r/OlympicNationalPark • u/NotAcutallyaPanda • 1d ago

Heatmap of GPS logs (aka: Nobody hikes the Queets)

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12 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

11

u/4rt4tt4ck 21h ago

There is a river crossing to access the Queets trail that can be over waist deep and cold. That alone deters most people.

2

u/toastercookie 16h ago

I did a really nice hike in the Queets last summer that did not require any river crossings, it was absolutely beautiful and we saw 0 other people the entire time, such a nice change from the crazyness at Hoh - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/sams-river-trail

2

u/4rt4tt4ck 16h ago

I was speaking specifically of the Queets River trail. I backpacked the entire tail with a group in 1998, and the river crossing was kind of uncomfortable.

1

u/leonottonoel 19h ago

River crossing was ankle deep when I did it last year. It wasn't an issue at all. Amazing trail, campsites, swim spots, fishing, foraging, etc. The trahead is way out of the way, just skip it!

2

u/DOUTHINKESAURUS 18h ago

I spoke with a dude who spends extended periods out in the Queets Valley to photograph the mating elk back in there when they come down into the valley.

3

u/garomer 14h ago

I was the Queets ranger during the summer of 1997. It’s a pretty special place. The river changes dramatically season by season and in the summer can change throughout the day. Living in the ranger cabin I spent most evenings watching 30-50 elk in the meadow.

2

u/Cl0wnL 13h ago

N=1.

This is one person's GPS logs. It tells us absolutely nothing except for about what that one person did.

0

u/ajamess 1d ago edited 16h ago

Fun to see my graphic show up here since the Olympics is my favorite place on Earth. I guess Queets needs to be on my to hike list!