[_fx]

I have the opportunity to get dropped off somewhere generally along Highway 2, and picked up elsewhere a few days later.

Any suggestions on how to make the most of this? Most guidebooks (obviously) focus out-and-backs or loops, and trawling my topo map is getting a bit overwhelming.

In general, I can average around 17-20 miles per day. So, looking for something around 35-70 miles.

PCT Section J was my initial thought, but I'm nervous it will be overly crowded due to Labor Day weekend. My next idea was heading towards North Fork Skykomish or Sauk, but I don't know much about the trails in-between.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[Secret Agent Man]

I don’t know how perfectly the mileage works out without doing some measuring on a map but my first thought was Stevens Pass to Chain Lakes to Frosty/Ladies passes to Icicle Ridge to Leavenworth.

[rossb]

I think I would get some maps. Green Trail maps are great for this. The Stevens Pass 176S map covers pretty much anything you would do south of Highway 2. You could start at Stevens Pass and come out at Deception Creek. To make the trip longer, there are various side trips you could make, including a lot of lollypop loops.

If you go north, a lot depends on how far someone is willing to go away from Highway 2 to pick you up. You could start and end at Stevens Pass, which means some overlap. But there would be some very nice lolly-pop loops around the Dishpan Gap area. If you want to avoid overlap, and your friend was generous, you could be dropped off on the RapidRiver Road, off the Beckler River Road. That would get you in deeper quicker. To get an idea of what I mean, I recommend a couple maps: Benchmark 144, and Mountain Loop Highway 11SX.

I think no matter what, you will do more back and forth if you go north. Either way, you can't lose (assuming the weather is nice).

[rossb]

[Bootpathguy]

Drop off Highway 2 and get picked up on Icicle River Road

Pick your path through the Chiwaukum

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Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want

[Randito]

If your are into off trail travel,  Consider heading up the Miller or perhaps the Foss and pick up Becky's Alpine Lakes High Route to get to Tank lakes then traverse over Mt Hinman descend toward Pea Soup Lake, climb to Dip Top Gap , Decend to Jade and Marmot lake , over Deception Pass tromp the road a bit, climb over Paddy Go Easy Pass and then Meadow Creek, Icicle Creek then over Windy Pass to to Eightmile Creek.  If you are really spunky you could finish by an Enchantments traverse, but that would require a very long final day to avoid camping in the Enchantments overnight permit zone.

[timberghost]

That's a bad idea. Where did you end up going?

[Randito]

[asdf]

I have planned a few one-ways using a combination of:

• A large fold-out topo of the Alpine Lakes area, not sure of the scale, but it's useful for a general overview
  
• Laptop with caltopo open
  
• Coupla Green Trails maps
  

[InFlight]

For a trail less traveled...

You could do partial section of the Pacific Northwest Trail
Multiple Access points around Lyman, Hamilton, or Concrete on Highway 2.

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“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...”  ― Henry David Thoreau

[Gil]

Up the Necklace Valley, over La Bohn Gap, down to Williams Lake, down the Middle Fork, a visit to Goldmeyer Hot Springs, up the old Rock Creek trail to Snow Lake, and out to Alpental. Not many people have done that.

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Friends help the miles go easier.
Klahini

[Foist]

Is your ride willing to take you on a long dirt road off Route 2?  Or must the drop off be right on a highway?  Since you're considering Section J, I assume getting picked up along a different highway at the end is OK.
Assuming a dirt road is OK, I would get dropped off at the Little Giant or Spider Meadows trailhead  and go around the east and north sides of Glacier Peak to the Suiattle River, Lost Creek Ridge or NF Sauk trailheads, depending on how many days "a few" is.  Although be aware that the Lost Creek Ridge ending option would require some route-finding and finding a log crossing around the White Chuck.

[canadug]

Check out naturalatlas.com

It has most trails on it.

I would absolutely avoid the PCT.....It is pretty well a gong show....Especially on long weekends or most anytime during the summer months.

[Randito]

[Carbonj]

Agree with Randito, great loop, many lakes to swim and some great peaks to climb.