Olympic hike 22-26 Sept

“fun trip, bc, see ya on top of the ridge.”

“Yes indeed, have fun and we'll see you at the trailhead.”

“Everybody still going???

My company suspended all flights (have to get approval from VP of engineering to fly!), so I don't know if I'm still goin...will know more next week”

“Hello??? Is this still a backpacking site?”

“apparently not, but i'm going backpacking, again, tonight!”

“Biz,

Hope it works out so you can still play. Good luck working through the new rules at the airports. I expect they will be tedious at best, and frustrating at worst, but that's a price worth paying in the new world we've been thrust into.”

“I'll reveal a small part of my almost limitless ignorance here...what is/where are the Olympics?”

“The Olympic Peninsula is located in the Western part of Washington State. On the Olympic Peninsula lies the Olympic Mountains. The peninsula is boarded by the Pacific Ocean & the Straits of Juan de Fuca.”

“I'm planning a late November or early December Olympics hike. Gonna spend a couple days on the stormy coast, then hike through the rain forest and up to the snow line for several days. Love winter.”

“Thanks lips, that is helpful. (I have a lot to learn.)”

“Knowing what is coming up for the work week, I've got most of my packing done. Just need to load up the eats.

Biz, hope it all works out. Even though we'll only meet you for a brief moment on the way up.

For others, there's still time. Jump on board.”

“'..it would be nice if you brought
some bear spray for the four legged & two legged varieties of animals.'

lipstick hiker
9/11/0

WOW, bear spray is $35-40 at REI! LH, is there a cheaper place to get it? I can't even bring it back with me cause they won't let me check it in my luggage.”

“Biz, I wouldn't worry about brining bear spray. These are black bears. Unless you try to take the berries out of their mouth, they aren't going to bother you.

As for the two legged variety, hey, aren't we getting just a tad paranoid.

Besides, the last time someone had bear spray, thinking it was a big ol' bear, they caught strider coming out of the woods and let him have it. Damn he was pissed.”

“Biz, take that amount of money and buy lottery tickets. You stand a better chance to win that then have a bear attack you. And remember if there is a bear attack, you only have to out run the slowest person.”

“I'm more sceered o bugs than bears”

“Fritz, the "Olympics" refers to the National Park, mountains, and peninsula bordered by the Pacific, Straight of Juan De Fuca, and Puget Sound. The Olympics are to the west of Seattle within a hour of two of driving. The mountains are not of great altitude: glacier covered Mt. Olympus (the monarch) is just under 8,000 feet, but they rise quickly from the sea which surround them. The Olympics are famous for one of the few temperate rain forests in the world and receives tons of rain (primarily in fall/winter/spring. It is a fantastic place to backpack in the mountains or along the coastline.”

“The weather forecast says rain Sat-Sun, sunny the rest of the week. How cool is that?!”

“Hey Biz, let us know how the flight goes into Seatac. I've got to go out there in a few weeks. Phoenix too in November.”

“Hey Biz, this is the Pacific NW, of course it's going to rain. We have a saying, "If you don't do it in the rain, you don't do it." Of course anyone can predict rain and be right most of the time around here. There's always hope we'll see the sun.

Here's a link to the Port Angeles Weather forecast. It shows rain the entire time.

For other surfing enjoyment, here is a link to some arial photos of Heart Lake. It's in the center of the picture. The shape of the lake gives it away.

Here's a link to the Heart Lake Topo Map.

Rain or shine, can't wait to get out. Two weekends out of the woods and I'm having serious withdrawls.”

“Since we're a crowd, I'll have a 12x16 tarp on board. Won't have to huddle in tents that way, but it won't help those who might be in ahead of me. I'll have me bumbershoot as well, for those late night expeditions.

I luvit when the weather is cool and damp at the start of hikes. Chases all the wusses out of the woods and keeps things nice and cool for the uphill stroll. Hope we get a break on Monday or later, so we get some views. The insides of clouds get kinda boring after a few days - not as boring as work, mind you!

If you use the zoom feature on the satphoto page that Chas provided the link to, you can easily see the trails in the meadows. Way cool.

Is that a bear, just West of Heart Lake.....? Whadda you think, Biz?”

“somebody's talking about doing it in the rain

*ears perk up*”

“thanks Stride, jus when I had almost FORGOT”

“chinachas, I mentioned bear spray to Biz, because you can never really know whether you will surprise a bear, and need it. Also, since Biz is traveling alone, it would be nice to have spray to protect herself from human beings. I like to play it cautious.

Biz, I'll have to check with hubby on bear spray. He isn't home right now for me to ask him.”

“Biz, from a risk standpoint, bear spray is almost certainly unnecessary on this trip. Yogi will have his snout buried in blueberry bushes all month long. I've seen bears many, many times in the Oly alpine meadows during the late summer, and they hardly give you a second look, even when you walk up within 30 or 40 feet before you notice them. If they are nearby, you will often smell them before you see them, they smell like nothing else and it's a strong scent! This time of year, I think you'd have to startle an Oly black bear at a distance of ten feet or so before the bear would do anything other than huff at you and go back to his berries. Even then, the likely result is a good look at his butt as he heads out at warp speed.

