PoppsPhoto: Growing Up Backpacking - Part 2: Expanding Horizons

Fall Creek falls, Oregon,1985

As Andrea and Dustin grew, we planned a major backpacking trip every summer (except the year we built a new house). We explored beaches and rainforests, waterfalls and mountain peaks - and we fit in an epic canoe trip as well (see the BWCA post).

We had our share of bad weather and even an injury, but we learned to be prepared and to enjoy whatever weather we encountered.

1981 Olympic National Park - Rialto Beach

In 1981 we flew to Seattle and headed east to the Olympic Peninsula. We made our way toward the north side of the peninsula, checked out the Puget Sound and took in the view at Lake Crescent. Then we headed east to Rialto Beach on the Pacific Ocean. We backpacked a mile and a half on a beautiful sunny beach at low tide to the Hole in the Wall, which provided a great campsite. The next day we took a day hike 2.5 miles north to the Pirrie Schooner memorial. Our trip out on the third day was another lovely, sunny day on the beach.

Dustin and Andrea, Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, 1981

Dustin and Andrea, Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, 1981

Andrea, Mary, & Dustin, Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, 1981

Campsite at Hole-In-The-Wall, Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, 1981

Andrea, Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, 1981

1981 Olympic National Park - Enchanted Valley

Our next destination was by far the most challenging backpacking trip we had attempted - almost 13 miles up the East Fork of the Quinault River to Enchanted Valley with its towering walls and cascading waterfalls. The trail to Enchanted Valley was built to provide access to a 1930's chalet which attracted visitors for a decade, so it has a relatively gradual ascent of about 2300 feet. There are several river crossings on logs or bridges, some with and some without railings. The final one, a wide suspension bridge just before Enchanted Valley, has since been replaced by a log with a handrail.

The first day we backpacked half way to Enchanted Valley, finished the trip the next day and stayed for two nights. The weather was reasonably good, so we hiked further up the river. But as we packed up to head back to the car it started to rain - after all this was a rain forest! We planned to stop halfway back, but a wet camp was so unattractive that we hiked all 13 miles to the car in one day. It helped this long hike was downhill all the way, and that a restaurant and warm hotel room was available at the end.

On the trail to Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

Bridge on the way to Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

On the trail to Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

kkk

Camping half way to Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

Bridge on the way to Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

Bridge over East Fork of the Quinault River just before Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981
This bridge no longer exists; it has been replaced by a single log with a railing.

Campsite, Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

Day hike from Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, 1981

1984 Grand Tetons

In 1984 we drove through South Dakota to Yellowstone (see separate post) and then to Grand Teton National Park. After a couple of day hikes, we set off on an aggressive backpacking trip starting at String Lake. Our plan was to backpack up Paintbrush Canyon to Paintbrush Divide, then travel through the mountains to Death Canyon and finally down to the Death Canyon trailhead, about 16 miles from our car. But that's not what happened.

1984

1984 Grand Tetons - Paintbrush Divide

The backpacking trip started out well; the weather was perfect as we backpacked 6½ miles to Holly Lake and a beautiful campsite. The next day we hiked 1½ miles to up to Paintbrush divide in sunny weather, but when we reached the divide we saw angry clouds heading our way. Worried about lightning strikes, we hid under a rock as it poured rain and Dustin got very cold. But then the sun came out and we moved to a flat area to put on dry clothes. Camping wasn't allowed for the next couple of miles, so we hiked on to Lake Solitude and took the first available site.

We may have completed the hike, but I was tired and fell as I jumped from one rock to another at the campsite. The fall put a large gash in my knee, so we decided to end the trip at Cascade Canyon. The next day I limped the 9 downhill miles back to the parking lot while Andrea and Tom carried most of the contents of my pack. We headed to Jackson Hole and found a hospital where my knee was stitched up. I was told to have the knee checked by a doctor every day, so we cut the vacation short and headed home. We stopped at an emergency room in Billings on the way and arrived home with a injured knee that fortunately did not get infected.

Holly Lake Camp. Paintbrush Divide Hike, 1984

Paintbrush Divide Hike, 1984

Thunderclouds appear over Paintbrush Divide,1984

Mary and Andrea drying out after the rain, Paintbrush Divide Hike, 1984

1985 California and Oregon

In August of 1985 we flew to San Francisco, rented a car, and bought a car-top carrier because the trunk was too small for our gear. We drove north, stopping at Point Reyes beaches and lighthouse, Redwoods National Park and Crater Lake National Park. After three backpacking trips to iconic mountain destinations, we returned to San Francisco and toured Alcatraz Island and the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

Mary, Andrea, and Dustin (below), Point Reyes Lighthouse, 1985

Crater Lake boat tour, 1985

Alcatraz Island, 1984

1985 Sisters Wilderness

Our first backpacking trip was in the Sisters Wilderness in Oregon. We backpacked 3½ miles and 1000 feet up the Green Lake Trail past the impressive Fall Creek Waterfalls to Moraine Lake. We stayed for a couple of nights, taking a day trip toward South Sister Peak. It was a beautiful, sunny high altitude hike, cut short when some of us suffered altitude sickness. The hike back to the car brought us back down Fall Creek past its impressive waterfalls.

