I did a 5 night, 6 day trip up the Duckabush River to Marmot Lake and LaCrosse Basin, over O'Neil and Anderson passes, and over LaCrosse Pass back to the Duckabush. This trip has been on my list for several years and did not disappoint. Lots of incredible scenery and solitude. I didn't see anyone else between the afternoon of day 2 and 6.
Day 1: Duckabush TH to 10 mile camp. My GPS indicated 10 Mile Camp is 12 miles from the trailhead. Thanks to the WTA the trail was in excellent condition to the park boundary with only three down trees that were easy to pass. Slightly past the park boundary to about a mile past 10 mile camp much of the trail was very heavily overgrown with brush and small trees. I lost count of the number of down trees between the park boundary and Upper Duckabush camp. Most were easy to pass but there were 6-8 that were a royal pain.
Day 2: 10 mile camp to Marmot Lake. The ford just before Upper Duckabush was easy. The river is very shallow. Water was so low at the second ford just past Upper Duckabush that I was able to cross on stones. Much of the trail up to Marmot Lake was overgrown and there were 6-8 down trees with only 1 or 2 presenting challenges.
Day 3: I spent the day exploring the Hart Lake, LaCrosse Lake, and LaCrosse Basin. There was one large black bear at a tarn above Lake LaCrosse that ran as soon as he spotted me. Smoke from the Bear Gulch fire became noticeable slightly after noon and became thick by 3:00 with ash falling from the sky. I'm glad I had packed a N95 mask which I needed until late night. That evening there were elk bugling in the meadows below Marmot Lake.
Day 4: Marmot Lake to Camp Siberia. It was a toss-up between this trail and the LaCrosse Pass trail for most scenic. The trail was in fairly good condition. Just past O'Neil pass there was a bear cooling off in a snowfield in the meadow below. Smoke was not too bad on the trail but the Duckabush and Quinault valleys were socked in. The trail from the junction of the O'Neil and Anderson Pass trails was overgrown in places. Smoke was noticeable but not too bad. I came across another large bear between Anderson Pass and Camp Siberia. He wasn't perturbed by my presence and continued browsing as I went by. The shelter at Camp Siberia is in the process of being rebuilt. The small stream at Camp Siberia is almost dry with just a trickle. There a two small streams down the trail but the closest dependable source is at the LaCrosse Pass trail junction.
Day 5: Camp Siberia to 10 Mile Camp. Trail in good condition but a number of down trees. There seemed to be more on the south side of the pass and they felt more difficult to cross. Little to no smoke. The best scenery was on the north side of the pass trail.
Day 6: 10 Mile Camp to trailhead. Uneventful but periods of noticeable smoke.
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