Prospectus
AppalachianMountainClub–AdventureTravel
HikingOlympicNationalPark,WashingtonState(Trip#1743)
Sat,July15–SunJuly23,2017
OlympicNationalPark,EasternSection
SUMMARY
OlympicNationalParkisblessedwithincrediblediversityofelevation,precipitation,floraandfauna.It
offersseveraldistinctecosystems.Glacier-cappedmountainsriseuptonearly8,000’.Old-growthforests
ofSitkaspruce,Douglasfir,westernhemlockandwesternredcedarreceiveabundantrainfall—upto140
inchesinsomeparts—andarehometoelk,blacktaildeer,mountaingoats,blackbearandmarmot.Over
70milesofwildcoastprovidecovesandrookeriesforsealionsandseabirds,andpresentdramaticviews
ofoffshoreseastacksandarches.
OuradventurewillstartandendinSeattle,Washington,andwewillexperienceeachdistinctsectionofthe
NationalPark,whichislocatedtothewestontheOlympicpeninsula.First,wewillmakethetownof
Sequim,~2hoursfromSeattle,ourbaseforhikesthatexplorethemountainsandvalleysintheeasternand
centralsectionsofthepark.After3daysofhiking,wewilltakea“dayoff”totravelbyferryfromnearby
PortAngelestoVictoria,BritishColumbia,frequentlynamedoneofthetop-20traveldestinationsinthe
world.Then,laterintheweek,wewilldrive~2½hourtoKalalochLodge,directlyonthePacificOcean,
stoppinglatemorningforahikeintheHohRiverrainforest.Thefollowingday,wewillhikealongthecoast
toexperiencetheincredibleoceanscenery.Finally,wewilldrivebacktoSeattle,stoppingalongthewayto
climbMt.Walker,overlookingtheHoodCanal.
1
Mid-JulyisagreattimetoexploretheNationalParkasmostofthesnowonthehigherelevationswherewe
willbehikingshouldhavemeltedandspectacularfieldsofwildflowerswillhavebloomedinitsplace.
Althoughtemperaturescanvarygreatlyandarenotoriouslydifficulttopredict,generallywecanexpect
daytimehighsinthe60sand70satlowerelevationsandprogressivelycoolertemperaturesasweascend.
ITINERARY
Note:Leadersreservetherighttomakechangestothisplanasmaybestsuitthegroup’sneeds.
Day1:Sat,July15:ArriveinSeattle,WA&DrivetoSequim.Wewillrentvehiclesanddrive~2hoursto
Sequim,wherewebestayingatQualityInn&SuitesatOlympicNationalParkfor5nights.Wewillenjoya
groupdinner,andthenpurchaselunchandotherprovisionsatalocalsupermarket.
Day2:Sun,July16:Mt.Angeles(6,454’)&CrestofKlahhaneRidge.Ouradventurestartswitha~6.2mi.
semi-loophikethatrisesandfallsalongtheridgetopthroughalpinemeadowswithstandsofsubalpinefirs
andwildflowersofallvarieties,includinglupinesandmagentapaintbrush.Viewswillincludewhatthe
FalconGuidedescribesas“aseaofsnowcappedpeaks.”Thereisapossibilityofseeingmarmots,mountain
goatsandblackbearinthebasinbelowusorrocksabove.Elevationgain:1,270’.Before&afterthehike,
wewillspendtimeattheHurricaneRidgevisitorcenter.
Day3:Mon,July17:PyramidMountain(3,125’).Wewillmakeasteadyascentofthissmallerpeakonthe
northernboundaryofthepark.Our7.0mi.out-and-backhike,partiallythroughaforestofhemlockandred
cedar,providessweepingviewsofLakeCrescent,directlybelowus,andtheruggedsummitsofMt.Storm
KingandHappyLakeRidge.WewillalsoviewtheStraitofJuandeFuca.Ifit’sclearenough,wemaysee
thesnow-coveredsummitofMt.BakerrisingabovetheCascades.Elevationgain:2,400’.Option:Iftime
permitsafterwedescend,wemaytakeashorthikealongthenorthshoreofLakeCrescentontheSpruce
RailroadTrail,anoldrailbedbuiltbeforeWorldWarI.
