[Dane]

[goats gone wild]

It most certainly is. From the accounts of O'Neil and company, it sounds like there were quite a few "cliff" problems along the way. And this section took a good deal of route scouting before they were able to find a way to get the mules down. And even when they were successful, it was quite a precarious undertaking for the mules. I don't remember the story...but seems like they named one of their camps near here, Camp Dammit. Suppose I need to reread that part before I go recommending the "short cut". So, really, I'm relying on my friend, who swears it is a good shortcut and has used it multiple times. As I was going up to Marmot Pass via the long slow route from White Creek, I kept looking down off the ridge into the valley. There was indeed a lot of blow down to navigate and it was steep, but it did look doable. I was thinking I would prefer to hike up it rather than down it. I was thinking a person who takes off from behind the Chalet would probably hit the O'Neil Pass trail and then head east for a ways to take the way trail to Hart Lake. Overall it does cut out quite a few miles and, I think, time. It's a bit comparable to the long slog up the mule trail to Dodger Point vs the Dodger Point way trail from the Elwha. The gradient of both "long" trails are similar and about as lengthy. So, to summarize , I definitely recommend someone take the shortcut, and then come back and give us the real-deal details so we can decide whether or not to use it. Come on, Phil, be a good sport.

[Dane]

She must mean O'Neil Pass, near Marmot Lake...?

[goats gone wild]

Gosh darn it. Busted again. Okay, FYI, it is pretty close to "O'Neil's Notch"

[goats gone wild]

[graywolf]

GGW, Here's a link to a discussion of the "Elk Elevator Shaft": https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20087&highlight=elk+elevator+shaft Graywolf

[Bruce]

"Elk Escalator" Ask Hazel Gilley EV ranger.....steeeeep

[goats gone wild]

Thanks much for that link, graywolf Didn't know it actually had a cool name like Elk Elevator Shaft. Sounds spiffy.

[goats gone wild]

Thanks for the clarification, Bruce. You would know for sure. Though, give me six months and I'll get confused again....and start calling it "The Shafted Mule" or some such thing.

[Phil]

Ah ha the Elk escalator, good to know. Sounds like one of those short cuts that isnt short. lol. I would take the long way round, given a choice.

[goats gone wild]

Hmmm.....I'm feeling "inclined" to a race. (And no teleport-cheating either.)

[goats gone wild]

Stop it, HJT. You're only saying that because you know I will get lost without a guide.

[goats gone wild]

Only if my surgery is a brain transplant.

[Luc]

omg peeps whats the matter? can't do mt tom while you're at it? or maybe a quick jaunt down the skyline for a snapshot... seriously, a bit off the abandon trails topic....thread seems to be more aptly titled "The Epics and the crazy fools who attempt them" but i am very much enjoying this thread... as I am too, a mapaholic. can follow all these dream treks in my head. and yes. a cupla weeks, a food drop or 2. would be something special. my other thread on food caches (that i still think is not too bad of an idea if done correctly), https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7964344&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=food+cache which apparently most of ya'll don't think is possible, brings about the idea that a food cache can make trips like this possible with less dependence and hassle than a food drop...but thats another thread.

[RodF]

Harkening back to the discussion on page 5 of this thread... here's a detail from the 1947 USGS Mt. Steel sectional, showing the Mt. Olson Trail from Lake Success to O'Neil Shelter, as well as the O'Neil Creek Trail.