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December 22, 2017 7.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
Checked out the recent road washout prior to the park entrance which prevents car travel into the park. Was told by the on site ranger that plans are to repair the road in the Spring. I entered the park via the Shady Lane Trail & then hiked the 4 Streams Trail to its end. Than backtracked and reconnected with the Staircase Rapids Trail completing the loop ba...
December 10, 2017 4.76 miles 3,000 feet gained
Started hike between the lower and upper TH. Could not quite make it to the upper TH due to snow. Took the winter route up the avalanche shoot. Above the inversion layer it was quite balmy, t-shirt weather.
November 24, 2017 8.71 miles 3,000 feet gained
This is one of my favorite winter hikes. Some good elevation gain, a mossy wonderland, a roaring river & solitude. Just me & some quality time with my 4 legged best friend.....woof!
November 18, 2017 8.73 miles 3,500 feet gained
Up Section Line to summit 3 then hit summits 2, the Hiker Hut viewpoint, @ summit 1. Exited back down to the car via the High School trail.
November 12, 2017 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
November 5, 2017 8 miles 2,000 feet gained
October 29, 2017 8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Weather was positively spring like. 3 volcanoes could be clearly seen. This is a great hike as you get 2 drastically different views of Rainier from one trail along with a close up view of one of the highest water falls within the park.
October 15, 2017 7.62 miles 4,000 feet gained
Timber Mtn. is accessed from the Copper Creek Trail. Once you leave the maintained trail it is a climbers trail and the way is marked with sporadic ribbons and cairns. Nice views of Lake Cushman and surrounding mountains from the 4400' summit. One could clearly see to the east Mt. Rainier, Adams and St. Helens along with downtown Seattle. The tops of Mt. Oly...
October 6 to October 7, 2017 10.7 miles 2,000 feet gained 1 night
The plan was to spend 3 nights up the Sol Duc River making base camp @ the Appleton Pass junction. From there we would day hike up to the High Divide & 7 Lakes Basin & than spend a day hiking up to Appleton Pass. Mother Nature did not cooperate as it rained steadily from the time we left the Sol Duc TH on 10/6 to the time we got back to our vehicle around 4p...
October 1, 2017 4.5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Perfect hike for a wet misty day.
September 23, 2017 5.45 miles 750 feet gained
September 14, 2017 10.51 miles 3,000 feet gained
Unfortunately clouds & hazy smoke from the Norse Peak fire obscured long range views from Bearhead Peak & Summit Lake. Summit Lake as always was beautiful.
September 11 to September 13, 2017 9.53 miles 3,000 feet gained 2 nights
Had a nephew visiting from Korea who had never gone camping so camped @ Cougar Rock & hiked up to Panorama Point up @ Paradise on day one. On day 2 hike the Grove of the Patriarchs and then left the park & hiked up to the High Rock Fire Lookout. Great views from the lookout & one could clearly see 4 volcanoes and the most eastern Olympic Mtn. range.
September 2 to September 4, 2017 26.5 miles 7,500 feet gained 2 nights
Entered Park @ the Staircase entrance & made camp approx. 7.5 miles in @ Donahue Creek. Then hiked up to Flapjack Lakes up through Gladys Divide & summited Mt. Gladys. Expansive views @ the 5600 summit with clear views of Mt. Olympus, Sawtooth Ridge, Mt. Cruiser, Mt. Lincoln & surrounding peaks. Next day hiked up to Black & White Lakes & then a very steep de...
August 20 to August 24, 2017 40.33 miles 12,750 feet gained 4 nights
Established base camp@ Colonial Creek & hiked the following trails: Thunder Creek as far as the Fourth of July TH--- 6.08 miles. 829' Sourdough Mtn --- 11.22 miles. 5622' Thornton Lakes TH summited Trapper Peak ---10.60 miles. 3850' Cutthroat Pass to Granite Pass --- 12.43 miles. 2367' All hikes were assessed off of North Cascades Hwy 20.
