A Trail-Trudge or a Life-long Joy
Welcome to Loophikes.com. This is the only website that dives into critical elements of “Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains,” the first and only book that is exclusively dedicated to loops that exist. Books that describe trails in the Olympic Wilderness have only published a few of the loops and leave a hiking void that “Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains” fills. I didn’t create the trails that form the loops. They’ve always existed but, for the most part, they’ve never been published until now. It’s like hiking with one boot while its mate has been lost in the shadows. For your benefit “Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains” will shine a light come fall of 2023.
Trails, trails, trails
“Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains” will be published, but until that happens, the best that I can do is to give you some insight into elements of the book between now and fall of 2023. Trails, trail, trails, you’d think that’s all this book is about. In one way you’re right but, if that’s all there was to it, I could have offered you a four-fold pamphlet, or maybe just a map.
Every one of the 27 loop hikes are unique. The trail itself is the mechanism that gets you from here to there. That’s no small task. But there is no question that the trails are only one element that delivers you to the home of animals, the flowers and trees, the peaks and glaciers, the murmur of creeks and streams, the fragrance of clean air and its soft touch on your face, and the grandeur of the wilderness illuminating what you behold and what you’ll remember.
Length and elevation, alone, aren’t enough.
Novice hikers often judge a trail by its length and its elevation gain alone. Truly those two elements are critical and can influence a hiker’s choice. Most trail guides divide their difficulty ratings into three forms: easy, moderate and extreme; too simplistic for complex trails. As you experience more trails, you’ll acquire a desire for more trail detail. The picture above is a hiker descending the Lake Constance Trail. It’s rated extreme. One look at the picture tells you that the trail is steep—3,200 ft of elevation gain in 1.8 miles, and out 1.8 miles of the same elevation loss. Because it’s an “IN-and-Out,” The Lake Constance Trail is not in “Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains.” I rated The Lake Constance Trail based on the book’s eight element criteria. The trail has a difficulty of 74.8. Of the 27 loop hikes in the book only five have a difficulty rating at or beyond The Lake Constance Trail. Why? The Lake Constance Trail’s length is short, gains elevation but not excessively, requires way-finding, every bit of the trail is rocky, a good deal of overgrowth must be overcome and deadfall is continuously present. The good news is no fording is required and water is readily available via Constance Creek, just another name for the Lake Constance Trail. I climbed this trail once—that was enough; it was a Trial-Trudge not a Life-Long Joy.
Let it be joy not trudge
The Sundown Lake, O’Neil Pass Loop in the book contains an alternative trail with a difficulty of 76.79, nearly matching The Lake Constance Trail. The difference between Trudge and Joy is that the Sundown Lake, O’Neil Pass Loop has all of the eight difficulty criteria, but it still delivers beauty, exhilaration, nature’s bliss and peace. “Loop Hikes in the Olympic Mountains” conveys joy and avoids trail-trudge.
All of the past articles beginning with March are accessible. Click here to visit the Archive page. Additionally, if you’re interested in what’s coming next, here they are:
April 15: “Resources within your reach”
May 1: “Animals you might see, won’t see and some to avoid”
Visit LoopHikes.com frequently. Photos, information and stories change periodically, but sharing information with you comes first. Questions? Contact me at LoopHikes@olympus.net. Your curiosity is the foundation of building a better understanding. Tell your friends.
The book is coming in August 2023