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Olympic Natl Park 2000 Over labor day weekend 2000, Bill Carr, Mona West, and I (Joel Grow) spent 3 days and 2 nights in Olympic National Park. We went in at the trailhead next to Sol Duc Hotsprings resort and hiked a 25 mile counterclockwise loop past Mink Lake, Deer Lake, Bogacheil Peak, Heart Lake, and the seven lakes basin. We set off Saturday in decent weather and hiked a few miles to Mink Lake for lunch. At that point it started to sprinkle, but we were fortunate to have a (leaky but serviceable) lean-to to hang out under while we ate. Soon after we got back on the trail, however, the rain really started coming down. We were drowned rats on the trail. So this is what they mean by a rainforest... By the time we got to our destination for the day, Deer Lake, I was shivering and soaked all the way through. Fortunately the weather cleared, we got the tents setup, and the combination of dry clothes and hot chocolate got our spirits back up. The next morning we got some clear skies and sun, so we scrambled to spread all our wet stuff out in the meadow to dry while the oatmeal was cooking. The hike that day was better--mostly overcast with a little sprinkling, but some good views along the way on the high divide trail. We passed about 20 feet under a black bear, and probably wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for the hikers coming the other direction that were pointing above us and gesturing frantically. The bear didn't pay any attention to us and was enjoying plundering the berry bushes on the hillside. The night we camped at a gorgeous lake called Heart Lake. The weather cleared that evening, and we had some good dinner and cards before bedtime. 7 lakes basin Hiking along the high divide trail, looking down into the seven lakes basin Mt Olympus? hiking along the high divide trail, we frequently looked to our right (south) to try to see Mt Olympus. This was about as clear a shot as we got. Bill on the bridge The drop from this bridge was pretty substantial, and there was only one handrail. Bill scurried across before telling us he had a bit of a problem with heights. Deer in camp This family of deer wandered through the camp Saturday morning and were not shy in the least. Deer Lake camp This was our campsite Saturday night, at Deer Lake. We were perched on a ledge 10-15 feet above the lake. Heart Lake group (L-R) me, Mona, Bill, at Heart Lake on Monday morning. Heart Lake camp Me (left) and Bill at our Heart Lake campsite. Notice we actually got some sun! Joel and Bill planning Me (left) and Bill looking at topo maps while we wait for the ferry in downtown Seattle. Joel and Bill Bill (right) and I pose at a trail sign just after we started hiking on Saturday. Joel on the bridge That's me walking nonchalantly across the bridge, ignoring the huge drop to my left Heart Lake camp Mona and I enjoying some sun at Heart Lake dinner! I stir the pot while Mona supervises Above Heart Lake That's me standing just above Heart Lake How much food do we need? That's me weighing gorp, trying to answer the perpetual backpacker's question: do we really need all this food? Mink Lake We stopped here for lunch on Saturday and found an old lean-to to duck under when it started raining. Mona and Joel Sol Duc falls If you're anywhere near the Sol Duc resort, you'll see lots of pictures of these falls. For good reason--they're amazing in person (and a short walk from the resort) View I don't remember exactly where this one was taken