[pct-l] loops in Glacier Peak area

[bill mckinley <billmckinley@seanet.com>]

"H. Paul Jacobson" <hpj3@u.washington.edu> wrote:
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>If anyone has recommendations for a 3-5 day loop trip that includes the PCT
>near Glacier Peak, I'd love to receive them.  I'm toying with a family
>backpacking trip in mid August.  One loop that has caught my attention is
>up Milk Creek, over Vista Ridge on the PCT, and down the Suiattle.

If you do the loop mentioned above, don't hike straight out the Suiattle
River valley!  You owe it to yourself to take the Miner's Ridge trail up 
to Image Lake (stay the night).  You'll get a better view of the glacier 
clad north side of Glacier Peak from Miner's Ridge than you can get from 
anywhere else on the loop.  You won't see any of this if you stick to 
the Suiattle River Valley.  The Miner's Ridge side trip will add another 
day to the loop.

Another possible loop in the Glacier Peak area is:

Lost Creek Ridge -> Lake Byrne -> Kennedy Hot Springs -> Glacier Peak Meadows 
-> Red Pass -> White Pass -> Blue Lakes -> Pilot Ridge.

The loop above ends up at Sloan Creek campground about 3 miles from where you 
start.  The trip outlined is 45 miles but you could maybe cut it down
to 30 miles by going down the North Fork of the Sauk trail just before you
get to White Pass.  You still end up at Sloan Creek campground.

There are many possible loops in this area which include parts of the grand loop mentioned above.
Just studying the possibilities is half the fun!

Bill McKinley 

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