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Texaco Member
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 50 | TRs | Pics
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Texaco
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Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:25 pm
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Accept my apologies for the late report, hiking and climbing keep getting in the way of writing about hiking and climbing.
My wife and me did an ultralight 50-miler starting at Slab Camp and finishing at Whiskey Bend (Elwha) two weeks ago. This was her first hike of this distance, so I let her be in control of which direction we went along the way (I’ve learned to never decide on the route by myself, especially when I’m with anyone who is less experienced). She continued to choose the longer option each night we talked about what might be on the menu for our route. Originally we had planned to start and finish at Slab Camp, but her hardcore decision-making continued towards unplanned destinations until we finally walked out at Whiskey Bend. I was thankful to have a satellite transponder once again. It allowed us to have more freedom than I have ever experienced in the Olympics. Special thanks go to my parents for watching the kids, and for picking us up at Elwha after receiving our satellite texts.
Friday, July 26
We left the Slab Camp TH at noon. A downhill tramp following Slab Creek led us down to and then across the Grey Wolf. I mistakenly assumed that Day One would entail an easy lower river stroll up to Lower Cameron Camp much like rivers of comparable size in the Buckhorn, e.g. the Dungeness or Upper Grey Wolf. This portion of the Grey Wolf Trail switchbacks for some time until it rises above the canyon below making for more uphill than I bargained for on my wife’s first 50-mile trek. The trail grade levels off a mile above Grey Wolf Camp, and its neighbor Three Forks. We took a short break and headed up Cameron Creek. There were quite a few blow downs to get around on the way up stream, but nothing that appreciably slowed our progress.
Cameron-Elwha001 Grey Wolf Cameron Creek Cameron Creek Forest Chicken Walking the plank Cameron Forest Camp 1
The trail follows the northern branch of Cameron Creek for a spell, before turning south, then east, and heading across the lower basin, paralleling the southern branch of the stream. I missed the trail at its junction with that northern branch. The oversight was short-lived as we backtracked down the gully, and regained the trail in the meadow.
Lower Cameron Name that peak...real man's lone tree pass on the left side Lower Cameron Lower Cameron Lower Cameron Waterfall Cameron-Elwha015 With bug Without More flowers than I've ever seen this trip! Lower Cameron Name that spider... Cameron Meadows Cameron Meadows Upper Cameron Approaching Upper Cameron Cameron-Elwha025 Baker Northern branch of Upper Cameron Lower Cameron Basin On the right track
Multiple boot paths dissect Cameron Basin, but the right path is obvious especially as you look to hikers right for the Cameron Pass Trail easily observed switch backing up the scree slopes. It was a quick trip up to the base of the buttress that diverts the route up the snow slope (or, more scree switch backs later in the summer) to climber’s right.
Upper Cameron Upper Cameron Upper Cameron Cameron-Elwha033 Cameron-Elwha034 Cameron Pass ahead Cameron-Elwha037 Cameron-Elwha038 Cameron Pass right there!
I was blown away by the view that opened up beyond the pass. Mount Olympus looked the same as it typically looks from the northeastern portion of the Park, but the surprise for me was the sight of Mount Anderson that we faced the whole way down to Lost Pass. I have nearly hiked every trail in the Park, and this one now nearly tops my list.
Cameron Pass Cameron-Elwha041 Cameron-Elwha042 Cameron-Elwha043 Cameron-Elwha044 Cameron-Elwha045 Cameron-Elwha046 Cameron-Elwha047 Cameron-Elwha048 Cameron-Elwha049 Arriving at Lost Pass Cameron-Elwha051 Cameron-Elwha052 Cameron-Elwha053
The trail beyond Lost Pass crashes quite abruptly in its one-mile descent to Dose Meadows, where we made camp.
Heading down to the Dose on Lost Pass Trail Cameron-Elwha055
Sunday, July 28
We awoke feeling refreshed in the sun-drenched meadows of the Upper Dose. Passing on the exit routes we saw as options, we headed for the Elwha.
Dose Meadows Cameron-Elwha057 Cameron-Elwha058
The Hayden Pass Trail would prove a thorough tour of the vast collection of meadows that transition water from the Dose, towards the great Elwha.
If I were the kind of hiker that could sit in one place for more than an hour, I would pick this area to hang out at for a day or so; endless meadows, marmots, and mountain vistas. Views from the NE side of the pass showed off Mount Deception and The Needles. As the marathon trail starts down towards the Elwha, views open up towards Mount Anderson, and The Bailey Range.
