Olympic park traverse, Hurricane-Olympus-Hoh-Ruby

[tradkelly]

All right, I'm looking for some advice from you PNW local-types. Sometime next year, most likely mid-summer, I'm coming out there for an adventure run with my wacko People's Republic partner.

 

I'm looking for your thoughts, your advice, and some local beta on when conditions might be suitable for it.

 

I want to run from Hurricane Ridge to Ruby Beach, via Mount Olympus and the Hoh. Yep, all of the climate zones and conditions, from glaciers to rain forest. The proposed route is about 48 miles (inside the park, stopping at the Hoh visitor's center), 15,000' vert gain, net loss about 4,800'. Well, that's to Hoh visitor's center, and then tack on another 15 miles or so to the beach. I know what to prepare for in terms of weather (hoping for a weather window, of course) and general conditions for each discipline that we'll tackle (trail, alpine, glacier).

 

I'm curious about a few things in particular.

1. When would be a good month, typically, to go for this in terms of maximum weather stability, lower precip odds, stable glacier conditions, and alpine snow cover dissipation? (The route climbs a N-facing ridge approaching Olympus.)

2. What should I look forward to on the glacier approach/descent as roughly shown on the map? We're both reasonably experienced and have proper gear, but really would rather not take rope gear - alternative suggestions are quite relevant and suggestions would be appreciated.

3. Is downclimbing the glacier towards the Hoh River on it's edge feasible, or should we reconsider routing?

4. Anyone bump into some recommended research resources for our planning? I am expecting the climber's guide to the park, 3rd edition, shortly, but other crossrefs would be very helpful.

 

Thanks, all. Look forward to hearing from some locals. Please be nice. Cheers!

tradkelly

http://www.geocities.com/tradkelly

[wayne]

Be nice? Are you sure you have the right site?

 

I have developeed this assumption that with climate change and all... The season to climb here (for alpine anymays) is early June to july. The weather then is hit and miss but any later time and it could majorly suck. The guiding companies wouldnt do it after aug 1st cause the glaciers had huge impasses . Water up high on rock ridges can be an issue too. Good luck sounds fun and we look forward to flaming your trip report!

[cj001f]

by adventure "run" do you plan to do this w/o stopping?

[tradkelly]

Danke. We'd plan on doing this route in a day, yes; another ultra- type event, hopefully leave Hurricane in time to get to the start of uphill/offtrail climbing around Dodger Point at 0600 or 0700; that would leave us the morning to negotiate the ridgelines and put us around the glacier approaches from the east to Olympus by lunch or slightly after. Descent to the Hoh valley is problematic because it's not the typical 6k' glissade; we have to take decent care to get to the bottom in one piece, but quickly. Run steps down the glacier trail, if existant, or a moraine path if there is one on the western fringes. After that it's just a long flat grind out, possibly car-supported for light to the beach afterwards (I plan on asking a friend to crew and shuttle for us).

 

Gear would presumably be trail running shoes, lots of extra socks, goretex booties for the alpine parts, and both strap-on cramps and yaktrax (or similar). Everything else in the pack would be food, camelback reservoir, spare clothes & waterproof gear, headlamps, filter, and tech axe.

 

I'd guess that the crux of the route is timing for the glaciers; how soon to get there to avoid solid snow conditions on the north ridge and then the alpine bumps leading to Bear Pass and the Hoh Glacier, but still with reasonable crevasse and 'schrund conditions. Unfortunately, we'll be travelling and will have to either go for it (or not) when we get there, weather conditions notwithstanding. Things like knowing whether the rangers at Glacier Meadows will be present at that time of year, or if that's just a camp they sometimes visit - ?? I don't even know where to start (hence starting 8 months out asking questions).

[mtn_mouse]

I'd guess that the crux of the route is timing for the glaciers; how soon to get there to avoid solid snow conditions on the north ridge and then the alpine bumps leading to Bear Pass and the Hoh Glacier, but still with reasonable crevasse and 'schrund conditions. Unfortunately, we'll be travelling and will have to either go for it (or not) when we get there, weather conditions notwithstanding. .

