Flapjack Lakes via North Fork Skokomish River, Gladys Divide & Black & White Lakes — Monday, Jun. 9, 2014

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Went out for a solo three-day, two-night trip from Staircase in the Olympics. Day one, started on Monday to head up to Flapjack Lakes from Staircase campground. Pretty uneventful getting up there- no snow on trail, few bugs, trail in good condition, lakes thawed 100%. Saw five people total for the day; one pair camped at the lake. Stayed at the far west site so as to have the best view of the sawtooth range over lower lake. Lots of big flies and bees buzzing all over the flowers. Felt like I had my personal escorts, but they never bit. Some fish were visibly eating what I suspect was larva rising from the floor, for which the wooly bugger variety (lacking from my kit), may have been well-suited. Day two, hiked up the 1200 ft to Gladys Divide. Some snow maybe just for the last 1/2 mile. No post holing, generally nice conditions. After return to camp at lower Flapjack, packed up, and descended to take the fork toward Black and White Lakes. There was a fairly substantial blowdown 1/4 mile once in on the "primitive trail". Then it was a steep thigh-burner up the next 1100ft or so to get to the lake; one or two places with mild exposure on narrow trail canted toward long dropoffs below. Patches of snow above maybe 4100 ft. Saw two black bears 1/2 mile from the lakes. No huckleberries. Lake was partially thawed. Day three, ascended above B/W to the small peak listed at 4950ft NNE of lakes. Walked on snow and took some animal paths with a little scramble to get up there. Thought I'd be able to see Smith Lake but couldn't find it, though could just be the trees at the "summit" blocking my view. Then descended, packed camp, and took the primitive trail down to Big Log Camp. The walk on the ridge down from 4200 to 3600ft was glorious and felt very remote. Then the switchbacks and in-forest trail was just a fast exit. Not too many vistas along the way. Condition of the waytrail was could be worse; I never got lost. Some shrubs overgrown and crowding the trail, and one large blowdown about 1/2 mile from junction with the main trail. Lunched at Big Log Camp next to a gushing river, then cruised the last five miles on out. Hard work yes, but for a 2.5 hr drive from Seattle, in early June, the payoff was wonderful. I wonder when the last time anyone was at Smith Lake?