Frog Hopping: 30+ Days in the ONP Section 1.b

30+ Days in the ONP:

• Off Trails - Section 1.a
• Frog Hopping - Section 1.b
• Basin Slumber - Section 2
• Balancing the Passes - Section 3
• Alpine Bliss - Section 4
• Returning to the Baileys - Section 5
• Into Autumn - Section 6
• Conclusion 

  In Port Angeles we dropped off our Ice Axes and other things that we wouldn't be needed with the altered route.

  I personally spent time shoving my face and doing a little blog update at the local library.

With our spirits down from turning back on the Cat Walk.  We still had to have a sit down meeting around camp about what to do with the remainder of the route.

  After sleeping on the issue; decided that we would catch up to our route schedule by skipping that section of 'trail'.

  The timing just wasn't right to go across that section of the Baileys at that moment in time.  I am a huge believer in reading energy's and all the vibes were telling me negative things.  Very sensitive to those sort of things and always go with my gut.

the spiritual Camp Wilder area of the Upper Elwha Valley

Suggested Listening:

from only getting 4 hours of sleep the night before; I requested a 'Half Zero Day' once we hit the trail again - Elwha and Quinault River Valleys with a side night at Martins Park - put us from 3 days behind to 3 days ahead of schedule - which later would be an issue for me

  The next few days were spend lounging around on gravel bars of the Elwha and Quinault Rivers.  Being lazy and doing laundry in the sun.  Unfortunately it was pretty hard on my mind set.  Thoughts were only on the Alpine Sunsets and walking next to High Lakes all day.  Not on the beautiful Valley floor that I spend so much time in during winter.

River Laundry (no soap) 

Trail Designs Ti-Tri Inferno - nothing but good things to say

Just as the sun was going down I was already asleep.  Something woke me and as my shelter fell half way down.  Recalled seeing a white flash as I awoke.  The next morning the nature alarm of the sound of hoofs hitting the ground made me jump out of the Sleeping Bag.   To my surprise it was a young Mountain Goat after all. 

Nivaun walking through an almost 100 year untouched forest

Gossamer Gear 'The One' on the Elwha's Camp Wilder Gravel-bar were we watched a herd of Roosevelt Elk graze undisturbed

the Park is busy restoring Botten Cabin in the Elwha Valley.  This is an off trail trip - hopping over marshes along the way

A Bare walk through the swamps and marshes of the Upper Elwha.  I did however end up with a few wild thorns in the bottom of my foot.  

Vibram Five Finger Seeya - crossing a temporary log bridge until the new one is in place

Reflections of Mt. Seattle while transitioning from the Elwha to the Quinault side of the Olympic National Park

A little Scrambling - as we head to a night next to the Martins Lakes

heading out to views of the Upper Elwha and more - I later bathed in the Icy Water

looking back at camp - which was sitting on the shoulder of Mt. Christie 

I got tired of eating Mosquitoes with every breath - the Head-net is a great invention - Mosquitoes also hate Tyvek - I had every inch covered

Woke up at 3am in the middle of a Meteor Shower - trying to beat the bugs - we were walking before sunrise - caught the light bouncing off Mt. Seattle from the Trail

crossing over to the Quinault River side

Items used the most during this section - later used a water bottle on the filter - since threads do not match up on the Platypus Bags

Crossing the '16 Mile Ford' 

Wandering down the Quinault River Valley - headed to our Post Office resupply

Started off the morning with a small Black Bear in the trail - hitched to the Post Office with a group of Boyscouts - after a short time we were back to walking the road - 20 miles to the Trailhead, so another hitch would be needed

To be continued........








Special Thanks to & Supported by:

• Volunteer's and the ONP Trail Crew's
• Rod Farlee
• Jay Landro
• Deborah Rigg
• Nivaun
• ExploreOlympics.com
• Gossamer Gear
• Vibram Five Fingers
• Luna Sandals
• GoPro HD
• Cock-a-doodle Doughnuts in Port Angeles

Disclaimer/Comments:  One should train their feet for some time for this type of trail conditions.  
  Biking, Hiking or Backpacking in Minimalist Footwear takes strong feet.  Since as we aged wearing shoes have lots most of our natural foot muscle. Give you body time to adjust to this type of Footwear before attempting anything you see on this Site.  Don't forget to Follow Me; I like to use the Hashtag #BarefootBackpacking - Tweet me your Questions.