EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final dispatch from Roger Harnack, Peninsula Daily News’ local news editor. Packing a laptop computer and satellite telephone, he sent back daily reports from the 12-person, five-day, 46-mile “Across the Olympic Mountains” expedition to Lake Quinault last week. He wrote this dispatch Saturday.
LAKE QUINAULT, Olympic National Park — Day 5 — We’re out.
After days of continued rain, we hiked the 16.1 miles from Low Divide to North Fork Road, all on Friday, the fifth day of the 2001 “Press Expedition.”
It may not sound like much of a challenge — most of the hike is downhill. But when you’re wearing soaked boots and clothing, it’s not exactly easy either.
Our biggest concern was crossing the North Fork Quinault River. The crossing was located about four miles from our camp at Low Divide.
Amy McConnell, a senior editor for Sunset magazine, and Megan McMorris of Fitness magazine, managed to wade across the quick-flowing river with the assistance of three mountain climbers and Lane Rowland, our chef, on Thursday.
We received word Friday morning that the two made it safely to Quinault Lodge.
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