Tick Season Is Here!!

We hiked to 5 mile camp and back. Nothing new to report trail wise, no obstacles and trail is in good shape. Wildflowers are starting to bloom which was a treat.

Of note 2 out of 3 people in our group found a tick on them after this hike so make sure to check yourselves! Happy trails :)

Hiked Duckabush to 5-mile camp as a kickoff to my backpacking season. Almost called it off for the rain but glad I decided to stick it out. Trail is in great shape with evidence of recent log clearing (thanks trailworkers and volunteers!) and all water crossings are low enough to be crossable dry with shoes on given careful footing and balance on the stepping stones (see 2nd photo). Trilliums, bleeding-hearts and other spring forest wildflowers were on full display.

Saw a few other backpackers heading out as I arrived at the trailhead but they must have been bound for 10-mile or parts further, as I had 5-mile to myself for the night. Camp was in good condition though a few recent-looking log falls limited good tent spots a bit.

Trail was in great shape. Rocky at times. Though we arrived in rain it got sunny, later there was a mix of heavy rain with a tiny bit of hail. But the trail was fine when wet.

Beautiful hike, lots of variety in plants and trees, and great to have a mix of river, forest, rocks, and views.

Not busy but we saw people occasionally. All dogs were leashed or recalled quickly and leashed. Everyone was polite and friendly.

Road in and out had potholes but they were manageable in any vehicle, and it's not a long way in/out

Wild flowers are popping up and the trail is in good shape. There are quite a few switchbacks after 2 mile camp but the pay off view is worth it. Second time in this hike and will be back again

This was a 2 night backpack, both nights at 10 Mile camp.
Just like the drive in: from highway, to county road, to narrow pavement, to dirt and increasing potholes, this trail steadily gets less maintained the further you go. There are nice things about that, and challenges both.
The trail up to 5 Mile camp is in great shape; thanks again to the WTA work party that were cutting brush & logs & fixing tread. Everything is still pretty clear and very easy to follow until about a mile past the ONP boundary, then it starts to get more challenging. I counted around 15 logs that required more than just a step-over from the boundary to 10 Mile camp, many places where brush hides the trail, and some very boggy sections - particularly in the last few hundred yards before 10 Mile. The brush - thorns, bushes, and small fir trees - is going to get particularly bad if it doesn't get cleared soon. I found though that if I counted cut logs, and not just those downed across the trail, it changed my perspective. A lot of work has been done here over the years!
Ten Mile Camp is exactly as I saw it six years ago: bear wire is damaged but semi-usable, toilet smashed by fallen trees, but some nice camps with benches and even a table. Very cushy. 
From 10 Mile, the trail continues to be brushy but mostly easy to follow. There is one really big washout/fallen pair of trees that completely blocks the trail just before a major stream crossing, about 1.5 miles past 10 Mile. I was able to scramble 20 feet up the bank and cross on the fallen root balls, and get another 1/4 mile an un-named creek crossing, but turned around there (10T 482970E 5279779N).
Plenty of day hikers both on the way in (as well as the WTA groups out for the weekend) and on the way out, but I didn't see anyone at all past 5 mile camp. Heard a Barred Owl, Grouse (and saw a pair of females), woodpeckers, many songbirds, and was lucky to be visited by a Harlequin Duck in camp.