Our group of 4 adults had a fabulous four day backpacking trip up to Blue Glacier and back. We camped at the Olympus Gaurd station our first and third nights and up at Glacier Meadows. Other than some rain our first evening (including some pouring rain right as we were setting up camp!), we had amazing, sunny weather. Plus there were minimal bugs. We were very lucky with our timing.
I was surprised that the Olympus Gaurd station wasn’t super busy even on Saturday night. We didn’t get in to camp until 5:15-ish both Thursday and Saturday and found open, river-front campsites. The two new privies are super nice, too.
Glacier meadows, however, was very busy. Since we got in pretty late (maybe 7:30), we had last pick of campsites, yet amazingly used one at the very (uphill) end that was awesome and private. BUT someone had pooped right by the tent site, leaving it right on the ground!!! It was terrible. My friend was amazing for finding a way to scoop it up and go dump it in the privy. We were all astounded by the lack of respect for nature or other campers this showed. (Ugh!) we didn’t let this incident ruin our trip, however.
The washout right before Glacier Meadows was way more intense and involved more risk exposure than I anticipated. Per other trip reports, I used the ladder as footholds and the rope for balance with my hands. I did this both up and down, which worked really well (though was quite the workout with a full pack, especially given the stress).
I only hiked to the terminal moraine because I was stressed about going up the washout and wanted to get going (though some of my friends did both but said the terminal is better than the lateral moraine). It was a really spectacular, if not a primordial experience as my friends guide book said it would be.
All in all I highly recommend this trip, if you’re comfortable with the risk exposure of the washout. We left very happy, fulfilled, and sore.
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