Escaping snow, Olympic Peninsula Dayhikes Jan. 15-17, 2022

John Morrow

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I need a work break, so I'll do a quick trip report close to home, what the heck.

My friend Lori and I escaped gloomy fog and feet of frozen saturated snow to walk on terra firma for a few surprisingly nice coastal winter days.

After the long drive on Saturday 1/15, we managed to get a short loop hike featuring cascading streams and some big ole' trees on the Quinault National Recreation Trail System, Olympic National Forest on the east shore of Lake Quinault.


above a falls, Gatton Creek
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Creek
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Knowing we had a weather window on Sunday Jan 16, we busted it out to the coast for a nice 7 mile RT hike along the wilderness coast of Olympic National Park. The drive took us through Forks, WA toward coastal LaPush. A couple paved miles prior to LaPush was our trailhead for the Third Beach Trail. Once at the beach we climbed over a point too rough to round at low tide and went as far as Scott's Bluff, southern Strawberry Bay.


3rd Beach, Olympic National Park
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Arch Bluff
by John Morrow, on Flickr


graveyard, Olympic National Park
by John Morrow, on Flickr


stack
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Strawberry Bay
by John Morrow, on Flickr


ropework
by John Morrow, on Flickr


closer view
by John Morrow, on Flickr


sunset in Strawberry Bay
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Prior to driving back to civilization and its discontents on Monday Jan 17th, we hiked the Quinault River Trail in the National Park 5 miles RT to Pony Bridge and back. Big trees, turquoise river waters, distant misty mountain views.


gorge at Pony Bridge
by John Morrow, on Flickr


on Pony Bridge
by John Morrow, on Flickr


big Dougs
by John Morrow, on Flickr


ancient forest look
by John Morrow, on Flickr


rainforest hew
by John Morrow, on Flickr


tall and slender
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Graves Creek
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Full Photo Album:


In honor of Martin Luther King Jr:

“We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”


Pray for Snow!
 
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We hiked that same Third Beach trail back in 2006. I love seeing your photos and remembering the wonderful day we spent there. My boys spent a lot of time throwing stones to hit that same rock/sea stack with the tree growing on top. Thanks for bringing back fun memories!
DSC01939.jpg
 
We hiked that same Third Beach trail back in 2006. I love seeing your photos and remembering the wonderful day we spent there. My boys spent a lot of time throwing stones to hit that same rock/sea stack with the tree growing on top. Thanks for bringing back fun memories!
View attachment 106561

That's a high tide! So different with leaves on the deciduous brush
 
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My first and only time there was 2007 but I am headed back with the fam this June. Looks like the river trail is a great day hike in the the Quinnalt area.
 
My first and only time there was 2007 but I am headed back with the fam this June. Looks like the river trail is a great day hike in the the Quinnalt area.
When we were on the Olympic Peninsula, we also hiked the Quinault river trail and my boys - ages 10 and 6 at the time - loved climbing on the enormous tree roots and horizontal nurse logs. Hope your family will have fun, too.

We also checked out the gigantic Sitka Spruce that's nearby. Even though the tree's setting isn't super picturesque, we were glad we went - the trunk is so huge the kids really had fun.
DSC01803.jpg. DSC01802.jpg
 
Yes! Olympic coastline is where it is at. Haven't done 3rd beach yet, but hope to soon. Other side of the state for me, but so worth it.
 
Lots of great photo opportunities there. I really like the seascapes and the color of the inland fresh water.
 
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