Day 28, Exploring Olympic National Park

Day 28 was exploring Olympic National Park day one. It was another rainy day typical of the northwestern Washington area. Here is the view from our deck this morning.

However, today it didn’t dampen, no pun intended, our spirits because we were going to the “rain forest” section of the park.

We were greeted by this young elk that didn’t seem to care if we watched her or not.

This rain forest is a one of a kind and is amazing. The rain forest is filled with huge Sitka Fir and maple trees that grow over 100 feet tall and 10 feet across.

Many of the trees are covered with a green sponge type of moss.

In some of the trees are in rows due to the fact that the moss was so thick that they couldn’t root in the soil so the seeds sprouted on top of fallen logs that were decomposing. Eventually, the roots would grow around the tree and when the “host” tree finally rots away (50-75 years or so) the trees look like they are on fingers.

The terrain of the rain forest is covered with ferns of all types and the trees present a eerie beauty.

The water in the streams is crystal clear but I didn’t see any sign of fish.

The only wild life I saw or even heard in the rain forest was a frog.
I stopped hiking after the first trail but, being the ultimate explorers they are, Babs, Katy, and Jason took another 1.6 mile hike.

In the end we were all drenched, but after all, it was a rain forest!
We ate lunch in a restaurant in the town of Fork, which is famous for the “Twilight“ book and movie. However, it turns out none of the movie was filmed in Washington state because of prohibitively high taxes and the author of the book didn’t visit the area until long after the book was published. The legend of Fork is capitalism at its best!
After lunch we headed to the “hot springs” section of the park. We figured that it was too late to actually go to the springs for a dip but that we would check it out for tomorrow when hopefully the weather will be better. The springs are feed by a real hot spring but they have routed the water into commercial type pools. I was expecting something more like Chiena Hot Springs Alaska which is a natural hot springs. Bummer! Farther up the road was a waterfall that Babs, Jason and Katy wanted to hike to. It was only mile and a half hike round trip but the elevation rose 200 feet in three quarters of a mile. I didn’t think my knees would take the climb so I stayed behind.

The waterfalls were beautiful and Babs and Katy played in the mist.
Back at the cabin we fixed dinner of steak, mushrooms, and baked potatoes, sweet potatoes for Jason and Katy, and yellow squash.

The Pacific Ocean is our back door.

After dinner we went to explore the beach which is about 75 yards from our cabin. Babs and Katy actually waded in the surf.

Tomorrow, we will explore the “mountain section” of Olympic National Park and maybe take a dip in the hot springs.

Babs Says: Have been searching all day through the rain and clouds and still no vampire or werewolf.