7/23, Saturday, cloudy (partly sunny was in the forecast). 5:45am alarm (not necessary). A hearty breakfast. No traffic on the road. A stop at Glacier ranger station (already a lot of people at 8:20am!). Started hiking shortly after 9am from Hannegan Trailhead (lots of cars). Getting to Hannegan Pass is straight forward. Flowers were blooming along the trail, mostly penstemon and pearl everlasting. Patches of paintbrush, yarrow, columbine.
Took a side trail down to a tarn (camped here last fall). Up an almost vertical gully - being made worse by all the climbers. This is probably the most difficult stretch. Route around the Point, trail covered with snow. Enough boot tracks to lead the way. Set up our camp behind the Point, above the ridge leading to Ruth. Around 5700'. Less bugs than around Hannegan Pass. The view here is spectacular.~1pm. Repacked and headed to Ruth. Reached the summit in less than 2 hours. Two geological survey markers. Two single tent sites (with rock walls). Some small flowers clinging on the rocks. Cloudy. Put on rain jacket and waited for the partly sunny weather for an hour. Clouds only got thicker, threatening to pour down. The visibility was very poor on the way down. I heard thrusting sound, only a good 5 minutes later saw a group of 6 on ropes heading up. They were going to camp at a knoll SW of Ruth on the way to Icy Peak, as described in Ruth Icy Traverse. Barely an hour later, back to tent. I'm glad to have brought my Kindle along. After an early dinner, sat and waited for the clouds to blow away, but they never did.
7/24, Sunday. Sunny and warm, not a shred of cloud. Woke up at 3am. Bright moon, shining stars, not cold. Got up a bit too late for the actual sunrise. Walked up to the Point before 6am to enjoy the landscape in the morning sun. Heathers were starting to bloom. The moon was still high. A fat marmot.
Didn't make hot breakfast, as the day was warmed up as we prepared. Before 9am, reached the top of Ruth again. Spent another hour on the summit. The view is stupendous. Shuksan's jagged north face seems within an arm's reach. Baker behind it. To the south, Rainier, Glacier Peak. To the east, Challenger Glacier, Pickett Range, and many peaks of North Cascades. To the north, Canadian mountains. Saw a group of climbers descending from Icy Peak, and some down camped at the knoll along the traverse. 
Shared the summit with 3 very talkative brothers and 2 silent climbers, all of them carried harness (not used) and wearing climbing boots (no crampons). They are quite more experienced than I am, almost running down the snowy slope. I walked down one step at a time. The view downhill is also splendid.
Coming down the gully is not easy. I slipped twice, got very muddy, one scratch, otherwise no damage. Instead of continuing back up to Hannegan Pass and onto the main trail, I decided to try the boot track towards Hannegan Camp. The trail is discernible, a bit overgrown. I picked up a torn black garbage bag. So I think I was on the right track. But soon, I couldn't make out the trail. Bushwhacking a bit, following a creek to the meadow where the camp is. It's very pretty here. Flowers are coming, so are mosquitoes. At this time, part of it was somewhat swampy and muddy. This cut-off is definitely shorter, and no elevation gain.Met many hikers and campers coming in on our way out. Reached the car ~3pm, 80°F. Lots of traffic on I-5 at various points, due to lane closing this weekend for WDOT work (I didn't see a single worker!). My bus to Portland had to find an alternative stop due to the Chinatown Seafair Parade. For a good 10 minutes, I was worried that I couldn't find the bus, as this is the last one of the day (8pm). Searching and talking to people with luggage works, asking police is useless. Slept most of my way south: not comfortable.