PyramidMountain&LakeCrescent
2
Day4:Tue,July18:MarmotPass(5,980’).Thiswonderful10.6mi.out-and-backhikeoffersgreatvariety
alongthewayinreturnfortheenergywewillexert.Wewillhikethroughmilesofancientforest,see
plentyofwildflowersandberewardedwithspectacularviewsofpeaksexceeding7,000feetrisingabove
thedeepcanyonoftheDungenessRiveratourturnaroundpoint.Wewillseestuntedwhitebarkpines
thatonlygrowinafewplacesintheOlympicMountains.Elevationgain:3,580’.
Day5:Wed,July19:Victoria,BritishColumbia.WewilldrivetonearbyPortAngelesandtakethe90-min.
ferry(withoutvehicles)acrosstheStraitofJuandeFucatospendthedayinVictoria,BritishColumbia.The
widevarietyofattractions,mostwithineasywalkingdistanceoftheferryterminal,include:Provincial
ParliamentBuildings,RoyalBCMuseum,ThunderbirdParktotempoles,VictoriaBugZooandChristChurch
Cathedral.Inaddition,theButchartGardens,oneoftheworld’spremierfloralshowgardens,canbevisited
bytakinga30-minuteshuttlebusride.WewillhaveanearlydinnerandreturntoPortAngelesonthe
7:30pmferry.
ButchartGardens,nearVictoria,B.C.
Day6,Thu,July20:HohRiverTrail&DrivetoKalalochLodge.WewillcheckoutofourhotelinSequim,
andafterbreakfastdrive~1hr.45min.westandsouthtothemagnificentremoterainforestvalleyareaof
thenationalpark.WewillstartattheHohRainforestVisitorCenter,andthenhikeupto~11mi.out-andback,timepermitting.Alongtheway,wewillseemanySitkaspruce,somewithhangingclubmosses.In
certainspots,wewillhaveviewsoftheHohRiverandheavilyforestedridges.Elevationgain:200’.After
thehike,wewilldrive~45min.toKalalochLodge,anationalparkconcessionairepropertysituateddirectly
onthePacificOceanwherewewillspend2nights.
3
Day7,Fri,July21:TheShipwreckCoast.ThiswildandbeautifulcoastlineispartofOlympicNationalPark.
Itstretches20mi.fromRialtoBeachinthesouthtoSandPointinthenorth.Wewillhikeout-and-back
~7.6mi.alongthebeach,tidalconditionspermitting,startingfromRialtoBeach.Ourturnaroundpointwill
beChileanMemorial,commemoratingthewreckoftheschoonerW.J.Pirrie,acargovesselofChilean
Registry.Itwentdowninawinterstormin1920resultinginthelossoftheentirecrew.Ifconditionsare
sufficientlyclear,wewillseeCakeRock,amajorstackthatrisesfarouttosea.Wemayalsoseethemore
raggedcrestofDahdaylaIslandrisingclosertothebeach.Wewillpayverystrictattentiontotidelevels,
timingstartandfinishtimestomakesurewearenotisolatedbytherisingtide.
DahdaylaIsland,OlympicNationalParkCoastalSection
Day8,Sat,July22:Mt.Walker(2,779’)&returntoSeattle.WewillcheckoutofKalalochLodgeanddrive
backtoSeattleforourfarewelldinner.Timepermitting,wewillstopafter~2½hrs.nearthetownof
Quilcenetohike2.0mitothesummitofMt.Walkerandback.This4.0out-and-backhikewillrewardus
withgreatviewsofPugetSound,theHoodCanalandtheeasternfrontoftheOlympicMountains.
Elevationgain:2,000’.Afterthehike,wewillcompletethedrivetoSeattle,checkintotheHolidayInn
Express,andgotodinnernearby.Afterwards,wewillreturntherentalvehiclesattheairport.
Day9,Sun,July23:Flightshome.TheHolidayInnExpresscomplimentaryshuttlebusoperates24hrs.The
hotelislocated~1milefromSea-TacInternational.
TIMEZONE
Seattle,OlympicNationalParkandWashingtonStatearelocatedinthePacificTimeZonewhichis3hours
earlierthantheEasternTimeZone.Itobservesdaylightsavingstime.Sowhenitis9:00aminBoston,
HartfordorNewYork,itis6:00amintheselocations.
