Appleton Pass-Cat Lake Traverse,  Olympic National Park,  Sep 8, 2008 - Sep 12, 2008     page 58 / 71

Shortly after sighting the bear, we met a solo hiker headed east, into the Bailey Range. He was a bit older than me, with a bushy gray beard. He told us that this would be his 23rd year to visit the Bailey Range in the last 26 years! He once recruited friends and family to accompany him, but he admitted that he had burned them all out. So now he travels solo.

Let's see..... if I return to the Bailey's each year, starting next year, I can reach 23 visits by....

We resumed our hike and quickly reached Upper Sol Duc Park. There was considerably less snow than when Tom and I left the area the previous year.