Overview Located in the "rain-shadow" of the Baily range, Deception receives a fraction of the 200+ inches of rainfall that Mt Olympus sees every year. Deception has the distinction of being the second highest peak in the Olympics and is comprised of pillow lava. Although it lacks the big glaciers of an Olympus and the quality technical routes of the near by Needles, Deception is a challenging scramble that offers one of the best views in the Olympics. Most routes are either class 2 or 3 but can seem more difficult due to the amount of dirt and debris covering the already loose rock. Rockfall is high, so helmets are recommended, especially for large parties. With all the loose rock present, one small rock can quickly turn into a mountainside of boulders rushing towards the base. With that said, it is more preferable to stick to the snow when possible. Even with the hordes of people roaming Royal Basin, Solitude can still be achieved on the summit.
Getting There The crux of this climb very well may be finding your way through the maze of vaugly signed roads. Drive highway 101 to just South of Sequim Bay State Parkand turn South on Louella road. Follow this for a mile to a "T" and turn left on Palo Alto Road. At around 6 miles from hwy 101, fork right off the paved road onto a gravel road with a sign saying Dungeness Forks Camp. Follow this up and down winding road to another fork ,around 12 miles from hwy 101, and go left. At around 17 miles reach the large parking lot of the Upper Dungeness trailhead. The trail basically contours a couple hundred feet above the river the entire way. After 1 mile reach a jct, take the right fork. The trail winds through beautiful open forest with rhodadendrons everywhere for the first couple miles before reaching a rocky clearing at 3 miles and the first views of some of the rugged peaks ahead. At 6 miles is a meadow and camps and at 7 miles reach Royal lake. Camps surround the lake. The main trail skirts the right side of the lake and makes its way over to the meadows of the shelter rock area and more camps. At around 8 miles reach the Upper Basin and travel SW to reach the base of Deception.
Red Tape Due to high use in this area overnight camping in the basin is by reservation only from May 1st through Sept 30th. Permits are no longer self registration at the traihead and must be aquired from the ranger station. The Northwest Forest Pass is also required to park at the trailhead ($5.00 a day/$30.00 a year) and can be purchased from ranger stations also.
Bear canisters are required for all campers in Royal Basin. Loaners ($3.00 donation requested) from the National Park are available at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles or at Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner on SR 101.When To Climb Summer is the season of choice although routes are open as soon as the Dungeness road melts out, which can be as early as the beginning of May. Due to loose rock on the mountain early July would be the best tiime to climb, when snow still covers most of the route but camps are mostly melted out. To avoid the hassles of overnight permits do this trip as a long day trip. ( 5,300 ft gain / 19 mi r/t )
Camping Campsites line the trail for the first several miles before becoming non-existant until the meadow is reached at 6 miles. Camps also surround Royal lake and are scattered throughout the shelter rock meadow area. The best and most beautiful camps are located in thje upper basin where tarns, creeks, heather, flowers, snowfields, clusters of trees, glacial morains and rugged peaks are everywhere.
Mountain ConditionsOlympic National forest: www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic/
Olympic N.P.: www.nps.gov/olym
Olympic Mountain Rescue: www.olympicmountainrescue.org
External Links Images
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Olympic Range (WA)
