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conrad74
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 1:07 pm 
I am looking for any suggestions for a 7-9 day backpacking trip in Washington State besides the Wonderland Trail and the Olympic National Park. Nothing against the ONP, I love it, just have spent most of my time there. Looking to do this trip during the first 2 weeks of August. Any suggestions?

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 1:37 pm 
Around Glacier Peak. Like the Wonderland Trail, only better, and no red tape/permits/quotas to deal with. Some sections a bit rough, some overgrown or abandoned trails in a few sections.

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 1:39 pm 
Are you looking for a loop, or are traverses okay? 7-9 days would allow for a decent portion of the PCT in Washington.

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conrad74
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 1:41 pm 
Thank you for your suggestions. Prefer a loop but understand that limits the options so open to traverses as well.

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Navy salad
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 1:52 pm 
Another sort of obvious, but in my opinion excellent choice is Section J of the PCT, although depending on your speed, could be a smidge too short for you. Lots of trip reports for it. Easy to drop off a car ahead of time at Stevens Pass to have it waiting for you when you arrive.

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Washakie
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 2:08 pm 
The Pasayten. Long drive from the west, but worth it.

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 2:15 pm 
There's also around Mt. Adams. Some of it crosses Yakama Nation land and requires permission from the tribe to cross. Not sure how much of this route is x-country, probably at least a little bit. Not sure of mileage either, might be a bit short for 7-9 days. Boundary Trail? Not sure on specifics of that either. Previous poster did mention Pasayten. According to WTA this is 80 miles 1 way, that could definitely work. I think sections of this require route finding skills.

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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 7:22 pm 
Washakie wrote:
The Pasayten. Long drive from the west, but worth it.
This. You can wander for days. It's lovely, but so different from Western WA and ONP.

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 7:38 pm 
Thought about this a bit more. I did a great 4 day loop (well not quite a complete loop--4 miles between trailheads) that could easily be expanded by several more days. Of course it is completely dependent on there still being a good log jam crossing over the White Chuck River below Lake Byrne, and I can't verify if it is still there. Anyway, the basic loop I did was Lost Creek Ridge, cross the White Chuck, connect to PCT, southbound to Blue Lake High Route and then Pilot Ridge to NF Sauk and out to the other trailhead. From this you could go north from the junction w/ the PCT for an out and back to Fire Creek Pass and Mica Lake. Before you headed over to Blue Lake you could do out and back further south on the PCT, however far you felt like going before turning around. Or you could leave the PCT and hook up w/ Benchmark Mountain/West Cady Ridge trail out to it's trailhead and then use NF Skykomish or Quartz Creek to loop back up to Blue Lake area. Those various extensions/side trips would definitely add some more days to your trip.

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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 8:10 pm 
http://www.williswall.com/willis-wall-blog/2014/8/31/8-days-in-the-pasayten-wilderness-aug2014.html Snoqualmie Pass->Old Cascade Crest trail to Dutch Miller Gap->PCT to Hyas Lake trailhead -> road walk to Sprite Lake trail -> Over Paddy go easy pass to Meadow creek and down to Jack Creek -> Jack creek over Stuart Pass and down Ingalls Creek to Beverly-Turnpike -> Up BT to Iron Peak trail and the west to Deroux Creek trail -> Big Boulder Trail -> Paris Creek trail -> South Paris Creek trail -> Jolly Mtn Trail -> Pollalie Ridge trail -> Waptus Burn Trail -> PCT to Snoqualmie Pass.

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williswall
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 8:56 pm 
olderthanIusedtobe wrote:
There's also around Mt. Adams. Some of it crosses Yakama Nation land and requires permission from the tribe to cross. Not sure how much of this route is x-country, probably at least a little bit. Not sure of mileage either....
This is not a trip for the unprepared, the cross country section is 5 miles of wildness and multiple river crossings requiring navigation skills and confidence. You do not need a permit to cross the section as long as you don't camp there. A much better choice would be the Timberline trail around Hood. A few hours of research of the trip reports on this site (with a little help from the search function) would perhaps benefit the OP.

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 9:30 pm 
williswall wrote:
This is not a trip for the unprepared, the cross country section is 5 miles of wildness and multiple river crossings requiring navigation skills and confidence. You do not need a permit to cross the section as long as you don't camp there. A much better choice would be the Timberline trail around Hood. A few hours of research of the trip reports on this site (with a little help from the search function) would perhaps benefit the OP.
Thanks for the heads up. I was throwing some ideas out without being very familiar with them. Timberline Trail would be cool but at about only 40 miles it's not nearly long enough for the 7-9 day trip parameter.

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Nancyann
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 10:01 pm 
We did a nice loop a couple of August’s ago using the Bald Eagle Mountain Trail beginning at the Cadet Creek trailhead and exiting at the North Fork Sauk which is about three miles away. It would be easy to stash a bike to connect the two. We were out five days and didn’t have time to climb Kodak Peak, Indian Head and White Mountain, so you could do those if you had more days. The scenery between these two trailheads is wonderful if you time it during wildflower season. Same for looping around the PCT in the Pasayten and also, the Boundary Trail starting at Iron Gate, which we did last year in late July using two cars. Wonderful opportunity for high lonesome walking and visiting pretty lakes tucked away in the hills. For any loop trip using N. Fork Sky, West Cady Ridge and Quartz Creek, don’t forget to factor in the 4+ mile roadwalk due to the washout.

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BigBrunyon
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 10:19 pm 
Ya got ta get out and rip up the trails! Hell yeah!

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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSat Apr 20, 2019 10:19 pm 
Nancyann wrote:
For any loop trip using N. Fork Sky, West Cady Ridge and Quartz Creek, don’t forget to factor in the 4+ mile roadwalk due to the washout.
Good point, the way I suggested using those would skip the road walking because you'd be coming from the opposite side.

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