turnpikegates

I'm planning to hike in on Tuesday to have a look. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm interested in the same line after reading the OMG over the past few weeks. I'm planning to hike in and check it out next week sometime if my partner is up for it. So far the only evidence I've found that it gets climbed is this photo on flickr:

Heard about this on KUOW on the drive home. http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/07/05/2089513/missing-climbers-body-found-on.html I was up there with my partner on Saturday night to climb the N. Ridge. We bailed early Sunday AM due to rain and poor visibility. We met a couple camped on the Hogsback on the approach that were chowing down after a succesful climb of the Coleman Headwall. Didn't catch their names but can't help wondering if this may be them. My heart goes out to the friends and family of those involved.

I sent you a PM. Let me know if you want another partner.

Head on over to nwhikers.net and look in the trip reports forum, you should find all the beta you need. Here's my two cents: Take FS 2419 past the turnoff for the Upper Mt. Ellinor TH. I can't recall the exact distance but it isn't too much further past the fork, less than a mile. The bootpath begins on the uphill side of the road, marked by a boulder and a turnoff on the opposite side. I've been up Route 1 a couple of times and it's a fairly straightforward scramble. There are a few places where route finding gets a little spicy. There is a point about halfway up the way trail where you come out of the trees directly in front of a cliff. Do not mistake this for the headwall which comes much later. The first time I was up there we couldn't see 50 feet, we went left and ended up working our way up a gully system that required some terrifying Olympic 4th class moves on mud and loose rock in order to exit. Instead, head right and into the brush and make your way up through a tight squeeze between the cliff and the brush. The ramp across the upper headwall is somewhat exposed but I've crossed it wet and it just required a little caution and some technical walking skills. Once you get to the notch above the headwall, it's a quick scramble up from there.

Col. Bob on the western side of the range is a good run. There are two approaches that converge for the last portion, one from the Quinault side (Col. Bob trail) and a better, steeper trail from the Humptulips side (Pete's Creek trail). The 7 Lakes Basin/High Divide Loop is a good loop that is frequently done by hikers in a day. You can take a quick detour to the top of Bogachiel Peak if a summit is necessary for your enjoyment. The views of Olympus and the Bailey Range are stellar from the High Divide. There are a ton more, as I'm sure others will attest to.

Not to change the subject, but Coastal Doppler Radar is coming to the NW in Sept. 2011, almost a year earlier than previously expected. This is going to be a huge windfall for folks that travel in the mountains, especially out in the Olympics. check this out for more info: http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=325432

Didn't mean to make the rangers sound unhelpful. I've always had great interactions with the rangers in Olympic and the the North Cascades. I have noticed, however, that some rangers are more likely than others to toe the line when it comes to what is official and what is commonly done by the public. Hope you have a great trip. I've tramped all over the Olympics but I've yet to head up Olympus. Best of luck.

You could always give the Wilderness Information Center for ONP in Port Angeles a call. If you get the right ranger on the phone, they will probably give you a straight answer. Generally, the park suggests that trail shelters are a cultural resource and should only be used by wilderness travelers in a true emergency. My experience has been that most of the shelters in ONP are large enough for your needs, so long as they haven't been crushed by massive blowdown. See Here: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7963518&highlight=olympic+shelters The OP of that thread is a wealth of knowledge about the ONP trail system and will probably have your answer if the thread doesn't help you out.

I've got a 75cm Raven if you can deal with the extra 5 cm...

Bump... Any takers at $130 for a pair of New-in-box BD cyborgs? Will consider trades. I need a decent, lightweight sleeping bag or ???

Price Lowered... $150 cash Save yourself the shipping cost and pick these up in Seattle. I found the box, so you get everything including the box they came in. Includes spacers so you can choose between dual or mono front points.

New, unused, have everything but the box they came in. Awesome crampon, I just need something more moderate. $175