Monday, January 19, 2009

Hike of the Month

We have a four day weekend, thanks to a budget shortage at work which has given us a gift of nine days off this year without pay. We decide to check out the Olympic National Park (in Washington), even though it is January and freezing and wet.

We start here, at Quinalt Lodge for $80/night (low season special). It's a nice place, but it's January and freezing and wet.



Quinalt Lodge is on the shady side of the lake, a problem when it's January and freezing and wet. This is the boathouse where we stayed. This picture was taken during a rare few moments of sun. Mostly it was freezing and wet.



This place, on the other hand, is on the sunny side of the lake and is wonderfully lovely. It is closed for the winter, but Larry insists they'll love it if we bust in and walk around, helping ourselves to the view and lounge chairs. Later, when the dogs close in, we leave.



On the way back to the Lodge, Larry shows me his bad boy look:



After a day driving around the snowy lake, we decide to head north in search of some hiking. We don't expect much since it's January and freezing and wet.



We find a trail up the Queets Canyon. The trailhead is on the other side of Sam's Creek and the Queets River. We'd have to cross all this water just to get started. Count me out, I tell Larry.



Instead, we drive to the northwest corner of the state, to the beach side of Olympic National Park where there's a trail through the rain forest to Ozette beach. We camp in the Chevy and get ready to head out in the morning.



We study the map:



Larry cooks his not-so-special camping oatmeal. We pack the down coats and rain gear, and we're off. The trail to the beach is three miles of boardwalk.



We emerge from the dense rain forest and get our first glimpse of the beach.



It's like stepping into another world. Gone is January and freezing and wet. It's sunny and warm with absolutely no wind.







Larry is in love with the Red Alder. Apparently, it makes great firewood and is a delight to cut. It was all over the beach from recent storms. I have never seen Larry so happy. If you ever need to get him a terrific present, get him a chunk of Red Alder.



The beach is magic. There are bald eagles overhead:



And a pair perched on a distant rock:



A one-legged crab flashes gang signs when Larry picks him up:



The tide has left treasures behind like this dead stingray:



. . . and some sort of sponge . . .



. . . and an octopus whose legs have been chewed off by the sea otters we glimpsed running away . . .



. . . and a giant crab leg.



There are interesting rocks. [What does this look like, Katie?]



The day is so wonderful and warm that even Larry's hair grows back.



We walk three miles north on a stretch of beach without any roads. It is amazing. Finally, we say goodbye to the beach and the sun and head back into the forest.





We return to the Chevy on another three-mile stretch of boardwalk, and it's back to January and freezing and wet.

Cougar Bait

This post is especially for Katie who went running alone on a canyon trail in cougar country on the Main Salmon raft trip in Idaho last summer. I apologize, Katie. Looks like I gave you bad advice when I told you it was safe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Larry and I drive toward Olympic National Park in Washington and see this sign. We remember Katie's solo canyon workout and decide to investigate.



A few miles down the road, we come upon this sign:



Then we see these:



And this:




And finally this cat watching us from the rocks above the trail we're hiking:



We get in the car and drive away, vowing never to return and certainly never to jog here alone.