Pasayten Wilderness

check this website out    http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka/recreation/tontrail.shtml  it is a great way to check where snow is on some of the trail in the area your hiking in...

More to follow

I read somewhere that Horseshoe basin is accessable in June.  I hoping, with the low sonowpack this year, that this will be the case.  Want to attempt it sometime in June.  The earlier, the better.  My plan, it it is possible, would be to start at trail 510A/510, connect with 360, 342, and 533 to reach Horseshoe basin.  then, continue east on 533 and reconnect with trail 510 either via 534 or 565.  I know it's a stretch, but it seems possible this year.

I live in N. Idaho, I'm planning on taking a meetup group from this area. 

I also find two more book that also cover a little bit about this area, 100 classic hikes in Washington, and Trekking Washington (Backpacker mag published this book).  The all have different start months the very earliest was June at Iron Gate, and late july/early august for area above 7000 ft.  which most of the 533 trail is.  What trails will you be hiking on, the map I have is National Geographic's North Cascades.  The :Pacific Northwest Trails book has a lot of info starting in the west coast of the Olympics going east as far as the Continental Divide trail in northern Montana.

Are you still taking extra hikers on your trip......  What area do you live?

I live in Oregon in the small town of Saint Helens.....

Greg

Thanks!  Do either of them give any info on how early the trail opens?  Mileage?

I seen your post and hope that this may help... as far as books there is WOW guides North Cascades and Horseshoe Basin is hike # 41. Next Book is The Pacific Northwest Trail Guide by Ron Strickland (Chap 6., The Pasayten).  It cover this area also and gives some history of old forest fires (1920's)., ect...  Let me know if you need anymore information.

Greg

There is probably a Pasayten hiking guide, or it could be grouped in with a North Cascades book. According to my "Exploring Washington's Wild Areas" book, "Eastern trails are generally snow-free by early July; high trails in the west often don't melt out until early August" It's great that your taking a group out...keep me posted on it. I definitely don't mind more people using and contributing to the website, refer as many as you want. I am still working to get the site to a critical mass, where there is always activity going on, so every referral helps with that goal.

Forest, There doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on the area. I may have to add another hiking book to my library. I'm assuming there is a Pasayten Wilderness hiking guide. I'm pretty good at sniffing out early season trails when I get the backpacking itch early. I am planning on leading a small group from a local backpacking group if everything falls into place. I can contact you when I have the details. You may be able to join us, if you feel inclined. There are usually a few new people on each trip. Also, I was going to refer the members to this site if you don't mind. You may get flooded with activity and new trail submissions for eastern washington and Idaho. There are about 150 of them, but few are avid backpackers or regularly active.

This post will offer no good information... but your plan does seem reasonable,and I'm glad you pointed it out, I'll have to start planning some early season trips up that way. Even if you can't do Horseshoe Basin, there are tons of valley bottom trails that I would think would be snow free. The Chewack River looks like it goes for quite a while before crossing 5,000', and there are quite a few other low elevation trails. Even some of the passes that connect the river bottoms seem like they could be passable early. Good find...now you got me scheming...