Syntax highlighting of 00e616d ~( BackPack/2022-08-OlympicMountains)

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= August 2022 Olympic Mountains Backpack Trip with Colin Goggin =


After several years of attempted but cancelled plans to adventure together, Colin and I head out for 4 days in the Olympic Mountains.  We start each day (after coffee) with 45 minutes of silent meditation, and fill most the rest of each day with hiking and deeply satisfying conversation.  Our loop begins just below Deer Ridge at Slab Camp trailhead from whence we follow Slab Camp Creek down to the Grey Wolf River, then up Grey Wolf to its confluence with Cameron and Grand Creeks.  From there we climb back up to the ridge on the Three Forks Trail and descend along Deer Ridge back to the trailhead.  Much of the thought behind the route choice was motivated by my effort to keep it safe and small.  Slab Camp is the nearest trailhead to our house sit at Norton's, and each leg of the loop is under 5 miles.  The close trailhead accommodates Colin's need to drive out from Bellingham on day 1 and get back home again on the afternoon of day 4.  The short miles accommodate my uncertainty around my knees.

Once we were on the trail, we quickly left safe and small behind, each afternoon dropping our packs at campsite and heading out for supplemental day hikes up into ancient forests, wild blueberry meadows, and heady ridge lines high above the treeline.

As I write, sitting very still in the comfy chair back at Norton's, my knees are cranky, but my heart is full of gratitude and joy.  

{{/map.png|Olympic Mountains Backpack Overview Map|width=100%}}


{{/stats.png|Olympic Mountains Backpack Stats|width=100%}}


distance: 39.32 mi

min/max elev.: 1395'/6421'

elev. gain/loss: 11514'/-11448'


== Day 1 Slab Camp to Slide Camp ==

distance: 7.106 mi

time: 6:15:24

min/max elev.: 1395'/3049'

elev. gain/loss: 2390'/-2642'

Colin has good luck with the ferries from Bellingham and arrives before 9am.  We sit down and chat.  Monica and Colin share sufi and Buddhist parables and we have delightful reflection on life, the spiritual path and our respective journeys with family and children.

I'd left my beloved ancient external frame backpack back in Ashland but Colin brought not just one but two options of extra packs from his house.  After packing way too much weight on last month's bike tour and last year's backpack with Antonio, I've dedicated to taking less stuff, so my entire gear collection is spread out across the floor.  Colin and Monica assist me putting each item up for the test and creating a small but significantly heavy pile of rejects.  I opt for Colin's small Osprey pack which fits my body as well as the reduced set of gear.

Colin crams most of the food into the bear canister and we leave a couple pounds of that behind as well, and we are off.

Once in the car we are both surprised to find it is nearly 11:00, time did fly during our morning chat.  The trailhead is close and easily found, we don the packs and head out.

Descending Slab Camp Trail is much less steep than I feared.  The forest ferns are lovely, we chat non-stop, catching up on our lives and talking of how to care for our aging bodies yet continue to run and hike and climb.  I snap a picture on a bridge.

{{/colin-slab-camp-trail.JPG|colin-slab-camp-trail|width=80%}}

Original plan was to stop at Camp Tony at the mouth of Slab Camp Creek, but Colin suggests we continue on to Slide Camp which will set us up for more of a day hike at the end day 2.  Given the early hour and the happiness of my knees on this gentle descent, I agree immediately, and we pass Duncan Flats and Camp Tony, both lovely sites right on the shore of the Grey Wolf River.

The Upper Grey Wolf Trail quickly climbs above the river and we traverse the slope far above the water through forests of small diameter trees, we speculate whether fire or logging or some other factor has kept these trees small.  We reach Slide Camp still quite early.  I continue to fail to notice my camera is still in "under water" mode and snap a photo of the lovely creek next to camp.

{{/slide-creek.JPG|slide creek|width=80%}}

I explore an unofficial trail which rises above the camp and return to report my theory that it leads to Baldy which rises to an astonishing elevation of 6827' just 2.25 miles from our camp at 2200'.  After our Tasty Bite dinner Colin suggests we explore up the unofficial trail and we head up.

Colin tells of the marvels of Bellingham with its bike trails and University as we walk.  After climbing 800 feet, we reach an opening and I am able to get a satellite message out to Sunny and Monica and we turn to descend.  Colin finds what he is pretty sure are huckleberries and as he does not keel over 10 minutes after eating them, I join him in snacking on the wild abundance.  We discuss the merits and sadly lacking longevity of Altra Lone Pine shoes and are quickly back at the tent for early deep sleep.


== Day 2 Slide to Grey Wolf and Falls Camp ==

distance: 13.68 mi

time: 9:08:42

min/max elev.: 1984'/4078'

elev. gain/loss: 3322'/-3483'

{{/colin-slide-camp.JPG|slide camp|width=80%}}

{{/colin-hair1.JPG|colin on grey creek|width=80%}}

{{/colin-hair2.JPG|colin on grey creek2|width=80%}}

== Day 3 Grey Wolf to Deer Park and Maiden Peak ==

distance: 13.30 mi

time: 10:06:38

min/max elev.: 2063'/6421'

elev. gain/loss: 5558'/-2302'

{{/colin-and-the-maiden.JPG|colin maiden peak|width=80%}}

{{/david-on-the-maiden.JPG|david on maiden peak|width=80%}}

{{/colin-on-the-maiden.JPG|colin on maiden peak|width=80%}}


== Day 4 Deer Park to Slab Camp ==

distance: 5.239 mi

time: 3:46:51

min/max elev.: 2533'/5403'

elev. gain/loss: 243'/-3020'