[pct-l] The Press Party

[rogercar@pacifier.com (Roger Carpenter)]

Monte Dodge wrote:
>>Just read the best book about the Press Party's traverse of the Olympics
in the winter of 1890-1891. The trip took six months. After reading the
book, the PCT is like a day in disneyland. <<

Thanks, Monte for reminding me of the Press Expedition in the Olympic
Mountains.  I recommend the book, too!  For those who are unfamiliar with
the Olympic National Park in Washington State, the Press Expedition route is
almost re-created with a nice trail about 75 miles long (I'm guessing at the
miles, but it's a nice 5 day hike at a leasurely pace;  much less time than
the Expedition!).  The trail follows the Elwha River on the north end and
goes over Low Divide Pass (3500') and follows the North Fork Quinalt River
on the south end.  Most of the trail is in river valleys, except for the
part going over the Pass.  Hikers must ford the Quinalt River south of Low
Divide, and it's tricky in early season (similar to Bear Creek in the
Sierras) but mellow after the snow melts. It's best to do a car shuttle with
two vehicles so you can hike thru from end to end.   It would be a great
training hike for PCT thru-hikers!

This trail was my first experience at distance hiking (I hiked it in
February, 1988 when it was totally snow-covered at the Low Divide Pass area,
and I almost fell into the river while crossing on a snow-caked log!).  I
did my first PCT section hike 3 years later in 1991.

Roger Carpenter
P.O. Box 651 
Vancouver, WA  98666
(360) 696-1746

* From the PCT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

==============================================================================