hike from Bridge Creek trailhead southwest along Bridge Creek Trail (Pacific Crest Trail), approximately 10 miles, ascent 950 feet.

Day 2:  Day hike up North Fork Bridge Creek to the end of trail in the cirque below Goode Peak, Storm King Peak, and Mt. Logan, before returning to camp.  Up to 13 miles round trip, ascent 2,100 feet.

Day 3:  Hike back to Bridge Creek Trailhead.  Approximately 10 miles, ascent 2,900 feet.

Leader permission is required, which you can obtain by sending an email to the leader.

I expect low overnight temperatures will be in the 30s. You should check the current weather report shortly before departure: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=48.5075068116&textField2=-120.731163025#.XMEOlehKhpg

Since this is a North Cascades trip, rain should be expected, and you should bring a raincoat, rain pants or rain skirt, 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.

Maps:  Green Trails Mount Logan # 49 and McGregor Mountain #81.  Caltopo of our proposed route: https://caltopo.com/m/TF49

Guide Books:  Backpacking Washington (Lorain) (Wilderness Press) Trip 8; 101 Hikes in the North Cascades (Spring and Manning) (Mountaineers Press) Trip 79.

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 on the next day.

Other gear notes:

1. Bear canisters are not required.  We will hang our food from the provided bear wire.  I plan to bring my Ursack.
2. You should bring some method of water purification.  

3. Bugs are certainly possible; bring bug repellant.

4. To reduce pack weight, you should consider sharing gear, especially stoves, cooking pots, water filters, and tents. About 1 week before the trip, I will send an Email to all. If you are interested in sharing any items, Reply All to this Email, describing gear you would like to provide for sharing or if you are interested in sharing another’s gear. Sharers should make arrangements directly with any interested people.

Permit Reservation