PNW GGG is a GO!

So sorry to hear that Ozzy. I''ll get in touch with you this weekend after I return to Washington to coordinate your refund

Alcon,

I'm going to do a recount this weekend to see how many people are coming as there have been a handful of cancelations and an add-on. I'd like to make sure we aren't too crowded there. At this point, I'm just counting shelters, not individuals.

I'll respond by Monday if there are any openings.

Ian- keep the cash, give the spots to anyone who needs one. Thanks for doing the organizing.

Ian – I owe you money since you added me in. Let me know how much and how to pay you

Will do Ozzy. Thanks and again, sorry you can't make it.

John,

Don't worry about it. I've had a few cancelations who asked to PIF what they previously paid on to another antendee. You have the good fortune of being a beneficiary of this gift so all you have to do is show up and have a good time.

Hello,

Just returned home this weekend and immediately started plugging away at my honey-do list. I have several emails/PMs I need to respond to, and hope to reply to everyone by Wednesday. If you've sent me an email/PM, and don't hear back from me by then, please feel free to reach out to me again. To say that my inbox is a disorganized hot mess would be the understatement of the century.

Sadly, there are a handful of BPLers who previously paid but now have a scheduling conflict. All of them have opted to PIF their fee on to the next guy/gal. For those of you who haven't paid yet, don't worry about it. You're covered by these generous folks.

I'm going to try and figure out how many shelters will be pitched at this group campsite. It's possible that there's room for more, but I want to hold off on that for the moment.

As previously mentioned, privacy was limited at Henry Coe and nonexistent at Pt. Reyes. Certainly wasn't a problem for me and from what I could tell, not an issue for any of the other attendees.

As a homework assignment for all of you, start researching a group site that can accommodate ~ 30 people and requires a hike in. Some of these campsites fill up quick so I'd like to start planning for the 2016 PNW GGG sooner rather than later.

Admin Notes:

I've yet to compile a group email list yet although I've communicated with some of you via PM along the way. Life has thrown some curve balls at a few attendees and from what I can tell, most of the out of staters will not make it this year, with one hanging on by a probably-not-but maybe-although-unlikely.

Considering how many we've lost, and that a few have joined in the last month, I think we're in good shape to add a three more shelters.

So if you would like to join, please let me know (in order of my preference but whatever) by responding, or PM/Email. There's no fee as all of those who've had to cancel have gifted it on to you. BPL is pretty awesome that way. I'm more concerned about shelters being too crowded than the number of people, so if you'd like to bring a family of four in one shelter, please feel free to do so. In that scenario, there would still be a two shelter vacancy.

Post GGG Hike:

I've been back from TDY for a couple weeks and have been running crazy at work. I'd certainly be happy to go on a post GGG hike but I'm at a point where I need to let the boss know sooner rather than later. My preference since many of us have never met before, much less hiked together, I think something in the neighborhood of ~10miles and suitable for a wide range of abilities would be in order. Enchanted Valley fits that almost perfectly but after looking at the Olympic National Park website, it seems that the valley itself is still closed for camping. But, they were supposed to update the status of this restriction on May 24th so I remain hopeful. I've sent the park an email asking for an update.

I'm not overly familiar with that area so if anyone has a suggestion, please suggest away.

Ned and I are planning to do a hike up the Valley probably after the GGG. With the plan on returning back to Seattle on Tuesday. I think it is safe to say that all are welcome, and we can make specific plans once we meet.

Thanks for the response Michael. I'll take Monday and Tuesday off as well and will formulate a plan at the GGG then.

See you all soon.

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to head over Thursday night after work or very very early Friday morning; I'm flexible on this aspect of the trip.

I'm also planning on getting some hiking in afterwards so will likely not return to Eastern Washington until early Tuesday afternoon, as noted one response above. If you're ok with all this and want to join the hike, I've got room in my truck for you.

Full disclosure, I'm known to scream-sing Celine Dion songs for hours at a time.

Let me know.

Here's the response from the NPS about Enchanted Valley. I know there are some campsites just before and beyond the Valley. I'm good for whatever,

Hi Ian —

Bears are still present and quite active in the Enchanted Valley and the camping closure remains in effect until further notice. The goal is to keep all human food completely out of reach of the bears in that area so that they return to their natural food sources and no longer associate humans with food.

With June 12 only a week away, I would recommend planning on camping somewhere other than Enchanted Valley. Fortunately, Olympic has no shortage of enchanting spots!

Barb Maynes

Public Information Officer
Olympic National Park
360-565-3005 (office)
360-477-5326 (cell)

Ian- I will be taking my oldest daughter for hike up the N. Fork of the Skokomish River. It starts right by the Staircase Ranger Station. Michael G. will be along as well, but can certainly do whatever milage he likes. I think my daughter and I will do about 10 to 12 miles a day. The plan is to hike Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, returning home Tuesday night. I am bringing my Tenkara kit, as I hear the N. Fork is great fishing. With a bit of milage, the upper Enchanted Valley can be reached that I think is beyond the restricted camping area. A lot will be left up to the weather and my daughter's willingness to do miles.

