Day Hiking to Flapjack Lake (7-24-2010) - 16 miles with 3100 ft elev gain
This was my second hiking in Olympic mountains.
Since I enjoyed hiking so much one week earlier climbing the MT Townsend with my
family, I wanted to join some kind of hiking group. After talking with some
people, I joined the Kitsap Outdoors who regularly enjoy hiking and backpacking
together. The best part is to meet the people who have simialr interest (good
workout and spectular viewing) and share the gas expenses by carpooling. For me,
I also want to learn day hiking and progress to backpacking. It was my first
hiking with the Kitsap Outdoors. Flapjack lake is an sub-alpine lake below the
Sawtooth Ridge between MT Lincoln and MT Cruiser in Mt Skokomish Wilderness. In
overall, 3100 ft gain in 8 miles. A total of 16 miles round trip! The trailhead
was at the Staircase, located above the hoodsport. If one is a hiker, one knows
the Staircase trailhead. Trails such as Camp Pleasant, Nine Stream, First
Divide, etc (there are more trails but known to some experience hikers only)
start from this trail head.
Eco-system Comparision between Mt Townsend
and Flapjack Lake: a couple of things I noticed that they were different. Mt
Townsend did not have Salal brush and maple trees, but had wild Rhododendron.
The wild Rododendron flowers had one color: light pink. Trails along the
Flapjack Lake had lots of Salal brush and small maple trees. Did not see big
maple trees though. And no Rododendron along the Flapjack Lake trail.
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