North Fork Quinault and Skyline Trail: 2005

Sometimes I think Anton and I have a family motto of "Go Big or Go Home." So when we secured time for Monica to spend 5 days with her grandparents, a trip to the spa or a lazy walk in the woods was not on our itinerary. Instead we chose to hike the Skyline trail: a beautiful backcountry region off of the Quinault. This was one of the most challenging hikes I've endeavored, but also one of the most rewarding. The first day we drove to the trailhead, which was quite a trek in itself. Then we hiked up to Three Lakes, just at the treeline, where we camped for the night.

Leaving Three Lakes, which is at about 3200 feet, we continued on the Skyline trail which straddles the Queets-Quinault divide. This trail provides some of the best views I've seen of the Olympics. We saw a small black bear up ahead on the trail, shortly after we left Three Lakes. I was ecstatic, Anton was a bit more cautious. After a few minutes of watching him, he bounded away and we didn't seem him again. Unfortunately I did not carry a good camera, therefore did not get a good photo of him. But he's in this one, I swear, just look for his little face in the trees!...

It was amazing to look down on the Queets valley, completely untouched by modern development. We also had mind-blowing views of Mount Olympus. It's probably the closest view you can get in the Olympics without actually being on the moutain. After all, it's only about 7 miles as the crow flies. You feel so close, it's like you're looking down on the moutain.

The trail shifts back and forth between one side of the ridge and the other. There are many areas of challenging route-finding and unsteady ground. This is partially because the park service no longer maintains this trail as an official route. This part of the Skyline was definitely one of the more difficult trails I'd hiked. We made our way to Kimta Peak where we camped for the night. I remember feeling completely exhausted. It had been a very long day of hiking, worsened by the fact that the area around Kimta is mostly exposed and we were sundrenched. The spot we found for our tent (see the tiny bubble in the picture below?) was swarmed with mosquitos but I was too tired that night to care. Just above us at about 5400 feet was Kimta peak, but we decided against a scramble to the top and opted to hit out sleeping bags instead!

On our third day, we came to Lake Beauty, which sits almost 14 miles from Three Lakes. Cold and clear, this lake was the perfect spot for a mid-day swim. It was so refreshing, I almost felt like I'd had a shower!

But our day was not nearly over. After climbing up and over Lake Beauty pass, the trail skirts around the shoulder of Mount Seattle. This is beautiful meadowland and we enjoyed the last of our alpine views before finally descending to Low Divide.

We had now hiked 27 miles, most of which was challenging terrain. I was extremely proud of this accomplishment, yet also relieved we had finally reached Low Divide. We slept soundly that night and I remember waking up feeling very stiff and sore!

Now on the easy grade of the North Fork Quinault Trail, we opted to hike all the way out in one day. It was a 16 mile day, but we rocketed ahead and made it to the car before sundown. We had babysitting covered for one more day, so we enjoyed time to get home, shower, unpack, and enjoy a meal out before returning to normal family life.

So there you have it. 4 days. 43 miles. Breathtaking views. Pristine wilderness. This was a special hike because Anton and I got to experience it just the two of us. I enjoy hiking with friends and larger groups, but I have fond memories of this trip because we spent it as a couple. I also felt satisfaction that we had accomplished this amazing hike in just 4 days!