During early August 2013, Liz and I took a wonderful trip along the coast of Washington. We hiked the 10-mile Ozette Loop in a relaxing in 3 days! The weather ranged from fog and rain to clear and warm, giving us the full spectrum of North Coast weather.
On the beach, we witnessed a female Peregrine Falcon take down and eat a juvenile Olympic Gull while Bald Eagles hunted the tidepools - talk about nature red in tooth and claw! We even saw mountain lion tracks in the sand and a least weasel in our campsite. The trip was great, the crowds were small, the campsites quiet, and the wildlife was grand.
The only thing that detracted from our experience was the poor condition of the boardwalk trail. Some sections were so rotten that we spread out to reduce the chance that our combined weight would collapse the foundation. Repairs had started and stopped over the years, but it sure would be nice if the trail were fixed once and for all.
Sincerely,
Olympic National Park
Exploring Olympic’s dynamic landscape is like visiting three parks in one. The high mountains offer snow, glaciers, wilderness and — if you time it right — acres of wildflowers. The lush, verdant Hoh Rainforest is unlike anything else in the Lower 48, and home to Roosevelt elk, black bears and other charismatic wildlife. And the park’s stunning coast offers some of the country's wildest and most spectacular beaches, dotted with tide pools and sea stacks. Visitors can now see where park staff recently removed two large dams, letting the Elwha River flow freely again for the first time in more than 100 years.
State(s): Washington
Established: 1938
“We need wild places because, as a friend with limited English skills once said, "it cleans my brain."”
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
I spent a day hiking in Olympic National Park with my family this summer. We were greeted by snow-capped mountains and miles of evergreens, both of which were familiar characteristics of Washington State. Throughout the year, the mountains are always dotted with wildflowers frequented by fat bees and skittish butterflies.…
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
On top of Hurricane Ridge I came across this deer who seemed to be enjoying the view as much as I did.
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
In 1993 I was 16 years old and had just come out in my small town. There was no one else I knew, no support groups, no gay characters in TV or movies. Fortunately, I had very supportive friends. I spent that summer volunteering in the backcountry of Olympic National…
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