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PTLateHiker
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Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Posts: 125 | TRs | Pics
Location: Port Townsend
PTLateHiker
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PostWed Sep 23, 2020 7:10 pm 
LaCrosse basin had been on my bucket list since I went through there on the only rainy day of a sixty mile loop I did in the Olympics in 2005. Sorry for the delay posting this but, well, 2020 has been a handful. We accessed it through Enchanted Valley and the O’Neil pass trail instead of up the Duckabush as I had previously. We spent two nights at Marmot Lake in the basin so that we’d have plenty of time to explore the basin. We were a party of six and spent five nights in the Park. The weather was beautiful. Day 1 - Start at Graves Creek TH to Pyrites Creek Camp. - 9.3 miles. 820 ft elevation gain. It’s a long drive to the trailhead from anywhere. Four of us got started at about 11. Randy and Lesly came in later.
Average Age is 65
Average Age is 65
Breaking camp at Pyrites
Breaking camp at Pyrites
Day 2 - Pyrites Creek to White Creek Meadow on O’Neil Pass Trail - 6.8 miles. 2300 ft elevation gain.
White Creek Meadow Camp
White Creek Meadow Camp
Day 3 - White Creek Meadow to Marmot Lake in Lacrosse Basin - 7.3 miles. Lots of up and down with 650 net climb.
First bear sighting  - just below O'Neil pass
First bear sighting - just below O'Neil pass
Marmot Lake
Marmot Lake
Day 4 - Explore LaCrosse Basin from Base Camp at Marmot Lake - A full day to explore the basin
Lunch above Hart Lake - about the same spot as the cover of Wood's Olympic Mountains Trail Guide
Lunch above Hart Lake - about the same spot as the cover of Wood's Olympic Mountains Trail Guide
Swimming in Lake LaCrosse!!
Swimming in Lake LaCrosse!!
Perfect conditions for exploring the Basin
Perfect conditions for exploring the Basin
Looking down to White Creek meadow from Fisher's Notch
Looking down to White Creek meadow from Fisher's Notch
Day 5 - Marmot Lake to Enchanted Vally via Heart Lake Way Trail. - 8.3 Miles. 2380 net descent
Climbing to the pass above Hart lake
Climbing to the pass above Hart lake
At Hart pass, heading down the cutoff trail back to the Valley
At Hart pass, heading down the cutoff trail back to the Valley
Aptly named Enchanted Valley
Aptly named Enchanted Valley
Elves live here
Elves live here
Day 6 - Enchanted Valley to Graves Creek TH - 13 miles, 1330 net descent. - long slog to TH with light packs. Frequent rests. No grousing about the long drives home.
I wonder if I'll see the Chateau again. (I'll be OK. It's the Chateau I'm worried about)
I wonder if I'll see the Chateau again. (I'll be OK. It's the Chateau I'm worried about)
Ahhh...
Ahhh...
This was a great trip. Scenic all the way. Here's the detail of the route near the basin:

"back at camp the mountain peak still in my legs" - Yu Chang
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meck
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Joined: 31 Dec 2010
Posts: 920 | TRs | Pics
meck
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PostWed Sep 23, 2020 9:03 pm 
Beautiful pics of those areas PTLakeHiker!

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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RAW-dad
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Joined: 07 Jul 2017
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Location: Oregon
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PostMon Sep 28, 2020 8:43 pm 
Nicely paced trip in a beautiful area. Why rush when you're in the Olympics...

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