high divide

Myself, my wife, and a friend just completed the High Divide Loop and hiked(fell) down into Seven Lakes Basin to camp(and fish) for two nights at Lake Morgenroth. We started at the Sol Duc Falls Trailhead, as is normally done, but hiked the loop clockwise rather than the normal counterclockwise. Taking the longer but "scenic route" on the way into the basin. Some of the more beautiful and picturesque landmarks were, in order: Sol Duc Falls, Rocky Creek, 7 Mile Bridge, the view of Mount Appleton, Heart Lake, the view of Mount Olympus and the Olympic Range, and the view looking down into 7 Lakes Basin from the High Divide. Stunning, Breathtaking, and "just Wow!" We hiked around the basin a little during our stay but mainly fished for brook and rainbow trout in Lake Morgenroth. Successfully catching our dinner both nights. On our way out we hiked through some beautiful and surreal sub-alpine "lunar landscape" on our way to Lunch Lake where we had our first mountain goat encounter. We could once again see the peak of Mount Olympus from the High Divide Trail and hiked past idyllic Deer Lake on our way back to Sol Duc Falls. The hike was one of the most physically challenging hikes we have ever done(12 miles of climbing and bushwacking down into the basin in one day) but it was worth every step.

Backpacking in the Olympics is wonderful.  Especially up high.  You need a permit.