"Going to the mountains is going home"
John Muir
John Muir
Inspiration
This summer, I wanted to go to Glacier Bay, Alaska to do some glacier trekking with my good friend Jeff. Unfortunately we hit some scheduling conflicts and had to scratch our plans. After much research, I stumbled upon the NPS page for Olympic National Park...
Declared a national monument in 1909 by Commander in Chief Teddy Roose, the Olympic National Park became an International Biosphere Reserve mainly for the incredible diversity in flora & fauna, and the fact that a single national park can have it all: a vast coastline, glaciated mountains and a rainforest.
Declared a national monument in 1909 by Commander in Chief Teddy Roose, the Olympic National Park became an International Biosphere Reserve mainly for the incredible diversity in flora & fauna, and the fact that a single national park can have it all: a vast coastline, glaciated mountains and a rainforest.
In the Northern center of the park is Mt. Olympus, named after the British explorer Captain John Meares was quoted saying, "For truly it must be the home of the Gods". The scattered glacier-tipped peaks live up to its name.
As much as I'd like to climb the peak of Olympus, I am horrendously unprepared to make the trek. So I figured, I can at least make it to its base camp to 'mire its peaks. Over the course of 6 days, I'll be backpacking up to Glacier Meadows on the end of Hoh River Trail, and back. At a pace of ~16 miles a day, I should be able to make a loop with a little effort.
As much as I'd like to climb the peak of Olympus, I am horrendously unprepared to make the trek. So I figured, I can at least make it to its base camp to 'mire its peaks. Over the course of 6 days, I'll be backpacking up to Glacier Meadows on the end of Hoh River Trail, and back. At a pace of ~16 miles a day, I should be able to make a loop with a little effort.
T-1: Anxiety
Around 8 years ago, a few kids from my high school and I flew to Nagano, Japan for a 7-day trip with the Outward Bound program in the Japanese alps. The trip included basic alpine training, base-setting, digging snow caves, the main climb, and xcountry skiing. Being a pretty chubby fella back then, I dreaded the trip. But being a son of two passionate mountaineers, I figured it'd be a worthy challenge.
I'll be honest, I hated every minute of the climb. The trip escalated around ~5,000 feet while we churned through three feet of fresh snow with a full pack over our backs. But once we hit the peak, we could see the alpine range from head to tail, followed by a horizon that ended with the curvature of the Earth. And at that moment, I felt happiness I'd never felt before.
Once we returned to the base camp, we were served a feast that covered every inch of the table we sat. Bloated and content, the team went on to take a nap. But unable to shake what I felt at the peak, tossed and turned until I decided to snag my Outward Bound instructor. After a few minutes of small talk, I asked him, "why do you do what you do?" to which he responded, "to chase my fears."
In the world of Kendo, the Japanese martial art of sword fighting, there is a lesson that says to face your fears you must embrace it; live it, and you'll learn to love it. He feared the world of adventure but when he was put in it, he felt the thrill and came to love it - and found himself out in the wilderness over and over and pushing the boundaries, to a point where he even backpacked solo in the Amazon rainforest for three months. He eventually decided this was the life he wanted to live, and became an instructor, sharing his passion with the world.
I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous. The thought of lugging a 40-lb pack across 100 miles of the Olympic forest ties knots in my stomach. But I know the moment I climb over the glacier meadows to look over the North Western peaks and take a breath of the crisp Pacific breeze, the thrill will rush back, just like it has for me 8 years ago. The rush always puts a smile on my face. Some call it an addiction. In truth, it's just my calling.
Once we returned to the base camp, we were served a feast that covered every inch of the table we sat. Bloated and content, the team went on to take a nap. But unable to shake what I felt at the peak, tossed and turned until I decided to snag my Outward Bound instructor. After a few minutes of small talk, I asked him, "why do you do what you do?" to which he responded, "to chase my fears."
In the world of Kendo, the Japanese martial art of sword fighting, there is a lesson that says to face your fears you must embrace it; live it, and you'll learn to love it. He feared the world of adventure but when he was put in it, he felt the thrill and came to love it - and found himself out in the wilderness over and over and pushing the boundaries, to a point where he even backpacked solo in the Amazon rainforest for three months. He eventually decided this was the life he wanted to live, and became an instructor, sharing his passion with the world.
I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous. The thought of lugging a 40-lb pack across 100 miles of the Olympic forest ties knots in my stomach. But I know the moment I climb over the glacier meadows to look over the North Western peaks and take a breath of the crisp Pacific breeze, the thrill will rush back, just like it has for me 8 years ago. The rush always puts a smile on my face. Some call it an addiction. In truth, it's just my calling.
Prep
The six day trip will start at the northern entrance, by Madison Falls. The destination is Glacier Meadows, which means walking by The Ewah River, past Whiskey Bend, up Happy Lake Ridge (the Crystal Creek bridge is flooded and foot logs have washed off), around Appleton Pass, the Seven Lakes Basin, and up the Hoh Rover.
Each day will consist of several 2,000~4,000 ft ascents and descents through riverbanks, high ridges, rainforest and glaciers. This means being prepared, yet packing efficiently.
The pack itself is pretty light - tent, spare tarp, para cord, makeshift stove, duct tape, lantern, Life Straw, emergency warmers, clothes, toiletries, stitching kit, my trusty Leatherman, water bottle and a selfie stick. Most of the weight is in the bear canister, which holds six days worth of food - instant rice, beef jersey, ramen noodles, Cliff bars, lots of chocolate and electrolyte mixes. I'll need to pick up a lighter and some denatured alcohol when I get there, but otherwise all is good to go.
I have full confidence that all will hold up well through the week, but I'll need to be mentally prepared for the worst.
I have full confidence that all will hold up well through the week, but I'll need to be mentally prepared for the worst.