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I also looked into the Alpine Lakes area. The photos I've seen look spectacular. It sounded like one of the most crowded areas of the Cascades. It's one of the closest to the Seattle metro area and many of the lake camp sites required a reservation in advance just to overnight camp. So that for me killed the Alpine Lakes area. I'm saving that one for some time in the future when I can do a late season hike after all the kids are back to school. Late Sept or early Oct would be ideal.
Yes, one of my biggest worries about this trip has been the possibility of a lack of solitude. I'm used to doing most of my hiking in the Wind Rivers of Wyoming, where I have occasionally gone a day or more without seeing another human being, once you get away from the seemingly crowded parking areas. And my whole group does love the lack of crowds. This trip is a last-minute substitute for the Wind Rivers, primarily due to the continuing multiyear drought in those mountains. But though I am excited about backpacking in a new place, at the same time we hate to give up frequently having entire mountain lakes to ourselves, where we can set up camp anywhere we want to, and have great fishing just about anyplace that we are likely to be hiking or camping. But I will rule out Alpine Lakes, for now. That sounds like begging for lots of company! We are going this first week of Sept because the trip has been during this week for years, and was already planned. But if choosing Seattle again, we will choose a week or three later in the season.
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Decisions, decisions. The Olympics in early September would be a very nice place to escape the summer heat. Lots and lots of shade. When I was there last Labor Day weekend I was very pleasantly surprised at the lack of crowds. Once I got up the trail beyond 6 or 7 miles there were very few hikers. I don't know if you are driving out from MS but there are endless possibilities. Hmm, the Bob Marshall Wilderness or Glacier NP in MT, Sawtooths in ID, Wallowa Wilderness in eastern OR, Trinity Alps in CA.................
So many trips, so little time
No, we won't drive out, but will fly into Seattle, where we will meet our friend from North Carolina, and then head out to the chosen trail head, Olympics or Cascades. And what you're saying about the relative lack of crowds in the Olympics is starting to make that sound better and better! That is a very important piece of information. I wasn't sure if there was any place within a couple of hours of Seattle where there would not be lots of crowds on the trails.