Category: Backpacking

  • 20160828 Flapjack Lakes, ONP

    20160828 Flapjack Lakes, ONP

    I start today in pain, and medicated. I suppose Sunday and Monday in the wilderness were worth a Tuesday of pain. As I hiked up the North Fork Skokomish River trail, and up to Flapjack Lakes and Gladys Divide Sunday, I struggled. I had awoken early, and got out of the house by just a…

  • 20160731 Berkely Park, Grand Park & Lake Eleanor, MRNP

    20160731 Berkely Park, Grand Park & Lake Eleanor, MRNP

    Braved the crowds to spend a couple of days rambling the northern reaches of Mt. Rainier National Park July 31 and Aug 1st, with a hike from the White River Campground to Lake Eleanor, passing through Berkely and Grand Parks – and back.  The wildflowers were just getting into their peak show at Berkely Park,…

  • 20160630 Pacific Crest Trail, White Pass North to Fish Lake, WOD

    20160630 Pacific Crest Trail, White Pass North to Fish Lake, WOD

    What a stunning landscape! First, the pictures, and then I’ll tell you all about it. Because priorities. There weren’t a whole lot of flowers blooming yet, but the scenery was stunning all the same.  The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT or Trail #2000) and criss-crossing side trails are all melted out, or quite nearly so. The side trails…

  • 20160501 Mayday @ Nine Stream, ONP

    20160501 Mayday @ Nine Stream, ONP

    May began, for me, with new gear, new camera, an excellent weather forecast, and a three day weekend. I headed to Nine Stream, about 10 miles up the North Fork Skokomish River, Olympic National Park.  I only planned to go to Camp Pleasant, but after a late start, and an early arrival, decided to push…

  • 20120607 Tenas Prairie to Staircase Hike, ONF, ONP

    20120607 Tenas Prairie to Staircase Hike, ONF, ONP

    Had myself a little transit-based x-country boondock of a hike from Lilliwaup to Staircase, via Tenas Prairie and the old State Park at Lake Cushman. This route involved a little bit of trespassing, logging road walking, and following trails official and otherwise.

  • 20100813 Deerheart Lake, ONP

    20100813 Deerheart Lake, ONP

    My brother Barry joined me on this trip to Upper Lena Lake and the stunning area above, made even more memorable by the Mt. Hopper fire just across the canyon.

  • 20100720 NF Quinault to Whiskey Bend Thru-Hike, ONP

    20100720 NF Quinault to Whiskey Bend Thru-Hike, ONP

    Having had this past week off work, it was time to get into the forest and put some miles on my new sandals. I had dehydrated meat and fruit, and prepared enough dry sauce mixes for 9 days in the Olympics. Catching the bus in Aberdeen at 7:45 AM, July 17th, I knew I was…

  • 20100711 Upper Lena Lake, ONP

    20100711 Upper Lena Lake, ONP

    12:00 PM, 7/11/2010, Lower Lena Lake – Am taking off now for Upper Lena Lake, having stopped here at the old outlet for a short break and a snack that could be called lunch. Altho the skies at the TH were cloudy, it is very clear and warm, tho breezy, here. It couldn’t be a nicer…

  • 20070815 EF-Quinault-Dosewallips Thru Hike, ONF, ONP

    20070815 EF-Quinault-Dosewallips Thru Hike, ONF, ONP

    This was my second thru-hike of the Olympic National Park, this time west-to-east up the Quinault and out the Dosewallips. From my trail journal: “3:15 PM, 08/15/2007 – Lake Quinault, South Shore Rd & Merriman Creek. Am sitting at a nice resting spot next to the bridge. I’ve my bottle in the creek chilling, and…

  • 20060911 Olympic National Park N-S Thru-Hike, ONP

    20060911 Olympic National Park N-S Thru-Hike, ONP