Olympic National Park backcountry beta?

“Does anybody have any beta on this route or suggestions for other "off-trail" routes in the O.N.P.?”

“Bent,

I have no intel on the Hayden to Anderson route. I just eyeballed it onthe Custom Correct maps and it looks pretty rugged. Lots of little brown lines, really close together, y'know?

There's a realatively easy set of short traverses on the North side of the park. Route would be up Boulder Creek to Boulder Lake, then SE across the ridge, across the upper reaches of the N fork Sol Duc to Appleton Pass. Cross the Norht - South Appleton Pass trail, and continue SE around the ridgeline to Cat Basin and the East end of the High Divide.

The classic off trail route is the Bailey Range, the last major untrailed ridgeline in the park. Primary access to the Bailey is from the North. Approach via the Sol Duc - High Divide, and continue East past Cat Peak and on to the Bailies. If you're serious about off trail in the Oly's, the Baily is the trip to do.

strider”

“Ah, Mt. Anderson, now that was a awesome climb/trip. And the hike to Hayden Pass & Sentinal Peak was nice too.

If you want off- trail and solitude, do the route to Mt. Deception (second only to Mt. Olympus). It's a grand view and should be an easy scramble, although I did it in spring when still deep in snow.

There's also a cross country route from Upper Lena Lake to Mt. Stone/ Lake of the Angels that I never got around to.”

“Strider-
Thanks for the input. Lots of little brown lines close together is what I'm looking for in a traverse. My partner for this trip did the Bailey from south to north a couple of years ago. He also inadvertantly tacked on 2 days of bushwacking down Cat Creek to Lake Mills. Oops. Anyway, we've only got 4-5 days and are looking for something somewhat technical. Are there any traverses you've heard of or considered or done the details of which may not be published?”

“Bent,

There's a route I've eyeballed - and then decided not to try - that runs between Royal Basin and Sunnybrook Meadows, at the head of the Upper Dungeness Valley, NE Oly's. Looked too rugged for my taste, but it would be great to get into Deception Basin. Deception Basin has to be a wild place, it's due South of Royal Basin and could be part of that traverse route. You could even get a loop hike out of the deal. Up the Dungeness to Marmot Pass, then South behind Mt. Constance, past Home Lake to Sunnybrook. This would all be "on trail". From Sunnybrook, strike out across the ridgeline E and then NE towards Deception, and find your own route into Royal Basin. From Royal, it's back out the Royal Basin trail, to the Dungeness Trail you walked in on, and one last mile would take you right back to the car.

Or the same route, the other way, would likely work just as well.... whatever seems reasonable from looking at the topo's.”

“Thursday, May 27, 2004 · Last updated 10:58 a.m. PT

Funding shortages force cutbacks at Olympic National Park

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- Budget constraints mean there will be fewer staffers and fewer services this summer at Olympic National Park, officials say.

The park is one of many across the nation facing cutbacks this season.

The number of staff members at the 923,000-acre preserve is as low as it's been in a decade, park Superintendent Bill Laitner said Tuesday. A lack of adequate funding, coupled with a 4.1 percent employee pay increase, will also force the closure of the park's visitor center in Forks two days a week, he said.

"One of the things the Bush administration promised was to fund the national parks," said U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, who toured the park on Tuesday. The Washington Democrat's visit was led by officials from the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit advocate for national parks. "They haven't kept that promise."”

“Potato, onion shippers, growers to hold June meeting

Posted: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 04:02:06 pm PDT
By Herald staff

Washington potato and onion growers and shippers will hold their next meeting in Oregon.

The joint board of the Washington Potato & Onion Association (WP&OA) and the Washington Perishable Shippers Cooperative Association (WPSCA) will hold its annual summer meeting in Sunriver, Ore., from June 13 to 15.

The agenda covers a variety of local, national and global issues, pertinent to raising and transporting Washington potatoes and onions.


Rail transport issues will be led by Paul Vander Stoep of the WPSCA, who will discuss the proposed rail rate agreement for the upcoming season. He will be joined by representatives of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad to discuss rail transportation issues. Additionally, Randy Peterson from Tri-City Railroad will make a presentation on the company's new rail produce shipping program.

Rick Agnew of the consulting firm of VanNess Feldman will present updates on federal issues such as the state's request for funding for the rail car pool program and other appropriations requests; captive shipper rail reform; recent salmon listing decisions and the status of water issues and litigation.

A panel discussion led by Olympia advisors Charlie Brown and Jim Jesernig will review Washington state environmental, water quality, chemical usage, energy, land use, minimum wage, employment, tax and trade issues.

On the national scene, Tim O'Connor, president and CEO, and Mac Johnson, vice president, from the US Potato Board in Denver, will update the group on the Board's potato nutrition education campaign. Attorney Joel Junker will also give an update on the British Columbia market access issue.

In other business, the 11-member board will elect new trustees and officers for the 2004-05 year, adopt an annual budget and conduct other routine business.

Current WP&OA and WPSCA trustees are Mark Johnson, Jared Balcom, Ann Van Dyke, Blake Bennett, Jeff Jones, Bart Connors, Del Christensen, Marvin Vietz, Ron Stetner, Pat Floyd and Scott Nesbit.”

“Hmmmm, less staffers at the Olympics. Does this mean I can sneak my dog on the trails?

I wouldn't even try. I was told the fine is over $100., but I'm not sure if that is true.”

“You might as well go ahead and try. If you get caught you can argue that it's actually a large member of the rodent family!

Just kidding!”

“Had to walk an extra 5 miles of gravel in the park last year because the Dosewallips bridge was washed out. At least it had turned a major drive-in campground into the backcountry. BTW, we saw a cougar in the area.”

“Alpine, maybe I can put a rat costume on her, lol. Then I would get in trouble for taking wildlife out of the park.”