Heads up-this post may be so long that it spans two pages…I’m trying to load lots of pictures at once. #Tired.
Day 1 of 2 in Olympic National Park.
Out the gate this guy wanted to model.
And of course we were excited to see a deer away from home…mainly because we are excited to see them there too. This is a black tailed one though.
We headed to Hurricane Ridge first thing and immediately layered up with rain jackets. This is the second park that has been cloudy/foggy but just a good reason to return one day.
I won’t share a picture that does anything we have experienced justice. It was so awesome to walk through these parks.
The flowers, plants, and trees are my favorite.
These are definitely hats in Tinkerbell.
Trees feel like Grinch trees with Grinch fur. Straight out of the movies.
Bit of a ridge. Can’t believe I allowed some of my clumsy family to walk this.
There is a view there…
In between clouds.
Everything here has been created by glaciers it seems. This lake was and then filled with glacier water. Between the signs and Gypsy app we have learned a lot.
Furry trees
Downed trees everywhere doing their part for the ecosystem.
C for Carrie.
We hiked to Marymere Falls at Lake Crescent which was 1.7 miles round-trip, 314 ft elevation gain. Those layers from earlier came off.
Love that this sweet lady saw it for to join our picture.
Let me just remind the girls as they read this later in life…leave no trace was not met at this moment.
Our next hike took us to Sol Duc where we hiked to see Sol Duc Falls. This was 1.6 miles round-trip, 226 ft elevation gain.
An awesome view after a hike through old growth forest. It was unreal to walk through the forest. I wanted to look up, down, and all around.
SKV looks photoshopped.
About out of the woods and back to the car.
Oh the beach you say? Yes. In one day we experience mountains, old forest growth, a rainforest, and the beach. The Pacific Ocean means business.
The forest meets the ocean in an abrupt fashion. There are trees lining the beach. They got there from being washed up and are moved during storms…by the ocean.
Rocks are peppered throughout the waters. The clouds made it difficult to grasp the total awesomeness but we got the idea.
This seal was totally chilling in the waves. We enjoyed watching him bob up and down.
We hiked on Rialto Beach for 3.3 miles, 108 ft of elevation gain, to see Hole-in-the-Wall. Again, would have been amazing had it be more clear but still a good hike. Had we arrived earlier we could have walked around it. We arrived when tide was coming in. If we come again we need to hit the beach up at low tide for a while other experience.
I felt like a kid wanting to take all the rocks. So many pretty ones and so many great ones for skipping in a river.
Our attempts to reenact Ariel from the Little Mermaid.
