Mt Townsend,  Olympic National Park,  September 12, 2011     page 1 / 24

Day two of my three days of day hikes began early Monday morning. I had spent the night camped along the Dungeness River, so the drive to the Little Quilcene trailhead was short.

Having studied the map carefully, I knew not only that I had to climb 3000 feet to the summit, but that I had to do it over just four miles. This was going to be a very steep trail. As I began the first section from the road, I realized that I would need to set a slow, deliberate pace. Then I saw the sign...