[RAW-dad]

After a few off years due to the pandemic and some persistent back issues, my wife was able to join me on an extended backpack in the NE Olympics. This was a big challenge for her, and although there were some trying times due to the heat, bugs and, at times, steep terrain, she crushed it! Basically, we did a long on and off trail orbit of Mount Cameron and valley, starting and ending at Deer Park. Since this is a well-trod route with many TRs, I'll keep the narrative to a minimum and just let the pictures do the talking. Day 1 - Deer Park to Ellis Camp. Nice stroll down the Three Forks Trail that got our knee's attention. No one at Three Forks or Gray Wolf Camps. Rivers & creeks were pumping! One other person at Camp Ellis. Cloudy/misty at the start.

1a_Three Forks shelter

1b_Cameron Creek bridge

1c_Devil's Club

1d_Gray Wolf River

1e_fungi

Day 2 - Camp Ellis to Cedar Lake. Impressive trees along the GW trail. Lots of nettles (which I always find by running into them) in flowery meadows below Cedar lake. Cedar Lake beautiful as always. No other people seen.

2a_Camp Ellis

2b_Big Doug-Fir

2c_Doug squirrel and telephone leftover

2d_Falls Camp meadow

2e_Cedar Lake

2f_Posing Marmot

2g_Cedar Camp

2h_Love the Olympics

2i_Cedar Pass (the way ahead)

Day 3 - Cedar Lake to Lost Basin via the Dosewallips. We had intended to do the N Cameron traverse but decided it best to stay on (mostly) trails. Unfortunately, that meant a >10 mile hike with >3300 feet of ups and downs. Dose avalanche meadows and the last few hours were pretty trying but the scenery made up for it.

3a_Cedar Lake sunrise

3b_Tow Head Babies

3c_Looking toward Gray Wolf Pass

3d_GWP and Wellesley

3e_Gunsight Pass

3f_Twinflower

3g_Deception and Mysteries

3h_Bear Camp shelter

3i_TA Meadow and Sentinel

3j_almost to Lost Pass

3k_talus slog in Lost Basin

3k_camp 3 below Lost Peak

3l_Lost Peak sunset

3m_Olympus sunset (Meany & Queets on left)

Day 4 - Lost Basin to tarn W of McCartney. Slept in and enjoyed a bug-free morning, then contoured back to the Cameron-Lost trail. Up to Cameron Pass, then side hilling to the NW. Followed tracks of a party we eventually met up with on Low Pass, which made things easier. Pretty hot and no shade! Stayed at a shallow tarn with incredible views of everything from Claywood to Fitzhenry. Bugs pretty relentless at the tarn.

4a_Lost tarn morning

4c_Lost meadows

4d_Cameron and Cloudy Pass

4e_Cameron Valley and Baker

4f_side hilling toward Lillian

4g_Camp4 and Carrie

4h_Athena and her Owl

4i_camp4_tarn

Day 5 - W of McCartney to Badger Valley. Got an early start given the hot forecast. Followed trail remnant to col above Lake Lillian. Enjoyed descent past lake and buzzing meadows below. Thrashed about in the shrubs/trees on the way to Lillian River, then ascended to Low Pass. Saw many people in Grand Valley, as always. Happy to get to camp at the junction of Badger and Grand Creeks. Hot!

5a_Olympus sunrise

5b_Salt prospector

5c_Cirque below McCartney

5e_Lake Lillian

5f_lush meadow below LL

5g_Lillian basin

5h_Grand Pass

5i_falls on Grand Creek

Day 6 - Badger Camp to Deer Park. Another early start to beat the heat. Beautiful, lush meadows in Badger Valley. Steep (but quick) climb up to Elk Mountain helped by some clouds. Nice ridge stroll back to Deer Park. Lots of day hikers east of Maiden Peak. In the end it was all good. So proud (and thankful) of my wife for sticking with me through thick, thin, bugs, heat and steep.

6a_Badger Valley meadow

6b_Elk Mountain flank

6c_Gray Wolf, Deception and Cameron

6d_Maiden Peak

6e_The End

[meck]

What a beautiful loop RAW-dad! Those photos are very enticing, thank you for posting that motivation to get out there (I think my wife would really enjoy that too)!

[contour5]

Great TR!

[RichP]

Love those Olys. Fantastic looking trip.

[reststep]

Thanks for the report. Boy did that bring back some memories. Must get back to cedar lake.

[Sloman]

Fantastic!

[jaysway]