Directions: From Seattle take Interstate 90 east to 405. Take 405 North. At exit 23, turn RIGHT onto Ramp toward WA-522 Monroe. Once in Monroe go East on Highway 2 until you get to Index (Index Café). Turn left off Highway 2 onto Index-Galena road. Go 14 miles to Forest Road 63. Turn left and follow the gravel road two miles  - take a right, following the North Fork of the Skykomish river to the end of the road.  Note if you do not take this right you will only travel about another minute before arriving at the Blanca Lake Trail head.  As of this writing the turn is immediatly after a section of the road which was washed out (still passable by a passenger car).

Trail Notes: This trail starts off in peaceful oldgrowth section of forest.  The day we found ourself here was expected to be very warm indeed, so departing the car into cool forest was quite welcoming.  The forest here has the type of air where one activly notices the lack of sound.  The air was humid.  The trail begins by meandering through oldgrowth for about the first hour or so, becoming progressivly more steep as you progress, though quite tame.

About an hour into the hike, I began to notice flys - black flys, and lots of them.  At first I found the situation a bit unnerving as their numbers were so high and could feel them continually landing on me.  Still they didn't bite much and as time went on I began to get used to them, which is to say accept them flying about and walking on me.  My partner on this day, however, was more perturbed - ironic given generally it is he who can endure the mosquitos much more than myself.  So I guess today was a bit of a pay back - sorry alexi

After about an hour and a half the trees begin to clear as one gradually gains the ridge.  The ridge itself offers nice views of Glacier Peak, Columbia Peak, Kyes Peak, and Mt Rainier in the distance.  The ridge continues on for several hours undulating over peaks and values - adding up to about a thousand feet of vertical.. Scattered amoung these unduations are alpine meadows and the flowers were quite beutiful if a bit beyond their prime. Water on the otherhand is difficult to come by, and as of this writing the choices on the ridge are an pool, but not the kind you would really want to put a filter to.  Best to bring the water in at the moment.  Speaking of which, I only brough 3.25 liters which turned out to be a limiting choice. 

The views improve as you progress down the ridge, and you are able to see the trail continuing along the ridge across the southern valley.   About another hour into the hike, will see Bench Mark mountain in th distance, the trick to achieving this goal I believe is to follow the crest of Cady's ridge as the trail diverges form the ridge crest.  There is a smaller trail here, outline on the 7.5minute map.  This will deliver the hiker to the top in an easier fashion than following the main trail and catching a steep uphill section at the end.

As for the view at the top of Benchmark Mountain - that is for another reviewer, we made it as far as the spur so about 30-45 minutes from the top.  As I said 3.25 liters was a limiting factor, and coupled with the hot sun made stoping shy of Benchmark Mountain the preferred turning around place. 

Oh, and I hope the bug talk didn't scare you off, as with all these hikes the bugs are really a analogue for the moisture and snow melts, so given a couple weeks they are probably not such a big deal now.  Another plus for this hike is that the adventure is likely to get you some solitude if you like that sort of thing.