3d/2n backpack
permits: need reservations for backpacking sites and Annual Pass or Olympic NP pass to park
road: most paved with road work along several sections (we drove in on a Monday morning and wait probably ~45 min in total), at the entrance gate we waited ~30 min (driving out Wednesday early afternoon it appeared the wait was at least several hours)
TH --> Lewis Meadows (~10 miles): generally flat hike through the rain forest along the Hoh River. Easy and pretty (although monotonous) with a nice stopping point at 5 mile campground. Lewis Meadows had many spots to camp (meadow and along the river bank). We were along the river bank with a breeze and did not have any problem with bugs. We saw a bear (and her cubs) several miles in ~10 feet from the trail.
Lewis Meadows-->Blue Glacier and back (~16 miles RT): this was a manageable although long day hike. The first several miles are flat and then the elevation starts which is pretty unrelenting (again challenging but entirely doable with a daypack). The washout before Glacier Meadows was larger than I expected and the ladder/rope were doable although the numerous missing rungs, scree, and tree that it is attached to made me uncomfortable. I was glad to have gloves to wear to grip the rope/cables, and I was glad to only have a day pack on this section. The mosquitos were buzzing as we hiked through Elk Lake and Glacier Meadows sections and hikers who spent the night there confirmed that the bugs were an annoyance. The glacier was spectacular (we hiked up to the terminal moraine for the view and saw a group traversing the glacier.
Lewis Meadows -->TH (~10 miles): again easy, but long, generally flat hike out. Expectedly very crowded in the area around the trail head. We saw a herd of elk just off the trail.
We had no issues with stream crossing (all easy to navigate).
To the green team we hope you had a great trip! <3 the red team
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