On the way to Hayden Pass Cameron-Elwha060 Cameron-Elwha061 Cameron-Elwha062 Cameron-Elwha063 Cameron-Elwha064 Cameron-Elwha065 Cameron-Elwha066 Cameron-Elwha067 Deception and The Needles Deception Cameron-Elwha070 Hayden Pass Heading down to the Elwha Cameron-Elwha073 Cameron-Elwha074 Best hiking buddy ever... Cameron-Elwha076 Cameron-Elwha077 Cameron-Elwha078 Anderson Cameron-Elwha080 Cameron-Elwha081 Cameron-Elwha082 Cameron-Elwha083 Cameron-Elwha084 Cameron-Elwha085
Views became fewer as the trail descended the last half of the Hayden Pass Trail. We motored on down to the Elwha, joining the trail at the Hayes Ranger Station trail junction. Our sights were set on the luxury accommodations at Elkhorn. Our only obstacle was my favorite stretch of massive Doug Firs in the Olympics.
Still heading down to the Elwha Cameron-Elwha087 Cameron-Elwha088 Cameron-Elwha090 Huge Elwha Doug's just before Hayes Ranger Station Desperate (and cute) attempt to augment boot padding Cameron-Elwha094 Cameron-Elwha095 Cameron-Elwha096 Cameron-Elwha097 Cameron-Elwha098 Elkhorn Cameron-Elwha100
Monday, July 29
We awoke on my birthday, once again to nothing but blue sky. Our packs were down to 10-15 pounds by now as we headed down the beautiful Elwha. My wife heard loud crunching noises at one point. I stopped and walked over to the edge of the canyon to see a large male black bear about 30 feet away. It took him just a few minutes to size us up as tourist and get back to his hunt for grubs.
Cameron-Elwha101 Grub hunting Cameron-Elwha103 Cameron-Elwha104 Cameron-Elwha105 Cameron-Elwha106 Cameron-Elwha107
We made it to Whiskey Bend before noon, an hour before we were supposed to meet my parents.
The route was a world class tour of meadows and some of the best mountain vistas in the park: a fitting line across the map with my incredible, beautiful bride.
MILEAGE: 49.1
TIME: 72 hours
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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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Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:47 pm
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Awesome....congrats! That's a quick trip. Great photos...lots of snow on Cameron pass area! Love Cameron and lost basins!
We recently returned from our own Olympics adventure...we are trying to take it easy these days and actually spend time and smell the paintbrushes!
Our goal was to visit thousand acre meadows! So worth it! We camped in the basin below Hayden pass, Dose side, for two nights.
Envious of your bear sighting at the elwha my husband loves that area!
Thanks for sharing!
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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Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12835 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
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Ski
><((((°>
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Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:18 pm
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your wife's a doll.
trip report ain't bad either.
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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roadtripmom Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 37 | TRs | Pics
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Absolutely awe inspiring. What a fantastic adventure. I haven't had the privilege of exploring the Olympics much. Thank you for sharing !!
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kite Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 1416 | TRs | Pics Location: Olympia |
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kite
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Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:31 am
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silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
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silence
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Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:55 am
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all beautiful country .. and yeah when you get to the pass and anderson is in yer face ... wowzer
sometime you must get up to gray wolf pass and the upper gray wolf too (it rained on us that day so we didn't linger or go up to cedar lake so a return trip is on our future radar) ... anyhow we did a variation of yours ... the loop from deer park, up the cameron to the pass, then to lost pass and the dose (with a side of hayden) and out the gray wolf
great report and pix .. you're really adding major stoke to our upcoming olys trip
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Fri Aug 09, 2013 11:07 am
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Texaco Member
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 50 | TRs | Pics
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Texaco
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Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:57 am
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Thanks, folks.
Looks like you guys were there just after us, bobbi. Great pics you scored in thousand acre meadows. Looks like you guys had a perfect outing.
Glad I could get you pumped up for your next adventure, silence. Where you headed?
Thanks for the compliments about my hardcore hiking buddy. She did amazingly well! Hottest hiking parter I've had yet!
hiking buddy
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B'ham Dave Member
Joined: 25 Jul 2012 Posts: 8 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellingham, WA |
Great trip report, outstanding pics, and good motivation for my upcoming trip out there Sep 8-12. Planning on heading in Slab Creek, up the Gray Wolf, over Lost Pass, and down Cameron Creek, back out Slab. Four nights/five days.
Haven't been to ONP in 12 years or so. My plan of action is: hump it to Ellis camp, then to Bear, over the pass and down to Lower Cameron, then out to Slide or Tony for a quick out the last day, as it's all the way to Bellingham for me.
Any thoughts on camp selection or anything else is always welcome and appreciated.
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
-Groucho Marx
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
-Groucho Marx
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