Soon I was approaching the heart of the wilderness after hiking in for a few days and sure enough the weather was changing big time. Low clouds and mist brought in some of the wet stuff and I was treated to two days of pretty wet hiking. I was glad at the kit choice.

On the third day it gradually got much colder and soon started to sleet at around 5000ft. I had only seen 2 hikers on the first day who had left me behind due to my slower pace and at about 3pm I spotted a couple sheltering under a group of trees near Indian Head Peak. The first of the 'bigger fellows'. 'Did you hear it or see it?' The guy asked me. He looked concerned and told me why. A large bolder had just rolled down the mountain in front of him straight across the path. It moved at great speed and sounded like a speeding car! I missed this by maybe 2 minutes. He asked if I was going on and I explained that I didn't fancy camping up there.......too cold and landslide danger. The weather was turning nasty.

I sped on watching the slope above me and smelled the crushed vegetation left by the rock. That was pretty scary.

Reaching a windy White Pass I spotted three young guys standing around a massive fire. They were right on the pass......probably the coldest wind chill area possible! It seemed an odd place to camp. I quickly left them and made my way along White mountain's West flank on the trail. My target of Red Rock pass was only a few miles away and that would allow me to drop down to 4000ft to a more sheltered spot....the only problem being I was now at 6500ft and it had started to snow fairly heavily with a strong crosswind.

Moving as fast as I could I then noticed the path dropping off very steeply with a good drop down. The snow was now being blasted up the mountain! I have to say I have not seen it snowing upwards before.....at least now I was near the pass.

Dropping low to avoid the blasting wind, I made it through the narrow gap of the pass.

Then suddenly on the way down in the now settling snow I nearly got blown down a small stream gully forcing another quick drop to the knees! It was a close call and made me remember to stay alert.

Near White Pass

At around 5000ft I found a nice sheltered patch of trees near to a stream so I camped in there to sit out the storm. Just in time really as I was getting wet and cold.

My sheltered camping spot at about 5000ft.

The storm passed a day later on and the next day was beautiful. Blue skies and a wonderful view of the impressive Glacier Peak looking like carved marble in the bright sunlight.

First view of Glacier Peak towering above surrounded by ice and fresh snow

Fire Creek pass at over 6000ft.......after the storm...blue skies!