High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop — Friday, Oct. 4, 2002

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

After early morning fog and mist on the ferry crossing and drive across the Olympic peninsula, skies began to break and show blue as I drove up the Soleduck River. Headed up the trailhead at 1:00 and arrived at Deer Lake by 2:30. Continued up toward High Divide Trail and ran across a mother bear and her cub in the middle of the trail eating blueberries in the meadow near the top of the ridge. Gave her time to look me over and move off into woods with her cub right behind before I continued up the ridge and along the traverse to the slot above Seven Lakes Basin. Clouds had rolled in thick since I saw the bears and I headed down to Round Lake in a thick pea soup. Set up camp at 5:00, but by 6:20 clouds began to lift and I took advantage of the remaining daylight to scamper off to explore Lunch and Clear lake. Skies were clear and stars were awesome that night. Awoke Sunday morning to more clear skies and explored more of the Basin and found several more bears stuffing themselves on blueberries. Packed up around 11:00 and headed up to Bogachiel Peak. Great views from there of the Basin to the north and Mt. Olympus to the south. Continued along High Divide enjoying the fall colors in the Basin as I headed toward Heart Lake. From there I continued to loop down to Soleduck Park and made it back to the trailhead by 5:00. Trail was in great condition, fall colors were incredible, and bear sightings made this a memorable fall trip.