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before you head to the high country come here... to do a little extra planning.

Backpacking trips and River floats

These are just some extra things we've done and don't have a real place to put them yet.

River floats

These are just fun dumb stuff to do. However you must remember the rivers change day to day, so what was safe for the family one day, might not be so safe the next.

S = easy SS  = easy but good fun SSS  = hold on tight

Snoqualmie River, Fall City/Snoqualmie Washington/S/ 4 average hour float time. We put in just below Snoqualmie falls (which is always a beautiful sight). Took 8 inner tubes, one 2 man raft (for food and drinks), two paddles, 4 adults and 4 kids. We all tied onto the raft and headed down stream. Sometimes we had to paddle because we were out of the current and needed a little help, other times we had to use the paddles to keep us from running into rocks, sticks or just to keep moving. This trip was a lot of fun. Easy going at times other times we had to hold on tight, but whatever the ride was all the kids had a blast. Some rapids, mainly float. With our 4 year old, we put her in a tube with handles and a fabric bottom. Needless to say by the time we all got out in Fall City... we were ready!

Trask River, Tillamook Oregon/SS/ride however long you want. We would just jump in and ride the rapids in one area. Soon to be longer trip and I will report more. We had good tubes and lots of rapids. This river is fairly narrow so tying together isn't such a good idea, it could be very dangerous. Some spots were a little shallow others pretty deep. Be prepared to get wet.

Backpacking trips

Cape Alava - Washington -  S/3 miles/no elevation gain/Olympic Peninsula. Beautiful day hike or great backpack trip out here on the Penn. If you don't camp you will wonder why you didn't. Boardwalks lead you once again out to the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. Camping requires prior permits (see Links to take you to permit information). From camp you can hike up or down the beach to some of the most beautiful Ocean scenes available here in Washington. Tonya, Todd, Jeff, Belinda & kids, 05

Queets river - Washington - /Olympic Peninsula. Head north to the Olympic Mountains. Head west on Hwy 12 to Hoquiam, then head north again on 101 to the Queets river turn-off. Here you will turn toward the Queets campground. Here’s the catch. The road itself is about 14 miles in off 101, however at mile 7 the road is closed due to a washout just about ½ mile past the closure. You park your car where the road is closed, then you will have 7 miles to go to the abandoned camp area. This is where we camped for 3 days, 2 nights. However because of the terrain… we rode our bikes those 7 miles. That was much too much fun. We know you all have bikes… so it’s really a matter of putting your backpack on and learning how to ride 7 miles of dirt road, some ups, some downs then an easy in with weight.  

Once you get there… the camping is pretty much open ground. We camped right on the river. There is no running water so you have to filter it. Wood for fires… you have to collect it (from the woods to the river) and chop up logs (bring your hatchet). There is a pit toilet (outhouse) but no bear boxes to store food. You could hang food from the tree’s if they weren’t old growth and the limbs were closer to the ground, not 30 to 40 feet up. So we put our food in a pack and hung anything smelly on the hook inside the toilet (it’s not as bad as it sounds) Bugs… extremely low, couple of skeets but not bad at all. There were a few biting flys down by the river when you were in the sun, we’d let them land then smack’em dead. There were otters, birds and elk but no critters that we saw (we heard a couple but that was it). Exploribility… endless. There are several trails, loops and roads that haven’t been touched for some time. The road washed out early in the spring so obviously nothing has been maintained since then. We were surprised that the toilet was unlocked, no tp though. The campground itself is a prelude to an extreme hike where beginning is having to ford the Queets river itself which... is pretty tricky. The trailhead is past the campground at the end of the road.

The best part is that it’s all free. No prior permits are needed and you pretty much have the place to yourselves. Because that road leads to the maga hike, you might run into somebody here or there, we just heard faint voices as they yelled back and forth across the river when they crossed. We talked to the gal at the ranger station up in Kalaloch and a Ranger that was on trail and never once did they think it would be a problem. You just have to make sure you burn as much trash as you can and carry out what you don’t burn. The toilets don’t work for anything but… well… a… poop… so trash isn’t a good place to put it. More info on the Queets click here.

Lake Ozette - SSS/9 mile loop/200 gain/Olympic Penn out near the most North East point of USA. Ok so the Lake Ozette loop isn't really around a lake, its in old growth forest and along the ocean. However your starting and end points are at Lake Ozette. This trail is definitely by far a keeper. You travel through beautiful old growth forest along 3 miles of boardwalk to the ocean, proceed 3 miles along the beach and then back in 3 miles (also on boardwalk) on the 3rd link of the triangle. Takes a little drive time to get there because it is on the Washington Peninsula, but definitely worth the trip. the trail can be a little slick so tenny's are a good option on this one. You should do it as a 2 dayer, the sunset, views and campsites are well worth the stay. Karin, Mary & crew 2/02, Ken, Karin, Markus &  Claire 8/8 - 9/04.

