Are There Hucks Yet?

Much of my summer is spent in anticipation of one moment - my first taste of huckleberries. Where will it be, when will be and, most importantly, will it be a bountiful harvest or a lackluster crop?

For fellow huckleberry fiends, I offer my huckleberry report to date: 

• August 7 - A handful of ripe huckleberries at the intersection of the Phelps Creek Trail and Leroy Creek Trail. Surprising! Seemed a bit early, even for a sunny, open spot.

• August 14 - Zero ripe huckleberries along the PCT near White Pass and suspiciously few green berries on the bushes. Not surprising, as this would be fairly early for high-elevation, west of the crest terrain, but the lack of berries in progress was not promising.

• August 21 - Sizable patch of ripe huckleberries near the start of the Esmeralda Basin Trail. Hurray! This seems right on target for east of the crest and in a fairly sunny spot.

• August 25 - Spotty patches of berries along the Tonga Ridge trail. I'd guess this trail is about two weeks from peak, with the best berry picking along the slopes of Mount Sawyer.
  

Looking for more berry reports? You can search WTA's Trip Reports specifically for berries! (Now, if that doesn't show a commitment to hiker satisfaction, I don't know what does...) Just go to our Trip Reports, and click on "show advanced search options." Here you'll find a check box labeled "Ripe Berries." The most recent berry reports will show in the results section. And good news: just this week, more hikers are reporting ripe ones!

For guaranteed huckleberries, our trail maintenance folks suggest that you take part in our Volunteer Vacation on the Thorp Lake Trail from September 11 - 18. There are several spaces remaining. And what better way to cap off a week of trail work than by baking yourself a pie made from hand-picked berries?

Best of luck on your berry quests.