Indian Pass Detour

imported
#1

Is the detour at Indian Pass in Washington still necessary, or has the crossing on the main PCT been fixed? Thanks for any info on this area.

Bacall

#2

Still offically detoured.

However… last year, us '06-ers received great beta from Scott Williamson regarding a massive log over the Suiattle River. Given how that log was situated, I wouldn’t bet that it would still be there, but another might have taken its place. The remainder of the trail on the detour route was quite passable, although a bit rough and brushy in places. There was also some seriously washed out switchbacks which required a little class 3 scrambling to pick your way through. All in all, the original route is very worth the effort.

Token Civilian

#3

Considering that last November most of the Washington Cascades and Olympics and the northern Oregon Cascades had floods that made those of 2003 look rather mild, it’s just as well that nothing was fixed–if it had, it would be gone. Any descriptions of the old route by those who did it last year are definitely out of date. If you want to try to follow the old route, you’re on your own. Considering that the trail budget for the entire Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for next fiscal year is $15,000, don’t count on anything getting fixed any time soon. There is no access to trailheads on the west side of the Glacier Peak Wilderness because the roads washed out. The roads will have to be fixed (which won’t happen any time soon for budgetary reasons) before any materials or crews can be hauled in to fix trails. It will be early July before anyone can check the damage at higher altitudes–too much snow yet. This will be an interesting year for hikers from Mt. Jefferson north.

grannyhiker

#4

I Agree with everyone above, the original PCT was very worth the extra effort, regardless of damage, as it may well be worth doing this year as well.

I was out there later then anyone this year and I can tell you the damage was happening under my feet. The already washed out trails and “Climb up here” switchbacks will almost for certian be even more washed out…without question actually.

If you can handle the terrian and find your way across that river…amoung three or four more as well, as the Giant Log will probably be long gone as it was held by a very very very small and bouncy rock, then you will enjoy it, but you will do some route finding…a little but still, you will have to .

Lion King

#5

Lion King, I looked at your journal, and you certainly were out in the middle of that November storm! Wow! And here I was feeling sorry for myself for having to get out in the downpour with a ladder to unclog roof gutters! I’m glad you got through all those hair-raising adventures!

I would say that those with excellent scrambling and cross-country route-finding skills might get along just fine on the original route. It may not be any worse than the damaged spots on other parts of the trail (such as Milk Creek on Mt. Jefferson, if that doesn’t get fixed). Just don’t count on what last year’s hikers found, because the landscape has been considerably rearranged. If you don’t have those skills, I’d stick to the detour. The Napeequa Valley is an awesome place, so it isn’t as though you’ll be missing all the North Cascades scenery. The view of Glacier Peak from Buck Creek Pass (one of my favorite places in the North Cascades) is another high point of the detour.

With not much USFS budget, most of the trail-fixing will be done by volunteers. Yours truly will be one of them. I hope that at some point you’ll do your bit in helping out!

I’m hoping that the PCT on the west and north sides of Glacier Peak will get fixed before I’m too decrepit to hike around Glacier Peak, but with current
Forest Service budgets as they are (more money to hire timber-sale experts but no money for trails), I’m not holding my breath!

grannyhiker