johndavidjr Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Am tired of lack of new posts regarding Olympics. Went up a west-side river some years ago with girl friend, who freaked at ford but was eventually convinced. Magnificent dead-end valley. Saw an otter, a fresh elk horn, & (obviously) perfect climax forest. Met a young Fed ranger and a an old blithering guy. We didn't get too far and only spent one night. Nothing alpine. Apparently only a handful of people have managed to reach Queets Basin via this route, and it's horrible and stupid undertaking. There was road wash-out problems here in recent years and am uncertain of current status. Quote
Drederek Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Saw a black bear on the way up Mt Ellinor, about 2/3 of the way from Big creek campground to the "lower trailhead" 8 days ago. Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 For years I looked at Elinor/Washington from Olympia and never went. In basin below Mt. Stone with girl friend, we heard rifle shots from, presumably, illegal bear hunters. Due to this, we left. A year or so later, I passed through "gates" but never went to Mt. Stone. Quote
Pete_H Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Bear season is long, from August through November, usually. I dobn't think that area is in the park, is it? Quote
Drederek Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 The bear was way more scared of me than I was of him, he sounded like an elk running away. I ended up on the wrong side of the gate on one Mt Stone attempt. Quote
PChaus Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Climbed Mt. Skokomish 14 years ago with these guys: Quote
olyclimber Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 i went hiking naked on a river drainage in the Olympics. saw some gals. some dudes. it was rad. a good time was had by all. except for those that were scarred by my nakedness. Quote
Lazyboy Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 (edited) I believe Upper Lena Lake, Mt. Stone and Lake of the Angels are in Olympic National Park. Mt. Townsend is in the Buckhorn Wilderness of Olympic National Forest. I will be glad when they repair the Dosewallips River Road so it will be possible to drive to Muscott Flat again. I think you are right that not many have accessed Queets Basin by hiking up the Queets River but here is a link to a report by someone that did it. Link It sounds like quite the adventure and there is nothing stupid about it. Edited November 6, 2009 by Lazyboy Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 7, 2009 Author Posted November 7, 2009 "Stupid" is hyperbole for intelligent travelers. Troublesome and difficult seems accurate. As for Dosewallips, improving road access to so-called "wilderness" that lies 30 air-miles from one of nation's biggest cities; this would be very short-sighted. Might seem to make sense now, but similar decisions will be made ad infinitum into future, all based on precident. A relatively short time ago (circa 1920s-40s), plans for trans-Olympic highway were put on hold. No reason to believe current status quo is eternal. Quote
olyclimber Posted November 7, 2009 Posted November 7, 2009 it would be sweet to have a road right to the center of the Olympics. From there all i need is two cases of beer and an innertube. Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 10, 2009 Author Posted November 10, 2009 Seems to me self-evidently bad idea. Weird group called "Brinnonprosperity.org" sometimes posts on this Web site in favor of multi-zillion-dollar Fed road building into NP. This group also has links to truly extremist wing-nut groups, plus a few very local real estate brokers, buried on its Web site. The road reconstruction would start in Brinnon, (Pop. 803 including children etc.) Brinnon has ice cream stand on Rt. 101. A few regulars here go nuts when I've pointed this weird stuff out. Quote
olyclimber Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 Seems to me self-evidently that they aren't the only wing-nuts who post on this site occasionally. If I lived in a Brinnon and I had a business, I would most likely want it to prosper. Like an ice cream stand for instance. I would rather my ice cream sold, not stale or melting. I like my ice cream cold. And delicious. Quote
banos Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 I once walked from Sol Duc to North Fork Quinalt... a road would have helped make it easier.. and ice cream would have been awesome.. especially cold ice cream Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 11, 2009 Author Posted November 11, 2009 Going to bat for a Route 101 ice cream stand in favor of "wilderness" is okay if that's what you prefer. Here are some amusing, Palinesque links from Brinnon site. Basically, it's about world-takeover by the United Nations http://www.freedom21.org/what.html Climate change is a hoax http://brinnonprosperity.org/crichton2.html Logging and mining at all cost: http://community.pacificlegal.org/Page.aspx?pid=183 Unknown fantasy http://www.john-daly.com/ Etc. Too bad they removed link to "Christian" eyewitness account of dragon flying over the ocean. I love Washington, not least for its eccentrics. Quote
olyclimber Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 I know you'd love to talk about this stuff all day. I bet you're the best press these people get! Quote
Lazyboy Posted November 12, 2009 Posted November 12, 2009 No one is talking about a new road except you. What we are talking about is repairing a road that has been there since at least the 1930's. I think people should be able to have access to their National Park. Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 12, 2009 Author Posted November 12, 2009 Call it a repair. My understanding is, the road would be abandoned in part, and a new route cut along the sidehill. Why not re-open the road north of Staircase Ranger Station? Much cheaper. Rebuild the bridge over Queets? Extend motor access along Hoh? That's a really boring walk; absolutely not necessary and hated by all the really serious and True Climbers. F**k walking!! That's for ignoramuses who haven't read Aynn Rand! Endless stuff you could do like that... many cable car opportunities too for the ubermensch ice-cream stand realtors...so that "people can have access." Quote
Off_White Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Thing is, that road up the Dosewallips was there for years, didn't seem to have an adverse affect on the wilderness. Why is repairing (replacing if you'd rather) it going to suddenly cause the decline of the ONP? Fact is, not that many people venture farther than a few miles from the trailhead, that's part of the joy of the range, and having that road back in service isn't going to make the backcountry any less lonely such as you'd notice. Oh, you might have some more people as far as Dose Forks, some of them might even be fat and drive a Winnebago, I suppose it's best we keep those people in their place. Maybe the next time they have a rock slide over Highway 20 past Newhalem they should just retire the road, let the Liberty Bell chutes reclaim the asphalt. That's a great idea, isn't it? Quote
Off_White Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Oh, nice pics Porter, much better all around than road repair pissing matches. Quote
johndavidjr Posted November 13, 2009 Author Posted November 13, 2009 Construction of Rt 20 was opposed by certain elements. It was completed in early 1970s. It ought never to have been constructed. Without it, however, it's doubtful that a Jersey guy like me would know the Rainy/Wa Pass areas on many visits over many years. There are hot-dog stands in certain towns, however, currently, that wouldn't exist. Quote
olyclimber Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Others might argue that you ought not have been born. Certain hot-dog stand vendors, at a minimum. From there, the sky's the limit. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.