Only 3 vehicles at the trail head. Boston Basin trail is unmaintained, STEEP, overgrown with vegetation. 3 miles took almost 3 hrs. First bushes, then trees. Once emerged from trees, the view is stupendous. Vast open space, jagged peaks, green slopes, crisscross creeks lined with bright green moss, moraines full of broken rocks, squeaking marmots (saw a couple of little ones, extremely cute). ~30 minutes later, reached lower camp (~5700ft, 3 sites close to each other). One group was already here, another coming on this Saturday for climbing. Closer to Quien Sabe glacier (Sharkfin Tower, Boston Peak, Sahale Peak). Unfortunately thick clouds on Sunday forced them to give up. 
The upper camp (~6200ft. 3 sites next to each other) is another 45 minutes' hike. Closer to the Forbidden Peak, flatter surface, easier access to water. 
Both equipped with a compost toilet! Both have great view, and enough vegetation + flowers. Lovely sunset. Clouds were rolling in.Sunday. Foggy. Cross to Sahale Arm - Cascade Pass. Took a lower trajectory towards the south most ridge. Without a map, no trail. Scrambling over moraines, loose rocks and ice, quite dangerous at times. Ups and downs, from time to time had to wait for the fog to clear up a bit. Even hailed a bit. Painfully slow.
Saw a bear close to the ridge. Much easier after the ridge: big huckleberry meadow from here to Sahale Arm, home to a mom bear and 2 cubs. The crossing took over 2 hours. 
Came out in the middle of Sahale Arm. I was happy to see people and trail. Very windy here. Clouds get thicker, eventually rained. 
From now on, it was easy, maybe 5+ miles to the trail head of Cascade Pass (~20 cars), which is only 0.7 miles to the trail head of Boston Basin. 3.5 hrs. Quite some flowers left. Johannesburg glacier looks more impressive at the trail head.It's also possible to cross via Quien Sabe glacier to Sahale Glacier. Camping permits at the foot of Sahale Glacier for Saturday were all gone. More were climbing there.
On the drive back on Hwy20, shortly east of Baker River road, there was a herd of elk.Direction: Hwy20 until Marblemount, go straight to Cascade River road, cross the bridge, at 21.7 miles (mostly good dirt road), ~3200 ft, a small parking area on the left. 3.5 hrs from Seattle. There's a national park wilderness center right at Marblemount (Sun-Thur till 6pm, Fri-Sat till 8pm), where backcountry permits are issued, and bear canisters are lent for free.