August 6 to August 9, 2017 27.66 miles 8,500 feet gained 3 nights
While 7 Lakes Basin is the go to place to see lakes in the ONP this area is a less crowded alternative once you get above Lower Lena Lake.....which is not in the ONP so no permit is required. We got a late start & spent the first night at Lower Lena. Next day we hoofed it up to Upper Lena Lake. Trail is fairly steep, rocky, rooty, dusty, muddy, brushy & gets...
July 23, 2017 7.61 miles 3,750 feet gained
Flowers are in full bloom on the ridge. A bit buggy but not to bad if one keeps moving.
July 17 to July 21, 2017 35 miles 13,000 feet gained 4 nights
Made base camp @ Boulder Shelter & then day hiked from there to Marmot Pass, climbing Buckhorn Mtn. Then Home Lake, Constance Pass & Del Monte Ridge. On the final day hiked to and around Charlia Lake.
July 8, 2017 7.51 miles 2,750 feet gained
Hiked via the Little Quilcene trail. Clear day so great 360 degree views.
June 24, 2017 13.38 miles 3,750 feet gained
I did the loop hike clockwise. Great views of Mt. Olympus & Lake Crescent.
June 10, 2017 8.71 miles 3,500 feet gained
Hiked to all 3 summits plus the Hikers Hut.
May 26 to May 28, 2017 18.65 miles 5,250 feet gained 2 nights
Hiked from the Slab Camp TH up to Deer Ridge and then onto Deer Park. Since the road to Deer Park is still closed had the camp ground entirely to myself..... sweet! Next morning hiked up Blue Mtn.& the views @ its 6000+ peak were again.... sweet! Could clearly see Mt. Olympus, Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Hurricane Ridge, & multiple peaks from the summit. Descen...
May 19, 2017 11.54 miles 2,250 feet gained
Could not make it to the lake due to snow. Trail is pretty much snow covered from the Buckhorn Lake cutoff & I quit when I began postholing up to my crouch & could not locate any signs of the trail.
May 6, 2017 10.43 miles 3,250 feet gained
Sun,rain,hail,snow this day had it all weather wise. The Deer Park campground is still pretty much snow covered. Some snow on the trail but traction devices not needed. This hike is on my sunny day re-do list.
April 29, 2017 8.9 miles 2,250 feet gained
Hiked to the 3rd viewpoint. After the logged out area trail was pretty much solid snow until viewpoint 3. If I had remembered my microspikes I would have used them.
April 22, 2017 8 miles 2,000 feet gained
April 16, 2017 10.19 miles 3,250 feet gained
Entered via the Elbo Creek TH. Just a few patches of snow during the road walk but no traction devices required. Very nice 360 degree views from the summit.
April 9, 2017 4.24 miles 2,000 feet gained
April 2, 2017 3.91 miles 1,000 feet gained
April 1, 2017 6.62 miles 1,250 feet gained
March 25, 2017 8 miles 2,750 feet gained
Lots of ice & snow at the lake. Enough that you can walk upon the lake to the island.
March 12, 2017 10.55 miles 2,000 feet gained
Due to the road wash out @ the Carbon River entrance it is a 3 mile hike to get to the TH. There was about 4 feet of snow @ the lake & the lake was completely snow covered.
March 4, 2017 9.12 miles 3,000 feet gained
Hiked the trail up to FS Rd. 030 where I donned the snowshoes & continued up to viewpoint a couple miles up the road off of FS Rd. 043. Did not see a single soul the entire day.
February 18, 2017 6.4 miles 1,000 feet gained
February 12, 2017 9.44 miles 1,250 feet gained
Leisurely hike in the Olympics. Hiked a bit passed the junction with the Flapjack Lakes TH.
January 29, 2017 14.1 miles 2,250 feet gained
Hiked the lower trail to the upper trail head. The upper trail head leads to Marmot Pass. Trail was very icy and micro spikes needed.
January 22, 2017 6 miles 1,250 feet gained
January 15, 2017 12.48 miles 3,500 feet gained
Hike is mostly in the trees until approx. the last half mile. Old fire lookout @ the top. Great 360 degree views.
January 8, 2017 6.11 miles 1,250 feet gained
January 1, 2017 5.39 miles 1,500 feet gained
Annual New Years day hike with the family.
