WA Olympics or Cascades late July/early Aug?

**zugcat** · 07-26-2013, 04:38

"Does Zugcat bring awesome beer to share? It is the PNW!"

Sorry I am not an beer fan, Ya, I know I have to surrender my man card and buy a Subaru. But I am fond of wine, whiskey and scotch

. So I at least qualify for a Subaru with a turbo.
I am just digging out from work. July is a CRAZY time of year for me. Come August I will be long overdue for a trip "out of cell phone range."

**Mumbles** · 07-26-2013, 21:12

I've got scotch!

**Coil** · 07-26-2013, 21:31

I'll bring an empty cup!

**Coil** · 07-26-2013, 21:33

Every time I get out with Zugcat I have a hangover the next morning. Lol

**Mumbles** · 07-29-2013, 08:41

Still a few folks making a go of it this weekend? Shall we set a meeting date/time/location? I could meet as early as late Thursday evening or as late as Saturday depending on what works for everyone that is interested.

**Coil** · 07-29-2013, 13:06

I'm in and can leave on Friday. I'll have to touch face with Zugcat first to confirm, we'll be carpooling. I haven't heard back from Gary R yet.

**BillyBob58** · 07-29-2013, 14:04

Originally Posted by Mumbles

Somewhere around five mile island or deeper? The hike is just rolling for about the first ten miles, then it goes up a bit more seriously.

...

For this old guy, that is a bit of an understatement!

Rollin, yes, with almost no elevation gain for 10 miles. Then I would say it becomes about 1000 times steeper either up to High Divide to the left or Blue Glacier to the right, feels like straight up for miles. What is it, about 4000 ft in 6 miles from Olympic Guard up to the foot of the glacier? But the part that gets you is that last 3 miles with about 1000 ft per mile!

But I think turning left(North) to High Divide is even worse ( or better for some)! If memory serves, only about 2 miles as the crow flies ( probably closer to 5 miles with the switchbacks) up to the ridge, with about a 4200 ft gain? From about 980 ft at Olympic Guard Station to about 5180 on the ridge? OoooWheee, makes my thighs burn just to remember it! That sort of thing was challenging when I was 30, but at 64 it really gets my attention!

But ain't no step for a stepper, or for the young bucks and gals, and some of the old ones! It's going to be great fun, and I wish I was there.

BTW, here is a little pic of a camp right before the trail turns straight up! My HHSS was perfection on that misty, damp trip!

**Mumbles** · 07-29-2013, 17:49

Cool. The shorter Lake Constance trail is only 2 miles but climbs 3500'. Since the Dosewallops road washed out the approach slog up the gravel road must be done first, but I'm certainly not in that kind of shape anymore.

**Gary_R** · 07-29-2013, 22:26

I might be headed up to my Property this weekend. If all you want to do is get out in the woods and hang, your more than welcome to hang there. It coastal though..
Coil and Zugcat have been there.

**BillyBob58** · 07-30-2013, 00:16

Originally Posted by Mumbles

Cool. The shorter Lake Constance trail is only 2 miles but climbs 3500'. Since the Dosewallops road washed out the approach slog up the gravel road must be done first, but I'm certainly not in that kind of shape anymore.

Holy cow, that looks like a rough one! Almost no switchbacks, just straight up!