Late August, John, Pat, Jayson, and I spent three days hiking over 25 miles of the high alpine wilderness in Olympic National Park.
The High Divide trail climbs up into the Alpine wilderness of the Olympics, some place that I haven't been before. Due to the unusually high snow pack, even in late August we were warned to pack ice-axes.
The trail is listed at about 20 miles total - leaving from Sol Duc Falls, you can hike the Deer Lake Trail, then jump onto the High Divide. From there, you can descend into the 7 Lakes Basin before continuing on past Bogachiel Peak. Rounding Bogachiel, you join up with the Sol Duc Trail to return to the Falls. All told, you gain about 3,000 feet in elevation from the trail head.
Bugs are pretty heavy in the late Summer, moreso with the late snow melt, so bring plenty of bug juice and thick clothes. Even wearing a poncho and a sweater (in 70 degree temps, no less), John, Pat, Jayson, and I left with about a 100 love bites a piece.
