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.

Olympic Mountains Backpack Overview Map