-Ned

I'll be sporting my tenkara rig as well. If called for, remember to bring your fishing license.

Separately, in terms of gear, what is the tradition in terms of what to bring for show and tell? Normally, I would bring the bare minimum I need. But if part of the purpose here is to get to check out other cool stuff, I can bring some extra goodies I normally would not use on this trip.

At my first GGG, a few of us posted specific items we were interested in seeing, some people responded on the thread, and we linked up at the GGG to check the gear out.

A few items I plan on bringing

BD mega light
MLD prophet
Steripen Ultra
Flat Cat gear Bobcat dry baking system and will bake some muffins, brownies, etc

I'm also bringing some Chlorfloc. It's a good water purifier that is a great option for treating nasty water that doesn't get a lot of chatter here at BPL

I'll list more later.

Some items I could bring if there is interest experssed:

Zpacks Arc Blast
Zpacks zero pack
Altai Hok skis
Roger Caffin remote canister stove
Zpacks Hexamid twin

Stuff I will bring to use that might be of interest
Montbell ex light anorak
Zpacks flat tarp
EE quilt

Any further thoughts on whether Saturday dinner will be a potluck, or is everyone doing their own thing? I need to wedge preparation in amongst my work schedule if I'm bringing for the group.

Sounds like fun but haven't heard a strong response in favor of a potluck. At this point, maybe we should just skip it?

Thoughts?

Diane,

Thanks for checking this out.

I'm signed up to attend but am not sure where this is. Is this part of a state park on some side of Lake Cushman? Previous info suggested it is the south group campsite. Is this still correct?

Thanks,

Daryl

Hi Daryl,

I've never been there.

I'm plugging their address into my GPS with the hopes that my all seeing all knowing gps will get me there.

Address as posted on website:

7211 N Lake Cushman Rd., Hoodsport, WA 98548

Here are the directions from their website:

http://www.skokomishpark.com/global/directions.php

From Olympia, WA
Head North on scenic US HWY 101 to Hoodsport
Turn left onto HWY 119 (Lake Cushman Rd)
Campground is located 7 miles West on Lake Cushman
Approximately 1 hour drive from Olympia

From Seattle, WA
Head South on I-5 toward Tacoma/Olympia
In Olympia – Take Exit 104 to merge onto US HWY 101 North toward Aberdeen/Port Angeles
Follow US HWY 101 to Hoodsport
Turn left onto HWY 119 (Lake Cushman Rd)
Campground is located 7 miles West on Lake Cushman
Approximately 2 hour drive from Seattle, WA

From Portland, OR
Head North on I-5
Take Exit 104 to merge onto US HWY 101 North toward Aberdeen/Port Angeles
Follow US HWY 101 to Hoodsport
Turn left onto HWY 119 (Lake Cushman Rd)
Campground is located 7 miles West on Lake Cushman
Approximately 2 hour and 45 minute drive from Portland, OR

From Port Angeles, WA
Head South on scenic US HWY 101 to Hoodsport
As you enter Hoodsport turn right onto HWY 119 (Lake Cushman Rd)
Campground is located 7 miles West on Lake Cushman
Approximately 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Port Angeles

From Victoria, British Columbia (North)
Take the Victoria to Port Angeles ferry to Port Angeles
Head South on scenic US HWY 101 to Hoodsport
As you enter Hoodsport turn right onto HWY 119 (Lake Cushman Rd)
Campground is located 7 miles West on Lake Cushman

Ian,

Thanks.

I see that you posted the website on earlier pages of this thread. I had glossed over it.

Are we still in the SOUTH group campsite?

Daryl

I've spent a bunch of time away from home lately, so taking extra time off to go on a group hike would make me very unpopular at home right now. I've got a couple ideas for a BPL group hike in Washington later this summer and hope to hike with many of you then. Looking at triple temperature digits today, and I've never seen the rivers this low in June, so this is all assuming Washington State isn't completely on fire later this summer.

Daryl,

Yes sir. South group campsite. I'll post a picture of my truck later. If I happen to forget, look for a black Toyota Tundra complete with canopy and 101st abn/aaslt and 10th Mountain stickers.

I don't have a super cool purple blaze GGG sign like Ken's but I'll try to fabricate something between now and then.

On Google maps, the south entrance is the next left after the 7 mile marker (the small green mile markers) from Hoodsport. There is a break in the opposite side white line for the entrance and there is a small sign on the right side of the entrance.

If you go too far, you'll pass the entrance to the North Campground and then the road comes to a "T" intersection where you would turn right for the Staircase area of ONP.

Hope that makes sense.

Steven,

Thanks. That's helpful.

The sign for the group site is very small. You will see the sign for Skokomish Park very well, then a small sign for the group site on the left, then the North site is another big sign. Easy peasy to drive past the group site.

We drove past it once each way, just to make sure, is this it? The group site signlooks more like a card tacked up than the beautiful signs at the entrances.

You are my hero. And so is Steven.

Thanks to you two for the picture and the notes about the entrance.

Unfortunately we will be unable to attend. I've paid Ian for two spots, so please contact him if you want to go.

Have fun. We wish we could be there.

James