We were lucky to be able to delay our departure by 1 day so as to avoid the rain. We arrived to the Hoh Park entrance around 9:30 and did not have to wait and found parking. We hiked into Olympus Guard Station for our first night's camp and met many waterlogged and defeated hikers coming out, never having made it to Blue Glacier. The initial 5 miles or so were pretty muddy, but to be expected after the heavy rains in the rainforest.
The river crossing noted by many previous trip reports can be done with a short calf deep water crossing or one can travel north (turn LEFT where most folks are donning and doffing shoes) and walk past 2 downed trees to a third downed tree that made for smooth passage across the river. You can make it across the next section by carefully picking your way across a log jam.
Plenty of nice camping sites available at the Guard Station. Saw Elk & deer hoof prints and scat, but never saw any Elk or deer. The next day was another 8.5 miles with about 3500' elevation gain up to Glacier Meadows. The trail was drier, and steadily climbed. We had to avoid hundreds of tiny Western toads (about 1/2") on the trail from Martin Creek, past Elk Lake and up toward Glacier Meadows.
And then we came to the "ladder". We all knew about it but weren't quite expecting the exposure and length of it down to the bottom of washout. The rungs were also spaced at an unnatural length for easily stepping down rung to rung. Luckily, the bees noted previously by the top of the ladder were nowhere in sight (I'm allergic).
Finally made it to Glacier Meadows campsite and there was only one other party there. As noted previously in other reports, the first privy you see is full and closed off, and the other one is up the trail toward the lateral morraine.
Another day of climbing about 1000' up to the ridge overlooking Blue Glacier and then down a scree field to the glacier itself. We had a great time exploring the glacier, didn't see any climbers or others. Spent another night at Glacier Meadows and back up the ladder, which was easier than going down. Unfortunately, one of my hiking companions was stung 4 times by ground hornets on the trail from Glacier Meadows to Elk Lake, near the Elk lake shelter. Luckily, he was okay and I became more bee aware hiking out. We went back to the Guard Station for our last night. Had time to dunk in the river, read and relax. Watch a few kingfishers and bats later in the evening.
Hiking out on Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we encountered many more people and a few groups of 6-8+ folks. All in all, a beautiful hike through some amazing old growth forest, and a hard hike at times once you start climbing, but wonderful to explore the Blue Glacier and see the base of Mt Olympus from so close up on a sunshiny day.
Comments