[half fast]

Introduction: Having enjoyed one of my favorite hikes in the N. Cascades last weekend, also called High Divide. This weekend with the beautiful forecast our decision was to hike the ONP High Divide, stay two nights at Hoh Lake and finish this High Divide on Sunday. We chose to do the loop hike counter clockwise going past Deer Lake and up. There is steeper elevation gain this way but you do get to the views faster – or at least that is the bait… Stats: (Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano) Distance: 24+ miles (with our side trips) Elev. gain: 3500 ft. Total Elev. gained: another 2200+ ft. with our xtra hikes, ridge walking, hiking out of Hoh Lk a couple of time, etc. etc. Most Important STATS: We saw 13 Bears including one momma and cub, a small heard of Elk including several bugling bulls, 20 + Marmots including several juveniles. Brilliant breath taking fall colors everywhere, a bazillion stars Fri. and Sat. nights and… ONE Duck !! FUN: 100% The Gang:

halffast, NWH Resident Lurkers Lisa, Neil

Off we go… Originally, I had wanted to kind of compare the two High Divides. Now after hiking them both one week apart there is really no way to do so. It would be like comparing apples with oranges. They are both different, both beautiful and both a work out. This Divide takes more elev. gain and miles to get to but once you get there you won’t be disappointed !! We pass Sol Duc falls and head to Deer Lake…

Deer Lake

Deer Lake

Heading up from Deer Lake with rough rocky trail a lot of the way

The trail tread is mostly rocky for a lot of the journey, there were some people hiking in runners but my suggestion would be boots for the support. We continue up, up and up…

tarn above Deer Lake

We came to the Potholes and decided to have lunch just above them. We enjoyed watching our lunch guest

making it to the Potholes...

Lunch time guest above the Potholes

Lunch time guest above the Potholes

After lunch is was more up, up and up…

looking down at Pot Holes

Along a ridge line we came across the Snake Pit tree and of course since our motto is… Its all about the fun…. What could we do…

having some fun in the snake pit tree

After a little break… Off we go…

Nice !!!

view through a gap and our trail

heading up, up and up... almost there

foggy Olympus... and our junction is finally sight

… and we finally come to our cut off to Hoh Lake (take a right) and got a view of someone we would see a lot of this weekend.

take a right here...

Olympus with fog coming up the Hoh Valley

The trail to Hoh Lake will loose about 600 ft. of hard earned elevation gain but… it is well worth it.

Lisa enjoying awesome fall colors

small herd of Elk on the way into Hoh Lake

lots of marmots this weekend...

fun with the fog and sun

first view of Hoh Lake on our decent

…the fog had come up the Hoh Valley and pretty much hid a lot of the views of Hoh Lake on our decent. When we got to our home away from home for two nights and set up camp the fog cleared. Soooo, to the lake we went for evening reflections and two more guests…

evening reflections

another evening guest at the lake

evening guest at the lake

view from the campsite

After a wonderful nights sleep with the outlet stream serenading us, we enjoyed some campsite views…

My room with a view

View from campsite

… and it was off to the lake to have our coffee, enjoy the views and more guests…

Morning coffee beauty...

Morning coffee beauty...

Shoe shot and Morning coffee beauty...

Morning coffee guest across from us

Lisa, Neil and Morning coffee beauty...

Morning coffee guest up lake from us

Morning coffee beauty...

The weather was spectacular and we decided to do a day hike up to High Divide and Bogachiel Peak…

Very cute cub on the way up the Hoh Lk trail

Momma following her cub on the way up the Hoh Lk trail

take a left here...

Hoh Valley and river

Views from Bogachiel Peak

1026080109Views from Bogachiel Peak

Views from Bogachiel Peak

Views from Bogachiel Peak

We continued out on the High Divide trail to a wonderful view area…

having fun with a little rock scramble

Looking down at the tarns above Seven Lakes Basin

Looking up High Divide

We decided to head back down to camp. The colors on the hillside were nothing short of spectacular, in some places they looked almost like the hill sides were on fire… awe inspiring indeed !! Oh, on our way back to camp… you guessed it… another bear...

color on the High Divide trail

Heading back to camp on the Hoh Lk. trail

The fog rolled in for awhile in the evening and finally broke allowing us a second night to lay on our backs in an open, close by campsite again marveling at the bountiful stars. Sunday morning we all woke late, it was pretty dark still and when we opened our tents we were in a very thick fog. Our rain flys and everything else was pretty soaked. We had a leisurely breakfast, packed up and started our climb out of our awesome home away from home up to High Divide to finish our loop. I have to say that it is always best to take advantage of what you have when you have it as things can change. I almost did not take any photos when we day hiked up High Divide because I knew we were headed that way the next day. I am soooo glad that I did take some photos that day as Sunday it was socked with very little views most all the way back to the TH…

High Divide, Hoh Lake junction

Heart Lake junction off High Divide

very foggy Heart Lake

Heading out from Heart Lake

Yay... we make it !!!

…And it was back to our cars and a conclusion to another truly fantastic Oly adventure. Thanks Lisa and Neil, what an awesome weekend

[half fast]

Thanks Shacknasty Jim It was spectacular to say the least. We were all feeling pretty darn lucky to have enjoyed all the beauty and critter sightings. Hoh Lk is a wonderful destination

[FungiFan]

OK. Now we have to drive that little bit further to the Sol Duc trailhead and do some hiking up there. Fantastic timing for your trip, thanks for the TR and pics . FF

[bobbi]

fine...have fun without me! gees, rub it in....bears here, bears there, bugling elk, marmot this, marmot that! of course this coming weekend will be raining glad you enjoyed the other 'high divide'.......i called the bears and gave them the heads up that the omg-bcfc53 will be there and to make a big show! what a show! awesome photos!

[Highwalker's Daughter]

Wow! That is some amazing color and sights to be seen. Someday I'll be over on your side of the puddle to enjoy some of those incredible spots. Glad we connected in person last weekend at one of my favorite places also.

[ScottM]

Very nice shots. The colors were incredible. Really like the one with the rays coming through the trees. I'm glad you got some nice weather.

[raising3hikers]

Great trip, I still have to get there. 13 bears, wow!

[half fast]

[Barefoot Jake]

Makes me want to hit the open trail. A++

[Gray]

Nice! Ok, you've inspired me to get off my *** and finally do a TR from our Seven Lakes/High Divide trip in September. The difference in coloration is profound. We'd already decided we wanted to do it again next year, one of us wanted to go earlier (more wildflowers), and I wanted to go later (fall color). I wonder if your pics will win the argument for me.... --Gray

[bobbi]

less bugs in autumn!

[half fast]

Thank you all for all your very kind comments I personally, have never seen so many bears in one outing. With everything we were blessed to see and experience, we could not have had a better trip. halffast

[Hikingqueen]

Lucky on so many bears and marmots! Looks like an amazing place!

[dicentra]

Hey! We almost crossed paths this weekend! We didn't see any bears though.

[Taratrails]

I did High Divide (minus Hoh Lake) 4 or 5 years ago as a day hike in the mid-summer. No park permits necessary for day hiking. Bugs were the worst I've seen in Washington (glad I wasn't spending the night). No bears - they probably head to remote areas when the trails are busy. Wanted to make it down to Hoh lake, but I got a late start and that side trip might have put me hiking out in the dark (some other time). Some sad news about Hoh Lake: http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080302/NEWS/803020308