Backpacking on the High Divide Loop

Andrew picked me up at work around 2:30 on Friday and we headed towards the Olympic Peninsula. We didn't arrive at our destination until about 6:00 p.m. We only had to hike 4 miles to our first camp...boy was that the longest 4 miles of my life!

The first mile was there and gone in an instant. BAM! As Emeril would say! We met this nice older couple from Michigan who were so taken by us because we get out there and rough it in the woods...very cute I must say. I have to say the best part of our conversation with them was when they pointed to our Camelback/Platypus hoses and said, "Is that oxygen?" Both of us nearly died laughing...too funny. We simply explained to them that it was our water reservoir so we could rehydrate as we hiked along.



After our first mile, we came to Soleduck Falls...after that it was an uphill climb for the next 3 miles...as it got darker we had to whip out our headlamps and bear bell and keep on truckin'

When I woke up Saturday morning and climbed out of the tent there was a beautiful Lake just through the trees. The Lake was so clear and the reflection was so beautiful you could barely tell where the tree line stopped and the waters edge started.


Deer Lake

We hiked over this bridge to pump some fresh water from the creek and then we were on our way for the next leg of our journey...


Me on the Bridge by Deer Lake

This is Andrew and I on our way up to the High Divide. We went through all these beautiful Meadows with lots of berry bushes, flowers, and glacial ponds. Of course, the hike was relentless and steep but well worth it :)

This is one of the meadows we hiked through along our way. There was a glacial pond next to it and the meadow was covered in flowers and colorful bushes along the way. Only 2 more miles to the Seven Lakes Basin junction!


Colorful Meadow

A couple more pictures of us on the way to Seven Lakes Basin/Lunch Lake...

Most of the camping areas that we encountered along the trail has bear warning signs. For this reason, they had bear wire up in every camp so you could keep all food, toothpaste, etc up high enough that the bears would be unable to reach it.


WATCH OUT FOR BEARS! ;)


This is Andrew putting our food and supplies up on the bear wire at Lunch Lake (in the Seven Lakes Basin). We hiked into Lunch Lake around 3 pm and it was cloudy outside...within an hour, the fog started to roll over the mountains into the valley and within a few hours, it was completely foggy outside. You could hardly see anything around you but it was really neat...


Bear Wire

We found a neat camping spot surrounded by trees so we would be protected from the wind and rain just in case there was a storm brewing...we hung out in the tent and cooked dinner and played cards...I whooped up on Andrew in a mean game of Go Fish!!! hehe


Me at Lunch Lake


Me at the Campsite at Lunch Lake

As you can see, the fog was rolling in pretty quickly...it only took about an hour to go from clouds in the sky but clear in the valley to this...


Here Comes the Fog...

All of a sudden, the fog started to lift as the sun was setting...it was truely beautiful.


Sunset 1


Sunset 2


At Sunset in a Meadow by Lunch Lake


Lunch Lake on Sunday Morning

This was me after the brutal hike out of the Seven Lakes Basin with a view of Lunch Lake below....and I do mean brutal! Luckily, we got stuck behind an old slow poke so we got to rest a lot on the way up ;)


View Point at the top of the Seven Lakes Basin facing Lunch Lake

After we got out of the Seven Lakes Basin we continuted to hike along climbing in elevation until we made it around this mountain and up to the very top (The High Divide).


We Have to Climb to the Top...

Along the way we passed this huge glacial washout...it was really neat looking and of course the pictures don't do any of this trip justice at all...you have to suffer and endure the climbs to really appreciate the beauty of it all.


Glacial Washout

This was the view once we got on the otherside of the High Divide.


Valley Along the High Divide.

This was the view of Mt. Olympus on the way around the High Divide.


Mt. Olympus

These are some pictures of Andrew and I on our last 7 miles out on Monday. We are in the Soleduck Rainforest...


Me in the Solduck Rainforest


Me on a Bridge in the Sol Duc Rainforest

The last 1/8th of a mile we were hauling butt as fast as we could...all we could think about was McDonalds! As soon as we hit the parking log we got our gear in the trunk, changed into some clean clothes, and got in the car to boogy on down to McD's. I know what you're thinking...why McDonalds? Well, after spending 4 days in the woods with MRE's (Military Meals Ready to Eat), Oatmeal, Protein Bars, and Hot Chocolate...you want to chow down...BAD!

Needless to say, I felt like absolute crap after scarfing down a value meal and a 10 piece nugget. Which on the other hand, I couldn't have been nearly as bad off as Andrew because he ate a Quarter Pounder Value Meal, 3 Double cheeseburgers, and some nuggets...ouch