After dropping off a car at the end point, we went to the North side of the forest to start at Whiskey river bend trail head. This was a four night, five day hike, although I would suggest adding a day. Trails are nice and clear, most camping spots had an outhouse, and clearly designated camping spots. No need to check in anywhere or pay extra fees although this may be different based on where you park. No bear box needed, although we saw plenty of evidence of bears in this area from paw prints to poo. Make sure to hang your food and keep out of reach of little mice. They are aggressive and will get in your bag when you are not looking! The hike was beautiful, moss everywhere, full of tress, creeks, rotting old logs, and lush underbrush. Very few people as you go deeper into the wilderness. The Low Divide was the most difficult with increasing elevation, snow at top, no fires at the camp ground at the top, and at times difficult to follow snowshoe marks on the trees. It will be helpful to have a map to guide your direction. We had to cross two rivers that forced us to take our shoes off. Pretty strong flow, water shoes would be best, we only had sandals which were not very effective. It sprinkled on us at times, but we lucked out for the most part with weather. We saw a herd of elk at one point the stampeded across from us through the brush when we scared them. You will find views that are wonderful and not seen anywhere else. Water was not a problem to find and can be filtered in plenty of areas along the way. The idea of a rain forest in WA is also strange and very unique compared to let's say the Amazon. Starting fires was tricky. At one point it took us probably over an hour to get a fire started with all the damp material around. Where is Les Stroud when you need him! June 2010.
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