North Fork Skokomish River, O'Neil Pass, Upper Duckabush, Duckabush River, Lake LaCrosse & LaCrosse Basin — Monday, Jun. 24, 2024

From staircase trailhead, the two of us went up North skokimish River trail  to 2 bear camp first day with great conditions. 2nd day went over First Divide with some snow on trail down to Home Sweet Home but passable with trekking poles. Continued down to Upper Duckabush and up to Marmot Lake fording duckabush river that was little high with snow melt but passable. Marmot Lake trail was clear to Marmot Lake. Had Marmot Lake to ourselves 2nd night. Trail to Hart Lake had some snow but passable. About quarter mile past Hart Lake turnoff lots of snow on trail all the way to Lacrosse lake could be seen so we turned around. Also O’Neil pass had 4-6 feet of snow at the Pass when my son took 1 mile trail up there from Marmot Lake so only passable with crampons at the pass, which we did not have. Snow patches on trail to the pass started about 300 yards from Marmot Lake. We went back down to Upper Duckabush Camp for 3rd night. Then went down Upper Duckabush Trail the 17.8 miles to trailhead, which had lots of blowdowns and trees to go under, over or around and most streams easily passable by walking, or making passable by using rocks, or using water shoes. Fording the rivers you will need water shoes and take off pack or loosen pack but all passable. I am 60 years old and my 30 year old son was kind enough to carry my pack across the fords. Upper Duckabush trail between Upper Duckabush and 5 mile camp has lots of vegetation so could not see trail looking straight down for much of way, so slow going as trail rough and narrow in parts combined with the many blowdown trees as obstacles. With rain during night the vegetation will be wet so plan to get soaked feet and pants or use gaiters or other waterproofing or plan to change socks at least once during the hike of upper duckabush between upper duckabush and five mile camp if recent rain. Trail maps say experienced stock riders only for that part of trail but our opinion is impassable to all stock riders as the vegetation overgrown and the many, many obstacles of fallen trees. From 5  mile camp to trailhead, the trail is much better maintained, easier, wider and more used. You can see the big difference  between National Park  and national forest trail conditions readily apparent at boundary. Lots of flowers, pristine alpine lakes and views all to yourself as did not see anyone else for almost 3 days between First Divide, up to Marmot Lake camp and back down to Upper Duckabush camp made the 5 day trip worthwhile. Many signs of bear between Upper Duckabush and Marmot Lake and between miles 17 and 8 of upper Duckabush Trail but no actual sight of bears. There are a few individual campsites around the 6-7 mile area of Upper Duckabush trail if you don’t want to go all the way to 5 mile camp from Upper Duckabush camp in one day or want to go a little past 5 mile camp if starting from trailhead. We camped at a great single spot right on the river around 7 mile mark on 4th night after having lunch at ten mile camp. Between 7 mile and 17 mile is where most of the obstacles and overgrown vegetation is on trail.