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Olympics Silver
Buckhorn Wilderness
July 20, 2002
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Silver Lake Cirque © Ken James McLeod
Through the conifer forest and along a dashing little stream we (Glen Lee, son Kenny and I) hiked: wildflowers bloomed profously and their scent filled the air with a thick pungent odor, and the towering stark-gray peaks loomed above the valley against the contrast of the cloudless blue sky. I was in ecstasy.
The early morning hours had brought us to the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic Mountains again for another adventure within. And as we entered the realm where man sheds his worldly possessions except for what he's carrying on his back, I was reminded in my mind of Bob Marshall's (a noted American icon conservationist) words:
"For me. and for thousands with similar inclinations, the most important passion of life is the overpowering desire to escape periodically from the clutches of a mechanistic civilization. And to us the enjoyment of solitude, complete independence, and beauty of panoramas is absolutely essential to happiness."
On the left side of the valley rose Mt. Townsend (6,280') and on the right towered craggy Hawk Peak (6,550') and its ragged ridges. Silver firs grew sparse among the granite boulders and rock slides as we entered Silver Lake Basin, where we were not disappointed with that view. The lake (Upper Silver 5,450') is shaped similar to a teardrop, lies in an amphitheater encircled by craggy peaks. The lower lake which we circumvented on a way trail lies in a "steep" bowl to the north and back about a 1/4 of a mile from Upper Silver Lake. Here, on the left, a tremendous rock slide with boulders the size of houses rises steeply above. We climbed up upon it boulder-walking and returned to the main lake rather than return by way of the "steep" way-trail route that we'd come down.
Around the lake shore we traveled finding a scant path that led up the headwall of the valley to Silver Pass (est. 5,700'). Here, a conversion zone existed: humidity combined with fog and clouds made the temperature hotter and the visibility zero towards the Big Quilicene River to the expanse of Warrior Peak and surrounding mountains. Snow patches lingered here and we glissaded several just for fun. Above and on the left, rose a jagged "dizzy" peak (est. 6,000') which we all three climbed, the view was spectacular! We could even see Puget Sound. Hoots were shouted when we stood "dizzily" atop. Further, we then scrambled up another peak for a different view.
Back at the Pass or saddle, Glen and Kenny decided to climb the peak to the right (6,280') while I proceeded to capture the blooming wildflowers on film.....a display of "rare" White Lupine was found.....the first ever I've seen. With boots off, toes and feet touching the raw earth, I wandered aimlessly around the high meadow with the camera. At times, I laid on my bare belly and zeroed in upon the delicate Alpine floral at hand.
And in the evening, after we had descended from Silver Pass, the basin, and down the trail out to our vehicles to search for a place to camp for the night so we could do another day hike the next day, the moon came up over the ridge near Mt. Townsend giving us a splendid moonlit view to cap the day.....and I never felt so content and utterly absolutely happy. We also brewed some Sitka Velerian (Valeriana Sitchensis) tea for any aches and pains...a relaxer when the roots are picked, sliced and the boiled creating a tea and then drank. Ah, it doesn't get any better!
for other photos of this trek see:
KJM
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