Hoh River Mt, Olympus #15

The Hoh River trail is in excellent condition and has reaped the rewards of outstanding work by the recent trail crew. Much work has been spent in re-routing a section of trail, as well as raising a long section of it between 5 Mile Island and Olympic Guard Station. Just before Glacier Meadows the trail traverses some avalanche gullies and is very thin. In fact, it is more a goat trail and caution must be taken. The original trail has slid out. Also there is sign at the trailhead warning of a recent cougar kill at the 14.3 mile mark, a cow elk who's carcass has been hid only 25' off the trail. Warning: it is no longer fresh! You don't have to look for the landmarks posted as your nose will pick up on it about 1/4 mile before you get there! There is also the usual bear hanging around Glacier Meadows, very accustomed to people.

Snow begins immediately above Glacier Meadows and lasts all the way to the moraine, though it is easily travelled.

Our first night was spent at Elk Lake, 15.5 miles in. It is a long haul with 65 lb. packs (8 lbs. of camera gear, ~18 lbs. of climbing gear). We were drizzled on all night long and hoped we could climb out of the clouds the next day. We did.

We spent our second night bivied near the base of Panic Peak on Snow Dome. As always, the views were fantastic as the evening sun set! Many photo opps. The direct routes up Mt. Olympus are gone, as the bergschrund stretches completely across the glacier. This includes the Fourth of July route. Crystal Pass is the only route going, which is fine because it is the most scenic anyway! Conditions on the glacier were excellent, with only a few crevasses open on Snow Dome, and safe snow bridges below Crystal Pass. There are currently no moats in the snow bowl below the summit block, so the transition from snow to rock is trouble-free.

After summiting on our third day, we collected our gear and beat it down to Olympic Guard Station, making for almost a 13 hour day. We were tired, needless to say. This long day allowed us to to arrive back at the car before noon on the fourth day, so it was considered to be worth it (except by our feet!).

Now is the perfect time for an ascent of Mt. Olympus, 48 miles round trip to the summit and a true test for any soul's poor feet! Mine should be back to operational mode within a few days...

Don Geyer