Day Hike - Lower South Fork Skokomish River

We will meet up at Haggens, West Olympia,  with a secondary meeting place at US 101 & W. Skokomish Valley Road, details to be emailed to registered and wait-listed participants a few days before the hike.  Plan on this as an all-day hike, back by dinner time if all goes well.  Participants are encouraged to arrange carpooling, and to contribute if not driving.  About 45 miles one-way  from Haggen to trailhead.  Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required for parking.  

There are no prerequisites for this trip.  However, the distance (ten miles) presents at least moderate difficulty.  The elevation gain is variously given as 575 feet in some Mountaineers sources and 950 feet in "Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula", Second Edition (Mountaineers Books), by Craig Romano.  On a recent trip, two GPS devices recorded round-trip elevation gain as 1,304' and 1,305'.   In hot weather, this can be considerable exertion for many.   The leader is familiar with parts of this trail and the access from several trail work projects on this trail.  Some sections of the route will be exploratory for this leader, but will follow a well-established trail.  This trail is maintained to stock (e.g. horse and mule) dimensions and specifications, and is very accommodating to foot travel.  We may run into a stock party on the trail.   The leader's usual practice is to stop long enough for drinks, snacks and other needs at least every hour.  We will do a longer stop for lunch with a nice view at our turn-around point.   Bring at least 2 quarts of water, sunscreen and insect repellent, and dress to allow ventilation.  Respect the Ten Essentials, but lighten the load if we have hot July weather.   Please do not hesitate to contact the leader with any questions about the trip, gear, or whether this is the right outing for you.  More information will be provided to registrants.