Olympic National Park is one of the most beautiful place I have been to on earth. You will see why in the post below and the one after.
View from the peak of Hurricane Ridge (5,242 feet/1,599 meters)
We could see Victoria Island of Canada from the peak!
After taking in the amazing view, enjoyed the variety of wildlife and plants along the hike, we headed back down this way
Beautiful blue sky
Beach #2
These pictures are taken just a couple hours after those above at Hurricane Ridge. Olympic has its micro climate (which makes it so special and unique) that it's nice and sunny on one side and foggy along the coast.
Hole-In-The-Wall, which I believe behind that wall with a hole is where the campground is
What is he looking at?
Starfish clinging on
Tidal pools where these beautiful starfish, mussels, barnacles and anemone thrives in
Anemones
Watch these neat 'lil creatures
Notice the polished heart shape stone?
Driftwoods we hiked over to get to the beach and back into the forest
The owls begin to howl
Interesting double armed tree
Uprooted
Someone left this behind...
As you can see, Olympic National Park is for you can access mountains, glaciers, coasts with tide pools, and coastal forest, rainforest all within the 100-mile road that runs around the north and west side of the park. We will head to the Hoh River Rainforest and Ruby Beach in the next post.
What to eat: Smoked salmon and chanterelle mushroom soup
I had the best bowl of chanterelle mushroom soup ever in my life over dinner the night before at Port Angeles. I was told that the locals pick the mushrooms in the forest and sell them to the restaurant for $5/lb!!! That is a small fraction is what I would pay to the farmers in New York. I still miss the mushroom soup today...
For more information about the park: http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/index.htm
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