[FungiFan]

We have done both lakes as day hikes in the past and promised to never do them that way again... Day 1: Upper Dungeness trailhead to Charlia Lake. First kudos to all the crews that worked over the early summer to replace the footbridge over Royal Creek !

Completed bridge over Royal Creek

The original plan was to stay the first night at Boulder Shelter but we got there early afternoon and it was hot, exposed and the best site already taken so we elected to carry on to Charlia Lake instead. It made for a long day made worse by repeating the section from Frog Pond to the pass twice to look for a dropped water filter There is only a single site at the lake which was vacant fortunately.

Mt Mystery and Heather Creek

Frog Pond

Warrior

Constance Pass

Del Monte RIdge

Delmonte Ridge

Charlia Pass

The Needles

Tarns below Charlia Pass

Alphabet RIdge

Fading light on Ridge above Charlia Lake

Charlia Lake

Stream flowing into Charlia Lake

Day 2: Charlia Lake to Home Lake. We spent the next morning at the larger tarn fixing a hole in a brand spanking, never before used inflated pad . Pretty spot so all was good and then hiked back over Charlia Pass and headed for Home Lake.

Warrior Arm

Flowers seen on the N side of the Charlia Pass. Any flower buffs with ID's it would be appreciated!

The hike to Home Lake was better than expected as it remained cool and cloudy much of the day finally clearing fully after we arrived at the lake.

Alphabet Ridge

Constance Pass and Home Creek Basin

Upper Dungeness drainage

Mystery and Heather Creek drainage

Home Lake

Home Lake looking up to Constance Pass

We shared the lake with a group of 3 guys one of whom has spent a lot of time backpacking throughout the park and had a lot of info to share which was much appreciated. They spent the evening up on Del Monte ridge stargazing. We deferred as we were rather beat from the last 2 days and did not want to tackle the steep and rather overgrown trail to Constance pass in the dark. Day 3: Charlia Lake to Del Monte Ridge and then home. The original plan was to camp somewhere up on the ridge for our 3rd night but decided to lighten our packs for the day and use it more for reconnoitering for a future trip. It bordered on cold and was wet with all the dew heading up to Constance pass and windy at the top but the views fully compensated for it all. We then spent the morning slowly meandering out along the ridge to Pt 6756 looking for routes to descend into the bowls for both upper Home Creek as well as Heather Creek as possible destinations or for loop hikes.

Meadow above Home Lake

Home Lake in the Morning

The Brothers from Constance Pass

Looking up the W Fork Dosewallips from Constance Pass

Looking down Home Creek towards the Dungeness RIver

The Brothers

Mt Stone and Henderson?

Upper Home Creek drainage

Mt Olympus

Looking along Del Monte Ridge

Warrior and Inner Constance

Looking down Home Creek

Heather basin, Mt Mystery and Hall Foss

Charlia Pass

Mystery Deception, Hall Foss and Fricaba

SunnyBrook Meadows from Del Monte Ridge

Heather Creek basin

Shelters on wind swept Del Monte Ridge

Shelters on wind swept Del Monte Ridge

After taking in the stupendous 360 views of much of the NE corner of the Olympics we elected to head back down to our camp at Home Lake and en route made the brilliant decision to just pack up and hike out . I would highly recommend taking the detour up onto Del Monte ridge to any who ascend to Constance pass and have not done so. Just continue along the top of the ridge rather than taking the trail to Sunnybrook Meadows when it starts to head down off the ridge. Its an easy ridge walk with outstanding views. To any heading to the area in the near future water was not an issue as all the usual creeks along the trail were flowing still. Bugs were not a big problem yet, they were at their worst at Charlia Lake. FF

[Abert]

[RichP]

Spectacular looking area. I really need to spend some more time in the Olys.

[silence]

Heather Creek Meadows from the trail looking back at Del Monte Ridge. Certainly doable as part of a loop ... and worthy of exploration.

Heather Creek Basin

We were up there a couple of years ago and on our return ran into ErinB who used to be a backcountry ranger in the Olympics, but had just quit. She said those rock shelters are historical and the park doesn't want to tear them down. So, just saying, treat them kindly. Funny, when we got to Boulder Shelter it was hot as well, plus there was still time to get to Home Lake, so we elected to go on. Then a T-storm hit and we were suddenly rushing in the rain to get there and and set up the tent ... exciting to say the least.

[Geezer]

I have no idea what is the name of the flower in your first picture, but I noticed that one also from a recent hike to Constance Pass. The second photo is a flower known as Rockslide Larkspur and the last photo is a Western Anemone. By the way great photos.