A Hike In The Olympic Mountains: Heaven On Earth

Hike in Olympic Mountains

 

Another week has passed and, although crime still marches on, everyone deserves a break once in a while. So it’s time for us to sign 10-7 ( out of service), pack the car, and head out of town for a little R&R. Our Weekend Road Trip this week takes us to Washington state in the Olympic Mountains overlooking the San Juan Islands. Take a deep breath. The hours-long hike up and over to the water is not for the weak.  Enjoy the view.

 

Western hemlock trees are abundant along the coastline. Able to grow to heights over 100 feet, some western hemlocks have been known to live 1,200 years and beyond.

 

It was an exhausting trek through dense brush, but definitely worth the effort.

 

The waters just off the coast are the playground to orcas. And, interestingly, the islands, unlike nearby Seattle, get sunshine around 250 days a year.

 

After an hour of exploring and wildlife-watching, it was time to start the long arduous climb back. Seeing a couple of bald eagles soaring above, though, was a nice end to a great day.

12 replies
  1. Liberty Speidel
    Liberty Speidel says:

    Great pics! I’ll be spending some time in the Seattle area soon for medical treatment on my son, so maybe we’ll take a day when he’s relatively healthy and go explore the Olympics. 🙂

  2. Janis Patterson
    Janis Patterson says:

    Thanks for the beautiful pictures, Lee. They are a balm on the spirit. I was fortunate enough to visit the Olympic peninsula several years ago and remember it fondly. After seeing your pictures I realize I should go back.

  3. Harry Wegley
    Harry Wegley says:

    My wife and I hike the Olympic Peninsula trails as much as we can, mostly near the beaches, but we’ve ventured into the mountains. We have around 20 GB of pictures we’ve taken out there. I chose the outer Peninsula for the setting of my second novel, On the Pineapple Express, coming out later this year. It’s beautiful in nice weather, but can be deadly in bad weather. It’s a great place for scenic thrills … or to set a thriller.

  4. Elizabeth
    Elizabeth says:

    Did you guys move again and not tell us? How did you make a weekend road trip to Washington? Are you and D astral projecting?

  5. Anthony
    Anthony says:

    I spent my youth hiking the Olympic mountains, and I am never far away from them.

    It’s magical that’s for sure. I’ve heard an atheist remark it’s really hard not to believe in God while hiking around the Olympics.

    On the rain forest side, it’s flat out enchanted. A hiker gets rained on and loves every minute of it.

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