Day 1
Took 101 west, turned left onto road 29, then drove to Wye Creek. Very nice area, fast running creek with lots of boulders, timber and falls. Unfortunately it made it impossible for me to navigate to a suitable campsite. Drove back to the bridge and found a road that runs along another creek. Found a spot. It had a campfire ring already and a flat area for the tent. I imagine this is a popular spot due to the beautiful and peaceful sound of the water. Let's get started! Finally! It was almost 5 o'clock.
I set up the tent easily enough by myself, very easy. I decided to go with the tent and rain fly even though there wasn't rain in the forecast. Better safe than sorry.
I heard far off gunfire for about 2-3 hours.
Then it was dinner time. I boiled some water with my homemade alcohol stove. I gave it a full dose of fuel, but barely boiled the 2 cups of water. Barely. I'm going to try turning the windscreen over for breakfast so the end with the most holes is towards the top? Is that the problem?
Anyway, it was plenty hot to fully cook my freeze dried rice and chicken. Not too bad. I wasn't very hungry but I did my best to eat about 2/3 of it before I packed all the food and garbage into a stuff sack and hung it from the bridge on account of bears!
About 6:30 I was starting to think there was no way I was going to see anyone, when a grey truck mosied down my road and across my bridge. He later turned around and headed back.
After that, I enjoyed a nice campfire until about 10pm. I have to admit I got a little lonely missing my wife and kids, and that stupid cat.
The roads coming in we're fine but the area has been logged so extensively that it kind of took some of the fun out of it. As a matter of fact, I may just pack up and head home tomorrow. Is one night enough for now? I don't think there are any trails and the brush is too thick to navigate. There are no views of any snow peaks or nice mountains. If you could hike anywhere you would likely see clear cutting all around.
Let's see what tomorrow brings of my planned two night stay in the wilderness of Olympic National Forest...
Day 2
Slept ok. Maybe 6 hours, woke up about 5:30. Some idiot has been trying to start a generator last night in the distance and then again this morning. What are you gonna do?
Things I forgot: pillows and pants. I made due by stuffing my clean clothes into the sleeping bag stuff sack. It's gonna be a cold morning without pants. (turns out I was fine. Makes me think not bringing pants was for the better.)
I'm glad I set up the rainfly, I image the dew and condensation could have been trouble without it. Although, most of the moisture was on the inside so maybe I would have been fine?
Things I don't need: big camera, small one would be fine, binoculars, candles
Probably still not strong enough to be comfortable back wise. Too hard moving around in tent on ground and setting up and tearing down.
In the morning I saw a fellow on the other side of the creek. Looked like he was picking up metal? He was sorta making a lot of noise. Said, "hey". That was it.
Packed up and explored the area. Drove up the nearest road on FR29, Nothing worth seeing. Drove down and crossed highway 101 into the Klahowya Campground. Beautiful campground on the Sol Duc river. Since there was only one other camper in the place, I decided to stay. I think the fact that I will have a picnic table and close access to the truck and its tailgate will make it easier on my back, less bending. Found the best site, #45, right next to the river. That's gonna make sleeping easier.
Cooked Mexican beans and rice, freeze dried, of course. Really good, I forgot to eat lunch! Then went for a 1/4 mile stroll through an interpretive trail about the settlers and homesteaders in the early 1900's. As always, pretty cheesy. I'll start a fire in a little while and try to hit the hay by 10 or 11 so I can try to get an early start on things tomorrow. If I got the gumption, I'm going to try the 5 mile Pyramid Mt trail. We'll see...
Highlight: watched two ducks land in the river and then float down what seemed to me to be too fast for those little fellows. They looked like kayakers headed the wrong way down and a little skittish about the whole thing.
Note: a cup with a lid would be nice. Water would probably boil faster? And it would keep stuff from blowing into it when cooking over a fire. GPS would be nice.
To bring, sweep stick to clean tarps, tables, etc.
Day 3
Woke up about 5am. I think I got about 5-6 hours, tops. Not too bad though. It was really cool waking up slowly with the sights and sounds of the river. I was soon wide awake and anxious to get on the road. My back and hips were pretty sore. Did the air mattress spring a leak last night?
Boiled two cups of water quickly, thanks to figuring out which way is up with my windscreen. The top has the most holes. Also, don't be afraid to fill up on the alcohol. But, be sure to use it on a hard surface as fuel and flame will spill a little. Had a nice rolling boil for a double dose of Starbucks instant coffee and one bag of hot cocoa. Mmm good.
My activity brought a Stellars Jay and a little chipmunk into camp to keep me company and help clean up any morsels I may have dropped - which I didn't. I was able to snap a couple of pics of my visitors as well as a couple of ducks that once again landed upstream and floated down looking for food.
I'm packing up and heading home. My back is ok, but I think it's had enough, don't want to push it too far, just enough. I hope to check out some sights on the way home, but I am anxious to get back and tell my sweetheart all about my adventures!
Stopped at Mount Muller trailhead. Looks like a good day hike. The loop is 12.5 miles, though. Possible itinerary would be to camp at Klahowya Campgrounds then day hike the loop or just summit then go home. Possibly camp at the top or halfway on the loop? It looks beautiful, but challenging. 5 dollars for day pass by self registering, or purchase one of the qualifying annual passes in advance.
One thing to do might be to make a list of things not to bring! I didn't need nearly what I brought.
The doctors bag was perfect for car camping, prolly not for backpacking. iPad was great to have, don't need Kindle at all.
Used about 1 gallon water per day, for backpacking could use less.
Stay away from the freeze dried eggs for breakfast!
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