The Elwha River Trail, Whiskey bend to Elkhorn Area

Well after months of cabin fever, gear modification and more cabin fever... The weather and the majority of things cooperated enough to get out and take a backpacking trip. Initially the hike was going to be the weekend after my birthday, but it wound up being Easter weekend. So we postponed the hike for the following weekend.

Basic rundown, Jesse and I went to the Elwha River trail off of whiskey bend road and set out to reach Elkhorn ranger station and setup camp. Well we made it there, and the really good spots were already filled, so we hiked between 1/3 to 1/2 mile to the semi-adjacent camps further up river to scope out a campsite. Rough approximation for mileage was 23.5 miles out and back. What a great way to kick the season off.

This post I'll dedicate to the pictures of the trip. Then I'll have post another one on gear reflection. How well some of the new stuff worked, any short falls, things to change for improvement, and rule number one if you know you won't need it ignore the crowd telling you to bring the extra heavy layers... Anyways here's the photos.

Gear list for the Trip can be found here.
http://rooinater.blogspot.com/2009/04/trip-planning-and-gear-list-for-elwha.html
or under gear lists, The trip and gear reflections will be posted soon.


My assorted grub for the hike.


My gear ready to be stuffed.


Me at the trailhead.


Jesse at the trailhead.


Micheal's Cabin


Jesse in a clearing.


Me alongside the Lilian River.


Jesse and I alongside the Lilian River.


Jesse alongside the Lilian River.


Lilian River bridge


Lilian River


Jesse hiking up to the second switch back after Lilian River.


Jesse finding a better way to cross the bridge (not using it) after I about ate it into the creek. The bridge was crooked and slick, worse than last year.


Some random fungus on a tree.


More water...


Colorful plants... I want to say Oregon Grape, but I'm sure that I am wrong.


Mossy forest.


Jesse near some water cascading down a rock face along the trail.


Same spot, but me.


Crossing a tributary of the Elwha to get out to the main river for a look see.


Jesse and I out on the bank of the Elwha.


A view upstream of the Elwha.


Jesse taking another route back to the mainland.


More wooded trail...


Me with a partial shot of Mary Falls in the background.


Mary Falls


more water cascades


Jesse alongside the Elwha near canyon camp.


Such clear water...


Wishing it was fishing season, and that I had a fly rod with me.


mmm... ClO2, treating some water.


Taking one last look before getting back on the trail.




more water




Jesse at Elkhorn


One of the 5 or 6 deer we say.


Camp and cooking














The Ultra20 quilt and NEOair.


The cold and brisk morning after, about 36 to 37 degrees outside.


My Myog vest that was keeping me very warm.


On the way to Elkhorn


Elkhorn




Trail shot after Elkhorn


Nice view