Hike the olympics

[carver52]

Hi everyone,
Hope you are having a great Christmas season and get your plans formed for the new year.
And that is what I'm writing about.  One of my bucket list items is to climb one of the mountains in the Olympics.  I see some of them on the east front everyday from the Silverdale area and am starting to realize, that for a couple of reasons if I'm going to do this it will have to be this next summer or not at all.  I'll be 54 years old next month and am wondering if anyone would be interesting in joining me.  First week of Jan. I'll be joining a gym to get the legs in shape and am thinking that as the snow line goes up I'll be getting in some conditioning climbs.
Would also appreciate any input as to trails, camping time durations etc.
Have a great new year and stay safe.
Kevin

[JimmyHoffa]

If you hike the trails it might not be very hard to climb the mountains out here.  Off trail can be a very different story.  a couple of trails that are 'easy' to begin with might be: Dungeness, Elwha, Hoh (first 13 miles), Bogachiel, East Fork Quinault.  The intermediate might be: Marmot Pass, Tubal Cain, Mount Townsend, Mount Zion, Royal Basin, Dodger Point, Seven Lakes Basin.  The tougher trails I can think of are: Lake Constance, High Divide to Hoh, and Goat Lake. There are quite a few trails that are not in the national park, so you can climb and shoot stuff too,  Everything over 7,000 ft is in the park. Also last years snow didn't melt this year, so depending on this year's snow it might be tougher/easier(depending on what you like to walk on).

[ICEMAN]

Carver, cool plan. Good luck!

[carver52]

Jimmy,  thanks for the list of trails.  Will deffinately keep them in mind and maybe study a trail book or two.  Yeh I know, nerdish, but that has saved my bacon a few times in Colorado too.   My luck will be a 20somethin superhuman wants to join me and all I see is the butt side of his red spandex.  "Uh, pardner, could ya slow her down a little?"

[Seabeckian]

Personally I have always enjoyed climbing the brothers. It's a two day climb for most and offers plenty of challenge physically with nothing to technical for most during the summer months. It would be my top recommendation for an overnight climb in the Olympics. Plus, it's a great mountain to be able to point out from anywhere and proudly say you topped it. 

[carver52]

If I'm looking at the right ridge line the Brothers may in fact be where I would like to climb.  The ridgetop kind of looks like a saw blade with one small peak toward the west end. 
If anyone would like to join me the company would be welcome.
Have a great holiday everyone.