4
ACCOMMODATIONS
Wewillstayin3locations:Sat7/15check-in–Thu7/20check-out:QualityInn&Suites,134RiverRd,
Sequim,WA98382;Thu7/20–Sat7/22check-out:KalalochLodge(anationalparkconcessioner),Highway
101,Kalaloch,WA98331;Sat7/22check-in–Sun7/23check-out:HolidayInnExpress,19621International
Blvd.,Sea-TacInternational,WA98188.
Wehaveplannedfordoubleoccupancyofrooms,withleadersconsultingtripparticipants,asrequired,to
makethemostsuitablematches.Roomsatallpropertieshaveamini-fridge,coffeemakerandmicrowave.
TRANSPORTATION
WewillflyintoandoutofSea-TacInternationalAirportinSeattle,Washington.Werecommendthat
participantsarriveby1:00pmPDT.ThistimingallowssufficienttimetoeasilydrivetothetownofSequim,
~2hrs.West,settlein,haveourfirstgroupdinnerandgroceryshopintheeveningforlunchandother
provisions.
Wewillwaituntileveryonehasarrivedattheairportandthendriveasonegroupinourrentalvehicles.In
theeventofflightdelays,wewouldmakeeveryefforttominimizetheimpactonotherhikersbyarranging
foratleast1,ifnot2vehiclestodepartforSequim.
Onourlastday,flightdepartureswillgenerallybeinthemorning.Wewillplantoreturnourrentalcarsthe
eveningbeforeandusethe24-hourfreehotelshuttletobringhikerstotheairport.
Theleaderandco-leaderwillbedesignateddrivers,andwewillenlistoneortwoadditionaltripmembers
asadditionaldesignateddrivers,asrequired.Wewillalsoaskthatupto3additionalhikersagreetoserve
asbackupdrivers.
MEALS
HotandcoldbreakfastbuffetsareavailableinthelobbiesofQualityInn&SuitesandHolidayInnExpress.
AtKalalochLodge,breakfastisavailableat7amintherestaurant,orhikersmayeatintheirrooms.
Everyonewillpreparetheirownlunchesusinggroceriespurchasedatlocalsupermarketsandsmaller
marketswewillvisitfor“groupshoppingoutings.”OnthedaywevisitVictoria,hikerswillhavetheoption
toeatlunchinarestaurantorpackalunch.Wewillhavedinnereverynightatnearbyrestaurants.Some
willincludetheentiregroupandotherswillbesmallerwithcarpoolingcoordinatedbytheleaders.
EXPECTATIONSOFPARTICIPANTS
Ability:Thistriphasbeendesignedforexperiencedhikerswhocancomfortablyhikeupto8hours/day,not
includingbreaks,atamoderatepace(upto2miles-per-hour).Verticalascentswillrangefrom1,270’to
3,580’andelevationswillvaryfromsealevelto5,980’overdistancesof6.2mi.to10.6mi.
Safety:Individualandgroupsafetyisourhighestpriority.Wewillhiketogetheratalltimesatapacethat
comfortablefortheslowesthiker.Everyday,everyoneshouldbepreparedtobringaminimumof2liters
andasmuchas3litersofwater,lunchandsnacks,pluswearandbringappropriateclothing,includinga
hat.(Wewillprovideanequipmentlistseparately.)
5
Attitude:Weareplanningonagroupsizeof16hikers(includingtwoleaders).Webelieveyourenjoyment
willcomeasmuchfromyourinteractionwithotherhikersasitwillfromthebeautyofOlympicNational
Park,thejoyofhikingthemountains,rainforestandcoast,whatyoulearn,andthecapabilitiesofthe
leaders.Ifyouarepreparedtohelpyourfellowhikers,practicebasiccourtesieslikebeingontime,and
takea“go-with-the-flow”approachtoeventsthatmaybebeyondourcontrol(delayedflights,roomsnot
readyforoccupancy),wewillallhaveawonderful,memorableexperience.
COST
Thecostofthetripis$1,980.ItexcludesroundtripairfaretoSeattlewhichisestimatedtobe~$450from
BostonandNewYorkand~$800fromHartford.Hikerswillberequiredtopurchasetheirowntickets.
