I am currently on vacation in NW USA mainly to do some backpacking and hiking trips. Next on my list is a trip into the Alpine Lakes with a climb up Mount Daniel and I thought it would be fun to have some company on this one.
I am in Seattle right now and would like to make this a 2 or 3 day trip. My favorite itinerary would be to hike to Waptus lake from tucquala meadows trailhead on day 1. Then to peggys pond on day 2. On day 3 up Mt Daniel and back to the TH. But there's lots of options.
I was thinking of doing this over the next weekend, maybe including friday or monday.
Access to Mt Daniel area from the south/east is closed due to the Jolly Mountain fire. Waptus Lake and Tucquala Meadows are in the closure area.
See Inciweb: Jolly Mountain Fire
What rubywrangler said. You will probably want to consider another destination.
Also, the weather doesn't look so good this weekend with rain in the forecast. Hopefully the rain will clear out some of the smoke to give you more options elsewhere.
OMG I would have never thought about checking for road access or wildfires. So many things to consider! Can you imagine my frustration if I had decided to go alone and was standing in front of a closed road with my rental car?
Maybe the situation changes in the next few days? Weather forecasts are contradicting so far. Wunderground is quite optimistic.
Does anyone have an alternative for a 2-3 day roundtrip hike in the area? I did quite a lot of research but found that most hikes eg from snoqualmie pass are out and back trips which I don' particularly like.
If you have the option to travel elsewhere I would recommend that until the situation changes. This is the worst I have seen it living here for 40 years. Just stepped outside and could smell the smoke here in Seattle and it's noticeably difficult to breathe.
The Olympics might be your best bet. Everywhere else is on fire right now.
This is where im coming from ...
I think the Goat Rocks area is not currently closed off, it may have some smoke frm the fires in the Columbia gorge, but then so does Seattle.
West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, you could take the Coho from Port Angeles, so the drive wouldn't be all that terrible from the Olympic Peninsula. The West Coast Trail is very physically challenging with a lot of ladder climbing and such.
Be aware the smoke situation changes. If it concerns you at all check the Oregon air quality sites. Strawberry area and Wallowas are currently in the red (unhealthy) zone.
Air Now - Oregon Air Quality - Oregon
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