Alpine Lakes wilderness - Talapus - Spirit - Defiance/Thompson SSSS/30 miles/5040 gain/summit elevation 8440/Alpine Lakes Wilderness area - Northern Cascade mountains, Washington state. The trip is off the south-west corner of the designated Wilderness area. Take the I-90 corridor to exit 45 hang a left under the freeway (heading north) then right (northeast) up road 9030, trailhead at the end of the road.  Day 1 - to base camp near Island lake (4200), hitting Talapus (3360) and Olallie (3500ft) lakes along the way. Hike out to Rainbow lake (4300), Blazer lake (4300)and Mason lakes (4200)(apx 10 miles). Day 2 - up Mt Defiance (5584) and down to Thompson lake (3600) and back (apx 10 miles). Catching Lake Kulla Kulla (4000) on the way back. Day 3 - hike out, catching Pratt (3400) and possibly Lower Tuschohatchie lake (3400) on the way down (apx 9.3 miles). Approximately 30 miles total in 3 days. Map - Green trails Bandera # 206 or Alpine Lakes Wilderness by ALPS. Karin, Tonya, Tara, Bridgette, Shelah, Michelle, Jennifer, Lou reality we hit 10/12 lakes 6/05 Alpine lakes story and more info.

Wonderland trail SSSS/3300 loss & gain/elevation 2300-5600/93 total round mountain miles/Mt Rainier National Park. This is a wonderful, beautiful, long trail. There are many stop and start points so you can do the trail in sections. Some are more treacherous during the winter than others, so be very prepared. Even Spring time conditions should be treated as though Winter were still there. Because you are dealing with a trail around a very large angry mountain you need to make sure you are very prepared for any occasion. But it is definitely a must do in your life, well worth the effort.

Mt Adams (South)  SSSSS/14miles/6676 gain/non-technical/summit elevation 12,276/Cascades, Southern Washington state. If this is your first big mountain, this is a great way to go, up that is. Big but nice and easy, this start is out of Cold Springs camp ground. You will definitely need to have your endurance up it is a long haul mainly due to the elevation changes, but it is worth it. Mt Adams is the more docile of the big Mountains, but it is a big mountain. I recommend you do it when there is still a little snow on the main trail, otherwise its a little dry and chossy, lava rock is not fun to fall against been there done that. Definitely bring crampons and your axe no matter what time of year. Karin & all girl chick crew 9/02

Enchantment Peaks  SSSSS/24 miles/7500gain/summit elevation 8,520/Cascades, Eastern Washington in the Enchantments. The Enchantments are also known as the place of 1,000 waterfalls, and a rock climbers paradise. Many a rock to play on in this area. However note that snow stays late in the season here, so make sure you are plenty prepared. Unless you are an absolute animal you will want to take a couple days to do this trip. You can start at the parking lot at the end of road 7601 out of Bridge Creek campground and end off the main Icicle canyon road #76. However you will need to park a car there in advance, or your hikin or hitch hikin back. The gang 01

Grand Canyon, Az SSSSS/23.5 - 28+ miles/canyon floor elevation 776/ 6,084 loss/gain/Grand Canyon Arizona. Not for the novice... kinda hot in July and cool in the winter. This trail is starting from the North Kaibab trailhead to Cottonwood then back out by way of Indian Garden to Bright Angel trailhead or something like that. We will be doing this in a 5 day route... look for details next year kinda missed it this year. Ken 6/2001, 2002, 2003 Ken & Karin 6/2005 pending

Kalalau Trail - Napali Coast - Kauai, Hawaii SSSSS the full 22 mile coastline starts on the Hanakapiai Falls trail/ at end of the road heading North on Kauai's main road and runs into the Kalalau Trail upon reaching the Hanakapiai Beach. (see Hanakapiai Trail SSS1  for the 8 mile short version.) Some of the most beautiful trail you will ever see. Permit is necessary to go past Hanakapiai Beach. It may take up to a year to process permits so start early and note this isn't exactly one to bring kids on. This trail is very slick and dangerous even when dry. Clay, rock and water is what you are treading along with trails that disappear. This will be the toughest 11 miles you will possibly ever do, NOT A DAY HIKE. You will have river/stream crossings, mud, cliffs and major exposure most of the time. Depending on the time of year these can be very treacherous due to monsoon rains. Please do your research before you ever attempt this trail. But if you are up for a challenge this is definitely one for you. To see more photos and an article on the Kalalau Trail click here. Ken, Karin Jan 2006

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