PCT Day 136: Glacier Peak Wilderness

Daily Miles: 25.0, Total Miles: 2523.0

An absolutely beautiful, memorable day. Sun shining, clear skies, nature’s colors sharp and vivid, birds chirping, marmots whistling and bees buzzing.

I headed up along Skykomish Peak and passed Lake Sally Ann to Ward Pass and then on to Kodak Peak. Beautiful views back to Mt Rainier and the Stuart Range.

I entered Glacier Peak Wilderness and traversed the north slope of Indian Head Peak on the way to White Pass.

Had lunch at White Pass while enjoying the views and drying out my tent. I then continued on to Red Pass with spectacular views of Glacier Peak.

A long descent along the base of Portal Peak crossing silty and fast flowing White Chuck River and Backos River, both with foot bridges. I set up camp just before Kennedy Creek after a total elevation gain of about 4,500 ft today.

This is wild, beautiful country that I would basically call an unstable landform and in a high state of erosion. Old and new landslides, rivers cutting deep channels and moving a lot of sediment, big rocks and logs, and avalanche chutes that make the hillsides look like ski areas on steroids.