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half fast member
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 1392 | TRs | Pics Location: Living the dream in my 5th Wheel |
Introduction:
We all decided that we needed to get out yesterday and hiked Bogachiel Peak going in through Deer Lake. This trail has a lot of everything. The Sol Duc falls, Canyon Creek, Deer Lake, the Snake Pit, ridge views that can’t hardly be beat, this day we had awesome weather, some new snow, views from Bogachiel Peak that are nothing short of spectacular, fall colors… and… the frosting on the cake was a Very close bear.
The only catch to this trail is the more than rocky, rooty, lousy trail tread. I have to admit this is the worst tread that I have ever hiked and it is more than challenging on feet and ankles. But… mentally prepare for that and enjoy a truly fantastic hike. ( Oh, if you don’t want to play in the snow… you better get there pretty soon as there was already 2-3 inches in places just before and along parts of the High Divide).
Stats:
Distance: 16 miles r/t
Elev. gain: 3450 ft.
High Pt. : 5474 ft.
Gang:
bobbi, Nwhikers resident Lurker Lisa, half fast
We arrived at the TH to a balmy 34 deg. and were actually on the trail at 8:45 am. Ok, this is no doubt the closet we have come to an Alpine start…
As you head out from the TH you get to cross Sol Duc falls… pretty difficult not to take photos here…
Sol Duc falls
After crossing the falls you start to climb to Deer Lake. The trail is winding through a beautiful forest and crosses Canyon Creek. (if it were better trail tread, you would think you were in paradise... )
We made good time reaching Deer Lake. This is a beautiful lake and today with the frost and reflections it was even more beautiful.
Keep heading up the trail and you will be taking a Left at the junction for Little Divide and 7 Lakes Basin.
The trail passes some more forests, the potholes and meadows. Once you past the meadows after the potholes you start climbing again to gain a ridge.
looking down on the Potholes from the ridge
Again you will pass through meadows, some of which still had Lupine blooming and more forest.
One fun part of this section is the Snake Pit trees…
snake pit tree on the ridge
After you leave the forest you start seeing mountain views…
views from the ridge before Bogachiel Peak
You are not done climbing yet and after you cross another basin you climb up some switchbacks that take you to a ridge crest at 5100 ft.
When you come to the junction of Hoh Lake and High Divide take a left up the High Divide trail. The trail to Bogachiel Peak is a short ways up the High Divide trail and you will take a Left for your final little push to the top.
Lunch at Bogachiel Peak views...
Mt. Olympus from Bogachiel Peak looking up the High Divide from Bogachiel Peak views from Bogachiel Peak views from Bogachiel Peak pano from Bogachiel Peak
After lunch, we were in a bit of a hurry trying to make it out of the trail before darkness fell so I did not get tooo many photos of the descent but, I did take this photo from the High Divide just after the BP trail junction...
heading back on the High Divide with the Hoh Lake trail iin the distance
Not far down the trail we ran into a couple of guys enjoying the day who mentioned that they saw a bear about a third of a mile down the trail.
We were so hoping that we would be able to see said bear. Just before we were to enter a wooded section we were fortunate enough to see this bear who was about 15 ft. off the trail… What a treat !!!! It did put us behind about a half hour but it was deffinitely worth it...
Just above the potholes we ran into a couple of other guys heading to 7 Lakes Basin… They recognized us from our photos and although they were not nwhikers they were avid lurkers… it was nice to meet you.
We made good time back down to Deer Lake, took a short break and then headed down the rest of the way back to the TH. We would have made it all the way out without needing any lights but the trail trashed my feet and ankles sooo bad that I once we reached Sol Duc falls, I was finished with rushing.
One last evening photo of the falls…
saying good bye on our way out
Thank you Lisa and bobbi...
FUN: 100%
It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:27 pm
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Very nice!
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Ancient Ambler Member
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 1092 | TRs | Pics Location: Bainbridge Island |
Very nice TR and photos, half fast. You guys really picked a great day to head up there. I'm glad to see the snow hasn't piled up too much so far and that the fall colors are still blazing away on the slopes.
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bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
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Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:17 pm
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i love this hike......i usually do the loop as a day hike. it's been at least 3 years since i've done the loop. last time i was on the trail was with raz2sea in sept 2009.
it was cold saturday morning....but when we finally got out of the woods and into the open, Lisa and i did our 'strip along the trail' and welcomed the warmth of the sun!
the bear!
the rest of my photos
this was totally an awesome autumn hike!
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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Parked Out Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Posts: 508 | TRs | Pics Location: Port Angeles, WA |
Great trail report & pictures! Glad your bear was in vegetarian mode that day.
I made it to Dodger Basin on Friday with ambitions for points further, but turned around due to the snow. Saturday was such a beautiful day it was kind of a bummer to be coming out. You definitely picked a great day for Bogachiel Peak!
Dodger Basin 10-14-2011
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Phil Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 2025 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline, WA |
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Phil
Member
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Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:32 am
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Wow look at all the snow. May be our last look at the high country for this year?
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half fast member
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 1392 | TRs | Pics Location: Living the dream in my 5th Wheel |
It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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half fast member
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 1392 | TRs | Pics Location: Living the dream in my 5th Wheel |
It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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Tigerotor77W Member
Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 776 | TRs | Pics Location: Charleston, SC |
Nice! I was going to try this in 2009 but the fires made it impossible. Good to see what I missed -- I hadn't heard of the hike before and didn't get a chance to research it.
Interesting that there are so many lurkers. I wish I had found this site before I left Seattle!
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bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
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Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:04 pm
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T77W....
are you staying abroad 'forever'?
when you get back, you can always come hike this trail. it'll still be there
btw: did you or are you still going to Zermatt?
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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onemoremile Member
Joined: 26 Dec 2010 Posts: 1305 | TRs | Pics Location: Sequim |
Sounds like a great trip. Looks like that was a large bear from the photos.
“Arbolist? Look up the word. I don’t know, maybe I made it up. Anyway, it’s an arbo-tree-ist, somebody who knows about trees.” G.W. Bush
“Arbolist? Look up the word. I don’t know, maybe I made it up. Anyway, it’s an arbo-tree-ist, somebody who knows about trees.” G.W. Bush
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half fast member
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 1392 | TRs | Pics Location: Living the dream in my 5th Wheel |
It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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Kozaroza The Mountain Machine
Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 476 | TRs | Pics Location: South Bend, IN |
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Kozaroza
The Mountain Machine
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Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:00 pm
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To die for..
Don't be anxious that the universe might be beyond your control - perspective of new possibilities is thrilling!
Don't be anxious that the universe might be beyond your control - perspective of new possibilities is thrilling!
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tuck and roll Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 49 | TRs | Pics Location: Sedro Woolley |
Love the color in all the pics. That was a very healthy bear!
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Barefoot Jake Professional Bum
Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Posts: 564 | TRs | Pics Location: Olympic Peninsula |
Looking into the eyes of this Bear makes me want to go to Church this Sunday.
I'm glad you guys didn't end up on the Menu like Shrimp at all you can eat night at Sizzler.
Again,
I like the Fall Colors with the Fresh Snow :-)
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