However,theleaderswillmonitoronlinefaresandprovideupdatesonatimelybasis.
Participantswillberesponsibleforanyunanticipatedcostincrease;however,anysurplusfundswillbe
returnedafterthetrip.Theleadershavetriedtoplanforallcostsfromthebiggest—accommodations,to
thesmallest—entrancefees.
Thecostincludes:accommodations,alldinners,rentalvehicles,gas,PortAngeles–Victoriaferrytickets,
basicmedicalandevacuationinsurance,andnationalparkentrancefees.Thecostoflunches,including
restaurantmealinVictoria,snacksandalcoholicbeveragesareexcluded,asarehousekeepinggratuities,
whichareatyourdiscretion.InaccordancewithAMCpolicy,thecostalsoincludestheleaders’expenses+
AMCoverheadtodefrayadministrativeandpublicationcosts.
GROUPSIZE/COSTIMPACT
Inadditiontothetwoleaders,wehaveassumed14hikerswillparticipateandhavepricedthetripforthat
number.However,ifonly12hikerssignup,wewouldproceedandadjustthecostaccordingly.
APPLICATIONPROCESS
Ifyouwouldliketosignupforthetrip,orhavequestions,pleaseemailorcalleitherofus.Ourcontact
detailsarelistedintheLeadershipsectionattheendofthisprospectus.Onceyouhavedecidedyouwould
liketojoinus,wewillemailanApplication,ConfidentialHealthQuestionnaire,andanAssumptionofRisk
andReleaseAgreement.
A~30%depositof$600payablebychecktoAppalachianMountainClubshouldaccompanytheabovereferencedformsandshouldbemailedto:GeorgeSchott,4RiverKnoll,Westport,CT06880.
Thebalanceof$1,380willbedueMonday,April10,2017.
CANCELLATIONPOLICY
Yourcancellationshouldnotraisethecostofthetriptoanyoftheparticipantsortheleaders.Therefore,if
youcancel,allmoneypaidwouldbereturned,lessyourshareofexpensesalreadyincurred,plusanyfuture
expensesthatcannotbeavoided.Ifthetripweretobecompletelybooked,yourpaymentswouldbe
refundedinfull.OptionaltripcancellationinsuranceishighlyrecommendedandavailablethroughAMC
andothersources.
6
LEADERSHIP
Leader:GeorgeSchottisaConnecticutChapterHikeLeader
certifiedinSOLOWildernessFirstAid,AEDandCPR.He
alsocompletedAMCMountainLeadershipSchool.Hehas
co-led3AMCAdventureTraveltripstoBigBendNational
Park(2012);SaguaroNationalPark/TucsonMountains
(2014);andNationalParksofSoutheastUtah(2016).Over
thepast10years,heledorco-ledhuthikesintheWhite
MountainsandAdirondacks,andleddayhikesonall
sectionsoftheATinConnecticutandMassachusetts.He
hasclimbed354000’+peaksintheWhiteMountainsand
304000’+peaksintheAdirondacks.Duringthe10yearshe
livedwithhisfamilyinEurope,hehikedintheLakeDistrict
ofEngland,ScottishHighlands,WalesandSwitzerland.
Georgecanbereachedat203.223.1677,or
[email protected]
Co-Leader:BillWheelerjoinedtheAMCin1995withagoalofsummitingthe48NewHampshire4,000
footers,whichheachievedin2009.HehasalsoclimbedallofNewEngland’s100highestpeaks.Bill
becameahikeleaderfortheConnecticut
Chapterin2005andhasledover125day
hikes,aswellasleadorco-leadover10
weekendtripstoNewHampshire’sWhite
Mountains.HehascompletedtheSOLO
basicFirstAidCourseandHeartSaverCPR
Course.Billhastraveledto6Canadian
provinces,7Europeancountries,India,
NewZealandandPeru.Hehasled,co-led
orparticipatedin15AdventureTravel
tripsonwhichheclimbedseveralhigh
peaksintheWesternU.S.,including
14,497ft.Mt.Whitney,thehighestpoint
inthecontiguous48states.Billhasledor
co-ledAdventureTraveltripssince2010to
Bulgaria,Texas/NewMexico,Oregon,Yellowstone,CanadianRockies,AustrianAlps,GrandTetonsand
[email protected].
7