Duckabush River — Tuesday, Jul. 5, 2022

My trip was originally envisioned as a four-day excursion up the Duckabush, over First Divide, and then down the North Fork of the Skokomish. But the snow in the pass exceeded my comfort level so I turned around at Home Sweet Home and backtracked out.

The trail through the National forest was in good shape. But between the park boundary and the Upper Duck Camp, I counted 140 down trees. Some you could step over. Some required a crawl under, a climb over, or a bushwhack around. The brush was pretty intense in places with the trail disappearing into ferns, shrubs, and small trees, sometimes way over my head. The intermittent rain throughout the whole trip ensured that everything stayed wet and heavy enough to be drooping over the trail. The trail was muddy in places and the streams were running full. The ford at Upper Duck Camp was knee-deep just downstream from the cross.

I spent the first and third nights at 10 Mile Camp and the second at the Upper Duck Camp. The camps were in good condition although the bear wire was down at 10 Mile and with a relatively new privy at Upper Duck. And there were quite a few flowers still blooming to brighten up the way. 

It was good to be out in the Olympics. This was a grueling 40-mile trip that left me exhausted when it was over. But can't wait to get back out again.