[pct-l] Recently Hiked Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass, but not the Glacier Pk Detour

[Dan Larson]

For anyone interested, here are some up-to-date trail conditions near
Glacier Peak:

I just got back from the Stevens to Rainy Pass section and highly recommend
the non-detour, traditional PCT route. The Forest Service has
recently maintained the trail to Kennedy Creek and the trail is good going
north until a couple of washouts near Milk Creek.

Going north toward Milk Creek, you can bypass these washouts by bushwhacking
steeply down about 50 feet before reaching the washout (go right, north,
from the trail as it heads west). This occurs twice and should be pretty
clear when you get there. Coming from the north, you just need to know to go
up about 50 feet (left or south from the trail) at each of the two washouts.

As for the creeks, Milk Creek had two logs side by side, as did Chocolate
(?) Creek, near Suiattle River. The Suiattle has one big log across it,
which you can choose to walk, butt scoot, razor scoot or whatever.

The big obstacles to the Milk Creek to Suiattle River section are the nearly
imperceptible trail in the brushy switchback sections and the horrible blow
downs as you get toward the Chocolate Creek. Some of these logs are the
height of a bus and require more of a rock climbing approach vs a simple hop
over.

If you have questions, feel free to email me or check out my blog
http://traildan.blogspot.com

I haven't posted about this latest hike but will by the end of this weekend.

Enjoy your hiking!

Dan L., aka Traildan