Day 6 - Port Townsend - Lake Quinault, WA

A bright, sunny object was in the sky this morning so after a quick shower and breakfast, I went for a photo walk in downtown Port Townsend.  Townspeople were out walking their dogs and business owners were arriving to get things started.  Everyone had a smile and a warm greeting to share!

We soon loaded up the car and headed towards Olympic National Park.  The main driving tour goes up to Hurricane Ridge which, according to the webcam in the Visitor's Center, had very low visibility due to clouds.  We decided to trek up the mountain regardless of the view from the top, and boy were we glad we did.  The air temperature was about 52 when we began and the sun was out.  As we climbed, we saw some great views of the mountains with snow covered peaks.  Black-tailed deer were plentiful on the drive, until we got into the snow line.  It misted, rained, and sleeted on us at various points on the trail and as we neared the top, the snow covered everything.  It was truly a winter wonderland by the time the summit was in view.  How crazy to go from tulips yesterday to snow and ice today.

We lunched in Port Angeles and then made our way west on US Highway 101.  Lake Crescent was soon in view and it too was breathtaking.  101 is being worked on so at one point we had to wait on a pilot car to lead us (and our closest 30 friends behind us) along the highway for several miles.  Clearing that, we continued west until we reach Rialto Beach and the Pacific Ocean.  Small paths lead adventurers through the dunes of driftwood before the crashing waves and rolling mist greets you.  This beach is mostly made up of smooth, round rocks (little sand).  Not far off the coast are outcroppings of rocks which make for a dramatic background to the waves.

After savoring the sounds and sights of the beach, we continued south on 101 to the Hoh Rainforest.  It's one of the largest temperate rainforests and is located within the Olympic Natl'l Park.  The entry road parallels the Hoh River in many places which is a stark contrast to the abundance of green growth on the opposite side of the road.  As we went deeper into the woods, the trees got bigger, fern sprouted all over, and moss covered everything.  We completed a short hike through the woods behind the Visitor's Center where, at the very end, we came across a mama cow elk.  She was in one of the wet areas chewing on whatever she could find.  As we back out to leave, her baby showed up too.

Our final destination was the Lake Quinault Lodge.  The lodge was built in 1926 and is reminiscent of the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone.  We arrived after dark to find a massive fire in the lobby fireplace and original steam pipe/radiator heaters in the bedrooms.  I plan to walk around the grounds tomorrow morning, maybe even spy a waterfall or two before we depart.