Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
meck Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 920 | TRs | Pics
|
|
meck
Member
|
Mon Sep 14, 2020 6:22 pm
|
|
|
I hiked the Graves Creek trail (east of Lake Quinault) in Olympic National Park on Sunday 13 Sept. The TH was still pretty busy (~30+ vehicles) for after Labor Day, complete with cool temps and ~0.5 miles visibility.
The smoke & haze were pretty bad (substantially limiting views), but I only occasionally smelled the smoke or felt affected by it (though obviously not good for the lungs). The trail is in adequate condition, but could use some brushing-out on its upper reaches and has some large blow-downs in many places. The trail tread is a mixture of wonderful forest duff (the flat resilient/bouncy kind rather than steep stuff), eroded out rocky creek bed, tangles of roots, and good old dry ground. There is one ~10' section of the trail in the first 3 miles that has completely sloughed off over a cliff (70-100' drop to the creek below) and now has a very narrow precarious boot path just above it.
I crossed this boardwalk with care. quite a few logs like these across trail. I crawled under most. the trail crosses a few gully washouts, most were OK. the trail tread completely gone a long way down!! the rock slab is really that steep, the bootpath is just above it. a waterfall in the creek viewable from the trail.
I ate lunch at the creek ford (junction of Graves and Success creeks), then crossed via boulder hopping (look for the two cairns piles on the other side) since the water was low enough. The upper portion of the trail, to the junction with the Wynoochee Pass trail, was slightly more overgrown, but still very enjoyable. There are some really, really large trees tucked in this drainage!
trail tread across root tangles some neat waterfalls & rock cuts& pools alongside the upper reaches of the trail three ginormous cedars big cedars (cont'd from base) small camp before crossing back over to the eastside of Graves Creek.
The meadows below Sundown Lake were lit in interesting afternoon sun. The sky was almost blue above, but the gray haze gave everything a unique painting-like feel, giving depth to the views such as they were. I had a quick snack at the lake, then made my way over to Wynoochee pass, then down the trail to FSR 2270-400 where my pickup was waiting.
Sundown Lk from one of the camp sites. Sure is beginning to look like autumn. leaving the lake to go back down the trail trail colors from a knee-height view the haze gave this view of the meadows below Sundown Pass an almost painting-like feel fall colors beginning to show-up orange glow of the filtered evening sun in a small pool near the top of Wynoochee Pass.
*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
|
Back to top |
|
|
RAW-dad Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2017 Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics Location: Oregon |
|
RAW-dad
Member
|
Mon Sep 14, 2020 9:40 pm
|
|
|
That hazy pic of the meadows below Sundown Pass is awesome!
Thanks for sharing.
|
Back to top |
|
|
bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
|
bobbi
stillaGUAMish
|
Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:18 pm
|
|
|
thanks for this trip report...
taking notes for future trips south!
awesome as always
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
|
Back to top |
|
|
HumpnoocheeGirl Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 335 | TRs | Pics Location: Grays Harbor |
RAWDAD - My friend Larry calls this "Mitzi's Meadow"
|
Back to top |
|
|
RAW-dad Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2017 Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics Location: Oregon |
|
RAW-dad
Member
|
Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:04 pm
|
|
|
Well HumpnoocheGirl - Mitzi's Meadow is awesome!
Gotta get up there - it's a corner of the Olys I've never visited.
|
Back to top |
|
|
silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
|
|
silence
Member
|
Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:27 am
|
|
|
meck wrote: | the haze gave this view of the meadows below Sundown Pass an almost painting-like feel |
That is a beautiful photo (even if it is haze) ... nice work! Reminds me of some of the benches around 3 Lakes. Makes me really miss being out in the Olys.
Is Mitzi's Meadow the beginning/end of the Six Ridge trail?
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
|
Back to top |
|
|
jask Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 47 | TRs | Pics Location: Pacific Northwest and Norway |
|
jask
Member
|
Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:41 am
|
|
|
I agree, that picture of the hazy meadow is a new masterpiece. Thank you for sharing your trip. It's been ages since I was up that way so enjoyed going back.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brian R Member
Joined: 10 Feb 2018 Posts: 501 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Brian R
Member
|
Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:14 pm
|
|
|
One of the few remaining blank spots on my Olympic Mountains map. Inspiring trip with beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing it.
|
Back to top |
|
|
HumpnoocheeGirl Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 335 | TRs | Pics Location: Grays Harbor |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sallie4jo Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 220 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Oh so long ago, graves creek trail to sundown pass I thoght was enchanting..definitely not a high use back in 91 I think. 6th ridge though is one trail I swore I would never do again..although there were certainly some interesting land formations on the ridge. We did a loop..going down then back up and out the enchanted valley. We didn't see a soul till we were headed out 6th ridge. Cheers
I choose to live in a landscape of hope.
Terry Tempest Williams
I choose to live in a landscape of hope.
Terry Tempest Williams
|
Back to top |
|
|
|