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Kristin McLerran

Hi! I'm Kristin. I prefer to split my time between exploring the wilderness of Washington and Colorado. I feel at most at home in the mountains and most at peace afloat in my kayak.

This hike is one of my favorite quick, high-reward routes on the Peninsula. The views from the top are really incredible, and very different from a lot of the popular hikes in the area. However, the fixed ropes that allow you to make it up the last .4 miles are NOT supported or maintained by the Washington Trail's Association. The "top" of the hike, according to WTA, is at 1.7 miles, which does not get you to the summit at 2.1 miles (or the spot where those amazing photos are taken). The fixed ropes are--according to rumor--removed by trail maintenance workers every once and a while for safety, and then replaced by the hikers who want to be able to reach the top. That being said, I have used the ropes plenty of times, and they have been fine...but remember to be careful and use them at your own risk.

This hike is an incredibly beautiful adventure into the heart of Olympic National Park. Enormous trees, moss-covered forest, alpine lakes, and stunning peaks can all be found here. My friends and I did it as a one night backpacking trip in May when there was still quite a bit of snow at both the lake and the basin. The trail seems to clear out quite early of snow all the way up to the lake; it was just our campsites that were still covered in a lot of places. The basin is a really fun place to play and glissade in when there's still snow, too, and we even had a few marmots chirping at us as we walked around! However, we did notice a lot of avalanche sluff and debris, which is a good reminder of how dangerous snow can be. Always watch for avalanche chutes, especially in early spring when snow is warming and melting!