Route: Counterclockwise
Night 1: Deer Lake
Night 2: Sol Duc Park
Night 2: Sol Duc Park
When getting my permits, I had hoped to get Lunch Lake as my first night, but it was not to be. Oh well, Deer Lake was nice. Only "issue" was that I got there by 1pm so I had all day to kill. Yeah I know, big problem right? Spending half the day at a serene mountain lake? Somehow, I persevered ;)
Originally planned as a four person trip, this became my first solo backpacking experience because the other guys had to bail due to unforeseen circumstances.
I still wish any of those guys could have come along with me. That said, there was something kind of magical about spending three days in the wilderness on my own.
During this time I saw countless deer, two Rangers, a handful of hikers, and one black bear which I watched graze on blueberries and make its way down a hillside across from me.
The environment varied from dense rainforest and lush meadows, to subalpine heights and staggering mountain views.
The weather mostly cooperated except for a rainstorm that lasted from about 4 PM Monday through most of the night. This left me sopping wet by the time I got to camp that evening, hastily setting up my tent, preparing my dinner, and spending the rest of the evening in my tent with my book and a couple podcasts.
Overall, I found this hike challenging, but very worth it. It was an incredible experience, and I would definitely go back here again in the future!
Comments
miDude on High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
Any sense of the #of miles you did?
Posted by:
miDude on Oct 01, 2024 09:03 PM
Papa J on High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
The guide book says it's about 19 miles. I wasn't tracking them, but if the guide is somewhat accurate then I'd say I did 20+ due to side quests and walking the loop around Deer Lake.
Posted by:
Papa J on Oct 02, 2024 09:17 AM
Papa J on High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
The guide book says it's about 19 miles. I wasn't tracking them, but if the guide is somewhat accurate then I'd say I did 20+ due to side quests and walking the loop around Deer Lake.
Posted by:
Papa J on Oct 02, 2024 09:23 AM