Fall Creek Falls, Sisters Wilderness, Oregon, 1985

Andrea, Dustin, & Mary at Moraine Lake with South Sister in the background, 1985

1985 Jefferson Park

Our second backpacking trip was to Jefferson Park in Oregon on a beautiful section of the Pacific Crest Trail starting at the Breitenbush Lake Trailhead. The first four miles of the trail climb 1500 feet to Park Ridge then drop 1000 feet to Russell Lake. Jefferson Peak looms above the alpine meadow surrounding the lake, aptly named Jefferson Park. We camped above the lake for a couple of nights and enjoyed sunny weather for a day trip down to the lake and surrounding meadows.

Mary, Andrea, Dustin, High Point of trail, Jefferson Park, Oregon 1985

Jefferson Park, 1985

Dustin, Mary, Andrea at Russel Lake in Jackson Park, Oregon, 1985

Leaving Jefferson Peak, Oregon, 1985


Mary, Andrea, Dustin, opposite side of the welcome sign, Jefferson Park, Oregon 1985

1985 Marble Mountains

For our third backpacking trip we went to the Marble Mountains in Northern California We camped at Lovers Camp Campground, then backpacked up Canyon Creek for about four miles (and 1900 feet) to its intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail, where there was a Forest Service Station, flat camping area, and access to water. Two nights at the campground gave us time for a day to hike up toward the white mountain peaks. When we arrived back at our camp we found we had been joined by two Pacific crest Trail through-hikers who told us some interesting stories of their adventures.

Dustin checking the map, Marble Mountains, 1985

Mary, Dustin, Andrea, Marble Mountain, California, 1985

Dustin, Marble Mountains, California, 1985

Dustin & Andrea, Marble Mountains, 1985

1986 Washington

In 1986 we flew to Seattle and explored the Puget Sound, took a ferry to Victoria, camped on the Vancouver Island beach, and visited the World's Fair in Vancouver, Canada. After two challenging backpacking trips we toured the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington on the way back to Seattle.

Thunderbird Park, Victoria, Canada, 1986

Carving a Totem, Thunderbird Park, Victoria, Canada, 1986

Mary, Andrea & Dustin, Vancouver Island, Canada, 1986

1986 World's Fair, Vancouver, Canada

1986 Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Our first backpacking trip was a warm-up hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness west of Seattle. We parked at the the Dingford Creek Trailhead (elevation 1400 feet) because sedans were not permitted to go further. Today the lot is known as the Dutch Miller Gap Trailhead and a locked gate limits further vehicle travel.

We backpacked along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River for seven miles to Hardscrabble Horse Camp (2800 feet) and found a nice campsite - with a picnic table(!). The next day we backpacked up the Dutch Miller Gap Trail about five miles (to ~4000 feet) and camped for two nights. Our day trip took us up a steep slope to a former mining camp near Williams Lake. After checking out the mining ruins we scrambled up past the Chain Lakes to La Bohn Gap, the highest point of our trip at 5800 feet. From there we retraced our route back to camp and the next day hiked twelve downhill miles to the car.

Dustin, Mary & Andrea cross a bridge on the way to
Hardscrabble Horse Camp, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986.

Hardscrabble Horse Camp, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986

A cold morning further up the Dutch Miller Gap Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986

Old mining railroad, Williams Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986

Dustin at La Bohn Gap, 5800 feet, the highpoint of our trip, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986

Heading back to camp from La Bohn Gap, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 1986

1986 Glacier Peak Wilderness

We took a boat from the south end of the long, narrow Lake Chelan to the Lucerne landing, then a bus for eleven miles up a steep road to Holden Village (elevation 3200 feet). We stayed at the trailhead campground, about a mile beyond the village, and the next day backpacked seven miles up to Lyman Lake, where we stayed for two nights. Then we backpacked about seven more miles, climbing over Cloudy Pass (the highest point of the trip at 6400 feet), past the Pacific Crest Trail intersection at Suiattle Pass, across Miner's Ridge to a campsite above Image Lake.

Our spectacular campsite had sweeping views of Glacier Peak - even from the toilet. We explored the area's incredible views and mining history on day hikes; a bit of a walk gave us wonderful reflections of Glacier Peak in Image Lake at sunset and sunrise. Eventually we backtracked to the Pacific Crest Trail and followed it north for about 20 downhill miles, camping halfway. At the end of the hike (1600 feet) we took a bus for 10 miles into the charming town of Stehekin, where there are very few, mostly old vehicles. (There are no roads to the city, so any vehicles and their fuel arrived on a barge.) We enjoyed touring the local businesses and spent a luxurious night before taking the boat back to our car.