- Multi day thru-hike from the West Fork of the Dosewallips to Staircase.
Daily hike report: - Dosewallips TH to Dose Forks is in great shape! The logs I encountered in the spring have been cleared.
- Dose Forks to Honeymoon Meadows. I counted 40+ trees down but I counted all the little ones too. It really wasn't that bad.
- Honeymoon Meadows- day-hike to Anderson Moraine. Sadly it was a cloudy day. Got feet and pants soaked on the hike up and it was cold and cloudy. But the trail was good!
- Honeymoon Meadows over LaCrosse Pass to Upper Duckabush Camp. I would NOT recommend going south to north on this trail! The south side going down has many trees down and a couple places near the junction with the Duckabush trail are getting over grown. It is doable as I am not the most athletic hiker and the pass is very pretty. Just know the south side isn't the funnest. I am glad I went North to South!
- Upper Duckabush Camp day-hike to Marmot Lake. I was worn out and found myself grumbling at the non-stop up. But the trail was good and the lake is nice. I didn't go up to Hart or Lacrosse Lake, I was having too much fun watching the bears at Marmot Lake and ran out of time and energy.
- Upper Duckabush Camp over First Divide and out North Fork Skokomish to Staircase Trailhead. The hike up First Divide is non-stop uphill and arguably nonstop blowdowns. I made it. Others made it. But be warned the trees are there and you will be slowed a bit. There is one tree between Home Sweet Home and the top of First Divide that is a bit unruly, but manageable.
All the water fords were manageable with crossing shoes. I got a bit turned around on the other side of the ford a bit prior to Honeymoon Meadows from the Dose Forks side. Bless the ones who build the cairns for the correct reasons!
I lost the trail on my way down from First Divide. I was going as fast as my worn out self could go and the trail makes a U-turn left (a ways past the sign to Hopper Way Trail) I kept going straight/up and found myself beyond where I should be. Knew something was up pretty quick and followed GPS back to where I found my error. Surprised myself at how easy it was to walk off the correct trail.
An amazing once in a lifetime trip.
Trip Report
West Fork Dosewallips River, Anderson Glacier & LaCrosse Pass — Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Comments
Boston Mike on West Fork Dosewallips River, Anderson Glacier, LaCrosse Pass
We went over the pass from South to North on 8/12.. We prefer climbing up the steeper side versus climbing down. Lot of blow downs and a lot of "slide alders" and other shrubs clinging the trail side wanting to knock you off the trail.
Nice views from the top.
We ended up camping at the junction with the Dosewallips.
Posted by:
Boston Mike on Aug 22, 2022 11:36 AM