 

TK- have you been to the olympics before?????

 

I have done several trail runs and one day endurance hikes with my friends, and I have to say, yours is impossible.

 

The glacier travel you mention is not that bad in the olympics. August is the best month for best weather. So what if the glaciers are a bit open and hard. It should not be a major feat getting across the Hoh and Blue glaciers.

 

I have run from dosewallips cg, over anderson pass, down to north fork, and up to low divide in a day.

Also run from dosewallips, over hayden pass, and out whiskey bend. I've gone from soleduc hot springs , over seven lakes basin, through the bailey range, out whiskey in a day. Long hard days. We tried several times to do dosewallips, anderson pass, low divide, out whiskey bend (80 miles) and always failed. We were able to do 50-65 miles ok, starting at 2 am, but all on trails.

 

Your route has good and bad in it. When you get to dodger point, and go south through the baileys, over humes and hoh glacier, climb olympus? and out glacier meadows, you are talking slow tedious routfinding and foot placement. I dont think it is possible to go that far off trail, with all the other miles involved in a day.

 

But if you try, August, warm weather, bivy sack, extra food, etc will be best to help you camp out unexpectedly.

[tradkelly]

I'll take 'impossible' under strong consideration. I don't have a better map handy at this point; this is prelim research, mostly. The park's handout map is not particularly useful except for getting to the ends of a trail; figuring out a diff manner for crossing might end up as completely acceptable. I just took a rough TOPO plot for initial discussion. If that wouldn't go (and I'm learning more about Olympus reading what I can find in TRs here) we may look at an alternate. I'm definitely looking at something in the 50-80 mile range, but taking on offtrail ridgeruns and glaciers is VERY negotiable! I'm open to other suggestions for a fun-hard day, but make it as close to impossible as you can. Thanks for reading; the replies back so far are much appreciated.

[mtn_mouse]

Your route up Long ridge trail to Dodger is a long, but easy grade up, switchbacks for a while, then a long easy ridge. emphasis long. but doable. The hard part is going from Dodger to Mt Ferry across the CCC way trail, and XC route west to Mt Ferry. Very slow. Going from Mt Ferry to Bear Pass, not too bad, elk trails now and then, some minor up and down. great views. From Bear pass a quick drop to queets basin. But then, another long slow traverse west to the snout of the Humes glacier, up and over blizzard pass, down to the Hoh. The Hoh is not too bad, and you could make time there. Olympus, I am trying to remember if there is a route up to East peak from glacier pass (Hoh/Blue). Probably. THe problem is, some have run from the Hoh ranger station ,and up Olympus, then back to the RS in a day. I have friends that did that, but somehow I missed getting in on that . That in itself is a lot of work. Go to the search archives on olympus one day. Hoh river trail is long but really easy. Whatever you do, it is a great place for one day endurance runs. Have fun.

[cj001f]

I'm definitely looking at something in the 50-80 mile range, but taking on offtrail ridgeruns and glaciers is VERY negotiable!

Realize how little traffic the Olympics get. With the exception of Olympus and a scattered few other peaks most see a handful of ascents a year. Couple that with high precepitation and you have "offtrail" that is more untracked than most other places. It's not "running" terrain. The descent to Hoh will probably be the easiest alpine portion of your trip; it sees regular traffic.

 

Also realize that the center of ONP is more remote than just about any other place in the lower 48. If you get hurt, wuss out, whatever your f'ed.

[AJScott]

Wow, that would be a STOUT day to say the least

[David_Parker]

Typically, I would suggest late July early August for best combo of predictable weather pattern and snow/glacier conditions.

 

Sounds like Mt. Mouse is your best friend it getting this figured out. It never ceases to amaze me how frequently people under-estimate the Olympics! Low relative elevations but not short on vertical, steepness and ruggedness. Plenty of vegatation too!

[johndavidjr]

Mt Mouse posted the correct route and it's way more than you're calculating. To answer your question about taking Hoh glacier to the river, you'd never make it, probably, because of canyons. Maybe you should consider a speed record on Olympus, which is at least a 40- mile round trip on trail, and only 7000 feet elevation gain.