Historic Press Traverse

6 days
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Private Guided
Follow the course of the original Press Expedition’s traverse of the Olympic Mountains (1889-1890). This 44 mile south-north traverse of the Olympics took the Press Expedition 6 months over one of the worst winters on record, but we’ll take 5 days (or 6, with a layover to explore in the middle). We’ll climb through primeval rainforests, ford deep rivers, and ...

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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Camping
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Ancient old growth rainforests
    • Abundant wildlife
    • Mountains, rivers and valleys
    • Fantastic solitude
    • Early human history

What's this trip about?

    Follow the course of the original Press Expedition’s traverse of the Olympic Mountains (1889-1890). This 44 mile south-north traverse of the Olympics took the Press Expedition 6 months over one of the worst winters on record, but we’ll take 5 days (or 6, with a layover to explore in the middle). We’ll climb through primeval rainforests, ford deep rivers, and relax in wide open alpine valleys. This traverse will take us through some of the most remote parts of Olympic National Park, and you’ll earn your bragging rights for traversing the entire park!

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOlympia
End CityOlympia

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States

Attractions

  • Olympia
  • Olympic National Park  

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
    • Use of trekking poles
    • All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
    • A professional, knowledgeable, certified Olympic National Park hiking guide
    • Comprehensive, round-trip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
    • All entrance fees, permits and passes
    • Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
    • You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

Shuttle to the trailhead: 2.5 hours

Hiking Mileage: 6.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 400 feet

This multi-day Olympic National Park hiking trip begins with pick up at your hotel in Olympia. After a 2.5-hour scenic drive, we’ll begin hiking along the North...

Day 2

Hiking Mileage: 9.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 2660 feet

Day two is our big climb day. We’ll cross swift creeks and ford the Quinault river, climb through ancient old-growth forests, and keep an eye out for blazes and marks from the original Press Expedition....

Day 3 (6-Day Itinerary only)

Hiking Mileage: 4 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000-2000 feet

If you elect for the 6-day itinerary, we’ll take a lay-over at the Low Divide, with plenty of time to lounge, swim, and go for day hikes. After a lazy morning and a hearty breakfast, we’ll head ...

Day 4

Hiking Mileage: 8.1 miles

Elevation Loss: 1600 feet

On day 4, we’ll drop quickly into the Elwha River basin, and then wind our way along the Elwha River. Open meadows, maple flats, and river views will accompany us along our way, and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for black bears, elk, and deer as we go.

Day 5

Hiking Mileage: 8 miles

Elevation Loss: 600 feet

Day 5 brings us past more river fords, more old growth, and more beautiful river valleys. The glacial blue-green of the Elwha will deepen in colour, while the vegetation changes as well as we continue to drop into warmer, more temperate climates. Finally, as we approach our camp, we’ll get a view of spectacular Mary’s Falls.

Day 6

Hiking Mileage: 8.75 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal

Shuttle to Olympia: 3 hours

Our final day will bring us out of the wilderness and into the recovery zone of the Elwha River. Two recent dam removals are changing the landscape of the Elwha Ri...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,675
Price per day$279
Last Updated: 12/24/2021

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Wildland Trekking.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Unforgettable Hiking Vacations

 

What we offer is specific - unforgettable hiking vacations - but our focus is broad in terms of destinations and trip styles. We have a tour that fits nearly anyone who loves to hike in world-renowned, breathtaking landscapes. For people seeking solitude, wildness and adventure, a backpacking trip is a sure choice. Folks interested in a backcountry experience but without the heavier packs should consider one of our stock/porter supported trips. For people seeking an outdoor experience but with showers and comfortable amenities, a basecamp trip is an excellent choice. And for guests interested in really living it up while getting great hikes in, our inn-based trips are wonderful options. Regardless of what you're looking for, it's very likely we have a trip for you!

 

Exceptional Guest Reviews:

With more than 7,000 people joining our tours annually, we have a proven track record of providing quality trips that exceed our guests' expectations. You can read reviews on Trip Advisor, Facebook, and on our website.

Highly Acclaimed Guides:

Our absolute commitment is to hire and train the best guides in the industry. Our philosophy is that our guides, gear, food and logistics comprise our product, and the guides are the most important ingredient!

Top-Notch Meals And Gear

Concerning gear: every guest travels with as much as $1,000 retail value of top-of-the-line gear we provide. As for meals: we carry real ingredients and the guides create the menus specifically for each group!

Wild land Trekking Today

Today we accommodate more than 8,000 guests annually. We operate hiking and backpacking tours in over 20 parks and wilderness areas in 9 different U.S. states, and in 9 countries. We run a variety of "trip styles" including hiking tours, backpacking trips, llama-supported treks, and ski and snowshoe tours. We employ more than 120 staff and have 5 offices in Arizona, Utah, Montana, California and North Carolina. And we donate more than tens of thousands of dollars annually to conservation and non-profit efforts worldwide.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Clothes, raingear, and footwear
    • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
    • Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
    • Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Guides
Guides Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breath-taking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios. Guide Working Parameters Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time...etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides' off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency. Group size The standard group size on Olympic backpacking trips is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 10 guests and 2 guides.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information

Meals: What to Expect

All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.

For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.

We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.

Gear We Provide

  • We provide all group gear which includes the following:
  • Deuter or Osprey backpacks
  • Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
  • Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
  • Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
  • Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
  • Cooking stoves and cookware
  • Company-issued first-aid kit
  • Satellite phone

What Gear to Bring

We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.

What Clothes to Bring

Please refer to the trip packet for a recommended clothing list (we email you a detailed trip packet when you inquire and when you register). All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots (reliable brands include Montrail, Lowa, Merrell, Vasque, and Salomon), rain gear, and non-cotton and cotton clothing layers. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.

Trip ID
wildla1-HisPreWil

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