This was a 4 day/3 night excursion starting and ending at Staircase into an area of ONP that offers so many opportunities to explore both on and off trail. I camped at Home Sweet Home and Marmot Lake. The bear wire is out at Marmot Lake so your only options are hanging or a bear canister. When I day hiked to Hart, I couldn't see a bear wire either.
The highlight of the trip was all the bears and cubs I got to see. Most of them were spotted in the Hart Lake/Lacrosse Lake area - all from a safe distance except a mom and cub at Hart Lake who were coming up the trail that I was planning on taking to go downhill. I made some noise and that led them to change course and we both went our separate ways.
There were a few blowdowns on the trail but most had a detour around them. Few muddy parts on the trail as well but can be maneuvered through careful foot placement. The stream crossing near Upper Duckabush and later at Duckabush River were easy rock hops.
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