Duckabush River — Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Duckabush to the beginnings of the Western Slope of Big Hump. Some blowdown, stream crossings fairly full of water but not too deep to hop-skip across, or too deep for the 10"" Danner (shameless plug, they're great boots) Go Devils. Tread in fine shape, a veritable boot-o-bahn. Trail a very nice suprise, went expecting woodsy walk in the valley bottom, some nice river. Got raging rapids, not-quite Hoh but impressive forest, peeks at snow-covered steep 'hills,' hints of more impressive peaks in the distance.. and then up Big Hump, some stupendous views, including a peek all the way to the Cascades, and local crags and rockfaces. Not to mention that no one else had signed the trail register in over a week, Ferry fares are cheaper in the winter, there's no lines... (the author wishes to note that he has no business interests on the Olympic Peninsula, nor has he rec'd any payment for this endorsement)