High Divide, High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop, Crossover & Deer Lake — Friday, Aug. 15, 2003

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

We stayed in Port Angeles on Friday night and were at the Sol Duc Hot Springs trailhead at 7:40 in the morning. The plan was to hike the High Divide trail in one day - we figured by starting at 7:40 AM, we'd have more than 12 hours of daylight. What a beautiful trip. We got to Deer Lake by 9:20 and then climbed past tarns to the ridge. Fantastic views of a beautiful alpine bowl. Reached the cut off to Round Lake and Lunch Lake about 11:30 and went far enough up the side trail to see the lakes from above. Gorgeous views of Mt. Olympus after that - plus you can see all the way down to the Hoh River from the ridge. The two miles up and down to Heart Lake seemed to take forever, and then you go down, down and a very long walk along the river back to the shelter which ends the loop. Finally, under a mile to walk back to the trailhead. Everyone we saw on the trail (enough people to know you were not lost, but there were long periods where we saw no one else) was backpacking but it was very pleasant to not carry all that weight. It took a little over 10 hours to complete the trail - out just before 6 PM. Ripe blueberries everywhere. There were some bugs but not bad, especially since we kept moving most of the time. All snow is gone and the trail is rocky in places but well marked and well maintained. I was worried about doing such a long hike in one day but felt fine although the last few miles seemed very long. I am in reasonable shape but not a great runner and we are in our 50's!!!