From the standpoint of giving you a little peace of mind so you can enjoy the trip, by all means buy it. Pick it up when you're here, mail it to yourself before you head home, and you won't have to worry about the new airline rules.”

“Where are the group meal participants? Are those e-mails getting thru?”

“Talked with Alpine today and the Sunday Oregon group is all set. I'll call bc when he gets back as I see the potential for a problem. Strider maybe you can confirm but down here we have been hearing about 6 hour delays getting through the border. It might be best if he comes across Saturday night.”

“Hey Biz, you got any photos posted anywhere. I want to be able to recognize you coming down the trail so I don't get sprayed. Believe me, with the group I'm traveling with you might just have it out and ready when you see us coming up the trail. LOL

If you see this guy, please DON'T spray him!!”

“Chas, I don't have any specific info other than what's available to everyone else, but the stories sure make it sounds like the border crossing is a big hassle, pretty much both ways. Canada's on the lookout for interesting characters trying to exit the U.S.

It would probably be a real good idea for bc to come down Saturday.

bc, there's a drive-in campground about a mile from the trailhead if you preferred your tent to a car seat....

Biz, I expect to see Big, Red, Droopy/Weepy Eyes on the Sunday crew when they arrive! Get 'em, girl! They deserve it after all the bear baiting BS that's been pitched at you. Very nice of Chas to provide intel photo for targeting purposes.”

“Whoa, am I missing a great trip here?”

“There's still time WLD, hop on the bus.”

“WLD- a lot of the locals had to cancel but I'm going! Come along for the ride!

I'm packing my stuff right now.. DAMN I wish my bug tent was in. I hate slugs.”

“Body sucking, flesh eating, VILE leetle creatures..”

“I would love to go. But I have been out 8 weekends and extended weekends in a row. This weekend off. To see what the house looks like I pay for. And then back to the trail. Probably back to the Sierras. LOL, undoubtly back to the Sierras......

Biz you can borrow my tent but it is a little heavy. It is a Marmot... And all Marmots are heavy. LOL
except the live ones!”

“I am trying to get into the lightweight thang...so, I thought I would jes bring a tarp..

I'm crazy enuff ta do it, ya know”

“Biz, now would be the time to get laid off so you could extend your WA stay, but then you wouldn't be getting paid for the visit would you.

Even though I can't make it, I'm glad you can. You'll meet a wonderful bunch of people, in a beautiful place.”

“heh. I hike with lunatics. If it ain't lunacy I'm just not having fun.”

“from your post on the birds thread I've got to say Biz, you are gonna freeze your balls off up here! (I know...I know, but if'n ya had em).”

“Lipstick Hiker- Darnit, I keep hoping they'll fire me so I have a good excuse to hike more.

Sorry ya can't make it, but we understand :(”

“switchback, I know. I am a total wuss when it comes to the cold. But I can kick anyone's ass in 115 degree heat.
Ü”

“Hey China Chas, ho is dat?

go to my homepage, you'll find pics.

Cept I look different since the boob job..”

“Dat me Biz. Click around the other photo albums. I have tons of pictures posted.

Because of the real threat of rain I'm tarpin' on this trip. Otherwise I'd leave the tarp at home. No tent for me.

Nice pics by the way. Too bad you won't be up there to share some libations with us.”

“Biz, Boob job. LOL, so much for lightweight backpacking. But might make the scenery a "tad" more interesting.
Seriously, you guys have a great time. Wish I known about the trip earlier. Maybe next time.”

“Hmmmm, boob job? Biz, is there an entertainment department at Boeing that you head?”

“Well, I'm back a day early... We ended up doing a 20 mile day out, into Kananaskis, Alberta. Pesky grizzlies, lightning, hail, freakin' snow... you name it - we got it!

Sorry to hear there's a couple more changes, to the group.

I'll check out the border situation. I was planning on leaving early Sunday morning, which might be better than Saturday afternoon, anyway, as far as line-ups go. If I make the first ferry, I'm there at 10am. If I catch the second, I'll be there at noon.”

“Close, oh yes, it's getting close...”

“Bruce, what time are we meeting Saturday?”

“Old Timer,

Depends on Tekky. If he can get going early, we could meet in PA as early as 10 or so. We could then get more trail time, and get farther in, on Sat.

If Tekky has to stick to the orig. plan, we'll be meeting around noon or 1, and not get as many miles in that first day.

Call me tomorrow nite, at home. We'll know by then.”

“OT, got mail from Tekky. We'll be in PA, picking up the permit at Park HQ, about 10 or shortly therefater.”

“We're back . . .”

“Chas,

Glad to see you got home safe. I beat you to the keyboard and already posted a report....”