Flapjack Lakes via North Fork Skokomish River — Friday, Mar. 11, 2005

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

We backpacked to the Flapjacks Lakes via the Skokomish River trail from the Staircase entrance to the Olympic National Park. After turning onto trail #114 to the Flapjacks, there were a few early season rough patches and blowdowns, but generally the trail was in good shape and easy to follow all the way to the lakes. There was little to no snow on the trail until arriving at the lakes. The lakes remained largely frozen over, with a ring of thaw around the edges during the afternoon. Significant snow patches remained in the shady areas at lake level. Several designated campsites were fully thawed out though - mostly on the southeastern bank. We spent the evening there in solitude, not seeing even one other visitor to the lakes during our stay. Just after dusk we were confused by a green flash we could see from inside of our tent, but had no idea it was a meteor event until we heard about it in the news after leaving the park. The trail from the Flapjacks up to Gladys Divide was intermittently covered in snow beginning about 300' above the lakes and building to a couple feet of snow above 4800' to the divide. However, several previous boot tracks and patches of thaw made it relatively easy to follow the trail to the divide. The snow pack was adequately compact to walk on, with only occasional post-holing to the shin or knee. The weather was wonderful, and so were views of the sawtooth ridge and Mt. Lincoln from the lakes, and great close-up views of Mt. Cruiser from Gladys Divide. A great trip.