Olympic: Part II
We awoke early on Saturday so we could be on the trail fairly early. I drove back towards Port Angeles; a pretty easy drive with just a bit of the twisty-road-dance around Lake Crescent. Then, for the first time, I *really* drove in the mountains. Okay, granted it wasn't that bad - but it was twisty and narrow and had some significant drop-offs. For someone who so recently was scared to drive on the highway...this is an improvement.
Hurricane Ridge was just as marvelous as I'd remembered it. The slopes are so steep that the valley floor just seems to fall out in front of you. We took the obligatory group photo and then began our hike up to Klahhane Ridge. For about half the hike it wasn't very strenuous - it followed the ups and downs of the ridgeline, offering spectacular views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island to the right (Oh Canada!) and the snowy peaks of the Olympics to the left. Wildflowers were plentiful - unfortunately I could only identify a few - Avalanche Lilies, Lupine, Bistort, Paintbrush, Silky Fecelia, and Tiger Lilies. The last half of the trail steeply switchbacked to a higher ridgeline...and there it got a bit scary. I've never really had any difficulties with altitude before, but this time I had severe issues with finding enough air to breathe. I also think I got rather dehyrdated, which is strange since I drank nearly a liter of water. Fortunately, Shaun was a dear and waited with me when I had to stop to catch my breath.
Eventually we all made it to the top, where we had quite a leisurely lunch looking out over the straits. Nick enjoyed taunting the chipmunks ("now go away or I shall have to taunt you a second time-ah") and we all were very happy to have food. Surprisingly for this group, there were very few "that's what SHE said"s on the mountain...although we did quote Charlie the Unicorn extensively. "It's a magical Liopleurodon! It has spoken! It has told us the waaaaaaaaay!" After seven-ish miles of hiking, sitting in the car felt good. Then it was back through Port Angeles to replenish our wine supply (a Gevurtztremeiner and a Merlot this time) and head back to the Hungry Bear to clean up. We ate dinner at The Smokehouse in Forks where I was rather dissapointed by my spam-like treatment of calamari. However, we headed back to the beach, this time Rialto Beach, for another sunset...so that perked me up.
Rialto Beach turned out to be only about a mile down the beach from La Push and a lot more crowded. It afforded more driftwood to clamber about on and we eventually found an upturned root-system that provided a very comfy seat for stargazing. The four of us sat there and sipped our wine, trying not to look sketchy enough to attract the Park Ranger's attention when he walked past to check out some campfires further down the beach. Sipping wine and watching the last colors of the sun fade over the ocean - now that's the way to end a day.
Hurricane Ridge was just as marvelous as I'd remembered it. The slopes are so steep that the valley floor just seems to fall out in front of you. We took the obligatory group photo and then began our hike up to Klahhane Ridge. For about half the hike it wasn't very strenuous - it followed the ups and downs of the ridgeline, offering spectacular views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island to the right (Oh Canada!) and the snowy peaks of the Olympics to the left. Wildflowers were plentiful - unfortunately I could only identify a few - Avalanche Lilies, Lupine, Bistort, Paintbrush, Silky Fecelia, and Tiger Lilies. The last half of the trail steeply switchbacked to a higher ridgeline...and there it got a bit scary. I've never really had any difficulties with altitude before, but this time I had severe issues with finding enough air to breathe. I also think I got rather dehyrdated, which is strange since I drank nearly a liter of water. Fortunately, Shaun was a dear and waited with me when I had to stop to catch my breath.
Eventually we all made it to the top, where we had quite a leisurely lunch looking out over the straits. Nick enjoyed taunting the chipmunks ("now go away or I shall have to taunt you a second time-ah") and we all were very happy to have food. Surprisingly for this group, there were very few "that's what SHE said"s on the mountain...although we did quote Charlie the Unicorn extensively. "It's a magical Liopleurodon! It has spoken! It has told us the waaaaaaaaay!" After seven-ish miles of hiking, sitting in the car felt good. Then it was back through Port Angeles to replenish our wine supply (a Gevurtztremeiner and a Merlot this time) and head back to the Hungry Bear to clean up. We ate dinner at The Smokehouse in Forks where I was rather dissapointed by my spam-like treatment of calamari. However, we headed back to the beach, this time Rialto Beach, for another sunset...so that perked me up.
Rialto Beach turned out to be only about a mile down the beach from La Push and a lot more crowded. It afforded more driftwood to clamber about on and we eventually found an upturned root-system that provided a very comfy seat for stargazing. The four of us sat there and sipped our wine, trying not to look sketchy enough to attract the Park Ranger's attention when he walked past to check out some campfires further down the beach. Sipping wine and watching the last colors of the sun fade over the ocean - now that's the way to end a day.