The damage to the Olympic National Park from winter storms was extensive. Some trail systems are closed still, Because the trail crews were working close to the trail heads we were not called on to begin topack until July. To get into the back country Ed organized a trail crew of volunteer back country ranger and Denny Dargan a set out opening the Dosewallips trail to the snow line. Then pack the rest of the summer on the Staircase trail packing in park trail crew and two Washington Conservation Corps crews.
The Winter of 2008 had not completely gone. The falls on the Dosewallips River were a boil. An amazing sight.
Packing in on the first cut out of the Dosewallips trail. Because we were going to use stock to carry tools Ed limited the number of pack horses and mules used. These required that more trips in and out.
Wet day. Lizzy stayed in camp with a fire crew and Moby packed the cutting gear to clear west fork of the Dose. to snow line.
Two Olympic National Park firefighters helped out in clearing the main fork with us.
The high bridge on the Dosewallips west fork. It is over 100 feet tall and wide.
View from the above bridge. "Behave Mr. mule, please!"
Denny Dargen a Back Country Horsemen of Wash. member joined Rod Henderson and Cliff Conly both Vol Olympic National Park back country rangers on the second cutting trip. Were ever Denny goes so goes his get-fiddle.
We stopped for lunch. Cliff had built a picture perfect pieta bread sandwitch as you can see Maudie agrees as she mooches for a bite.
Denny riding Josie while leading Moby and Rosie. This was last trip out of the Dose.
The Staircase trail head was the home base for the rest of the summer.
Denny on the strings. We would pack in one crew, return to the trailhead, spend the night and then pack in another crew or two the next day.
I cut my string short to get Denny a chance to use his gang.
The Dargan gang crossing Slate Creek. Denny is riding a great mule and leading a string of Arab horses.
This is a good example of some of the slides and washes that the trail crews had to repair.
Logs cut out every ware. You would think there were no trees left. No such a chance.
We were passing this group of girls from a urban outward bound group when Josie stopped a asked the girs to pet her. They almost petted the hide off the gang.
This gent errored and parked directly in the middle of a well signed stock parking "only" area. We were able to slip in on both sides of him. He did show up but did not move until we were finished. Believe what those signs say.
The Winter of 2008 had not completely gone. The falls on the Dosewallips River were a boil. An amazing sight. 
Packing in on the first cut out of the Dosewallips trail. Because we were going to use stock to carry tools Ed limited the number of pack horses and mules used. These required that more trips in and out.
Wet day. Lizzy stayed in camp with a fire crew and Moby packed the cutting gear to clear west fork of the Dose. to snow line.
Two Olympic National Park firefighters helped out in clearing the main fork with us.
The high bridge on the Dosewallips west fork. It is over 100 feet tall and wide.
View from the above bridge. "Behave Mr. mule, please!"
Denny Dargen a Back Country Horsemen of Wash. member joined Rod Henderson and Cliff Conly both Vol Olympic National Park back country rangers on the second cutting trip. Were ever Denny goes so goes his get-fiddle. 
We stopped for lunch. Cliff had built a picture perfect pieta bread sandwitch as you can see Maudie agrees as she mooches for a bite. 
Denny riding Josie while leading Moby and Rosie. This was last trip out of the Dose.
The Staircase trail head was the home base for the rest of the summer. 
Denny on the strings. We would pack in one crew, return to the trailhead, spend the night and then pack in another crew or two the next day. 
I cut my string short to get Denny a chance to use his gang.
The Dargan gang crossing Slate Creek. Denny is riding a great mule and leading a string of Arab horses.
This is a good example of some of the slides and washes that the trail crews had to repair.
Logs cut out every ware. You would think there were no trees left. No such a chance.
We were passing this group of girls from a urban outward bound group when Josie stopped a asked the girs to pet her. They almost petted the hide off the gang.
This gent errored and parked directly in the middle of a well signed stock parking "only" area. We were able to slip in on both sides of him. He did show up but did not move until we were finished. Believe what those signs say.