Ok, I have a bit of a confession to make. Despite my sincere practice of meditation and mindfulness, I realized this weekend that my outdoor Zen-state-of-mind is solar powered. At low voltage, my appreciation for all that every moment has to offer is replaced by sour grousing about cold, and ordinary things like rainy NW weather. I was lured out by the fine weekend weather initially forecast last week. I should have paid more heed as the NWS folks quietly withdrew some of their sunshiny optimism. Additionally my mood was affected by this first trip of the year taken without the happy company of my old friend and near-constant companion, Ceili. Kristine & I had to say goodbye to her last month due to cancer. 12.5 active years did not seem like enough, but her spirit dances in our hearts, and travels with us lightly in the mountains. Despite my Zen short-circuit, Kristine was enchanted with her introduction to the Duckabush valley. She loved the wisdom of ancient tree groves, and the muscular green-glass flow of its namesake river. Other experiences during our three-day stay: colorful fungi, drumbeat of a lusty grouse, Indian paintbrush, moss that shouted green, and bold carnivorous mice. Jumbles of old-growth still tangle the trail as mentioned in earlier reports. Some new glass at the TH suggests recent break-ins, but none evident this weekend. As anxious as I am for serious mountain time, I think I will be more selective with weather. But perhaps I can continue to work on a more internally sustained sense of joyful living while backpacking; one that doesn’t fizzle and short-circuit with our NW climate. Regardless, I am fortunate to share my favorite places with a beautiful traveler like Kristine, and explore all the unknowns this life and love have to offer.

The trail is in good shape to the saddle above Big Hump. On the other side, on the descent from the saddle to 5-Mile Camp there are a dozen or so major trees across the trail, several requiring detours or shortcuts where the tree covers all of a switchback. This will require some major cleanup work. At this time of the year the wildflowers along the trail and on the rocky cliffs are magnificent. Bring your plant identification book! Driving to the trailhead, Duckabush Road 2510 has lots of potholes (as has its neighbor to the north, Dosewallips F.R. 2610).

hiked in Friday and camped at the base of Big Hump. Saturday we went over Big Hump and worked on trail clearing. There are several trees still over trail. However, we did clear smaller trees and limbed the larger. This will make it much easier to ""duck"" under and pass around some of the larger trees. We didn't make it all the way to 5 mile camp but hopefully the little we did makes your trip easier.

I walked the Duckabush trail for a 12.3 mile RT hike. Trail is in great shape until just past big hump. There are a few blow downs after big hump that require some effort to get over. Still so far the Col Bob trail is the worst I have seen as far as windstorm damage. Spring flowers and mushrooms are out! http://mosswalks.blogspot.com/

We were able to hike to 5 mile camp, but had to negotiate very many large blowdowns from Big Hump to the camp. All were negotiable either by walking around, going under, or climbing over. There were patches of snow beyond Big Hump, but only 1/2 "" at most. There is much clearing work needed from Big Hump to 5 mile camp.