[meck]

Had a fun day yesterday hiking a long loop (20-23'ish miles) in the SolDuc drainage of ONP. Started off at the SolDuc TH around 7:30am and returned just before 9pm. First scurried up to Appleton Pass, then around the ridge through the other pass, over to the Cat-Basin Heart Lake trail junction. As expected the High Divide and Seven Lakes basin were both pretty busy. Stopped by Bogachiel Peak, then dropped down into the basin to visit Lunch Lake, Clear Lake and Round Lake to "bag" those sections of ONP official trail (several backpacking group at each, also spotted some at the other lakes too). After that it was the "slog" down to Deer Lake and SolDuc falls one more time. The High Divide trail only had a few short sections on snow, no need for traction devices at this point if you don't mind a little slip and slide. Every single campsite I came across along the High Divide and Deer Lake connector trail was taken. Heaven help the poor souls I passed that were heading up to find a camp spot, it was busy out there this weekend!! Also, the bugs were pretty bad in many places along the trail (not everywhere, but where they were present they were out in force), a headnet is recommended. Driving home next to Lk Crescent it almost felt like driving through light snowfall they were so thick along patches of the highway.

SolDuc Falls

falls further up the SolDuc

falls further up the SolDuc

reflections in a mud filled pond

Olympus over the Heart Lake basin

wildflowers

wildflowers

East end of 7 Lakes basin

S. fork Boulder Creek drainage

Pt 6100 & Mt Appleton

wildflowers

Oyster pond (its not really a "lake")

1 label

meadow wildflowers

down the meadow, boot skiing in one spot

flowers along the ridge loop

more flowers along the ridge loop

yellow flowers along the ridge loop

looking west down the SolDuc

3 labels

Mt Angeles

1 label

Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center

Hurricane Hill

froggie in a pond along the ridge loop

zoom in on the summit of Mt Carrie

3 labels

Mt Fairchild, Carrie and Cat Peak

The Bailey Range

4 labels

Mt Carrie and Cat Peak

1 label

Mt Ferry

3 labels

Mt Pulitzer (BRT passes on the east shoulder of this)

3 labels

Mt Childs and Bear Pass in the background, I think...

Heart Lake

either NoName Lk, or maybe Lk #8

Morgenroth?

Morgenroth Lk I think...

tarns in the basin

Mt Olympus from the High Divide trail

Lunch Lake

Clear Lake

I refilled my water at Lunch Lake after having gone through 3 liters at this point (it was a warm day out in the sun!!). A backpacker I spoke with, who'd just exited the lake, said it was still a bit too cool to comfortably swim in (even if you're OK with cold water).

water ripples in Lunch Lake

Bootshot at Round Lake

Round Lake

Looking down toward Deer Lake

More reflections across a Pond

Deer Lake (a very boisterous group was camped across the lake)

back at Solduc Falls

[bobbi]

awesome...what a great day! I'm waiting to do the loop in cooler temps! ha

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[Snuffy]

Excited to be up there in August, thanks for the pics!

[ranger rock]

Nice TR, thanks. You're a beast!

[graywolf]

[bobbi]

[Satori]

Thanks for sharing your trip report - I was up there Sunday as well, but took a little over a day to do the two loops. Started Sunday morning at Sol Duc going CC past Deer Lake and Bogachiel Pk, then picked up Cat Basin trail, past Cat Lake and Spread Eagle Pass, then to Appleton Pass for the night. Monday hiked out to Sol Duc from Appleton Pass in a little 2.5 hours.

[silence]

Nice! You should go back and do it in the fall ... that whole loop is stunning at that time of year, but the summer wildflowers are awesome too. Thanks for sharing!

[trestle]

Thanks for adding labels to your pics of the BRT. Looks like another beautiful day in ONP.

[meck]

Thank all for giving it a read. For you folks going up there in a couple weeks, don't forget your swim suits, 'cause if this streak of hot weather continues, the lakes should be quite a bit warmer (not too much in the way of snow patches left to melt). I definitely plan on doing this loop again with the fall color. I wonder if it is any less packed midweek though...

[graywolf]

[silence]

The real color doesn't start till late Sept to mid Oct ... and few people, plus ezier to get a walk-in permit

[meck]

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