<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/53037172043/in/album-72177720309687188/" title="Upper Seattle Creek area"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53037172043_29d1de791d_b.jpg" alt="Upper Seattle Creek area"/></a> - [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/albums/72177720309687188/) - [Strava](https://www.strava.com/activities/9419101623) - 50 miles - 7800ft elevation gain - Area: [[Olympic National Park]] Saturday (and slightly extended into Sunday ...), I did the Skyline trail in the Olympic National Park. This is a long loop (about 50 miles). I started at midnight, and walked to Low Divide along the North Fork trail, which was a pretty easy 18 miles. After this the challenge started along the Skyline trail, which is really as primitive as it gets for a 'trail'. If you are considering the trail: - There are still snow-filled gullies. Ice axe needed. There was one that I suspected to be shallow and I walked below it. This can change quickly of course. - The trail is very brushy: you often cannot see your footing so you have to be very careful to not step next to the trail (I sprained my ankle that way a few years ago so I learned my lesson) - The trail is also washed out much of the time. I needed veggies for holds in various places. Some sections are really not suitable for loosing your footing. With a heavy pack I would not be comfortable. - Some of the gullies have barely and thread. One was particularly nasty but some hero before me cut in steps that were very good. - There maybe 30-40 blowdowns along the loop, but fortunately none of them was in really risky spot. It might be slightly more dangerous if you are not tall. The switchbacks from Big Creek to Three Lakes are a mess. I would really not do this with a heavy backpack or with anybody I would be responsible for. For myself it was a nice challenge and I felt I took it easy and careful enough that it was okay. The section until Kimta is pretty decent (clockwise) and has only a couple of washouts. One of these might spook people already though. I made it to Three Lakes by dark, and was then planning to keep walking to the car, but the Big Creek crossing looked really sketchy in the dark and I waited until the morning light to figure out how to cross safely. In the morning it wasn't that hard after all, and then got back at the car at 7am or so. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/53036688646/in/album-72177720309687188/" title="Mount Noyes"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53036688646_9be064053a_b.jpg" alt="Mount Noyes"/></a>