Storm King Trail

Story by Patrick Wu

Photos by Patrick Wu and Bret Wirta

Roundtrip distance: 4 miles – Time out: ~3 hours

Elevation gain: 2000 ft – Degree of difficulty: 2

June 1st 2013

Lake Crescent Lodge

Lake Crescent Lodge

For those wanting to get some beautiful views of the Olympics without having to commit too much time to any one hike, Storm King Trail near Lake Crescent is a great option; short enough to complete in a morning or an afternoon, and steep and physically demanding enough to make you feel like you really earned it once you’ve reached the overlook. At the overlook you’ll find incredible views of the lake and valley below. Your total time on the trail could easily vary by an hour either way depending on the traveling speed of your party, as the large majority of the two mile one-way trip consists of steep switchbacks, and some may want to spend more time relaxing at the summit than others. In any case, I would certainly recommend this short hike to the overlook of Mount Storm King to anyone seeking a classic view of Lake Crescent who doesn’t mind sweating a little bit on his or her way up!

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Protection Island Wildlife Cruise

Story by Patrick Wu

Photos by Bret Wirta

June 12th 2012

Capt Charles's ship Living the Dream

Capt Charles's ship Living the Dream

We awoke around nine in the morning, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then made the short drive down the road to the John Wayne Marina in Sequim. It was my pleasure to be a guest of the Wirtas on one of their many adventures into nature, for which Bret seems to have quite the eye. My girlfriend Becca and I, yawning from the aberration in our typical college student sleep schedules, benefited greatly from the fresh ocean air of the Peninsula as we, along with Bret and “Nanny,” Becca’s grandmother, were greeted by Captain Charles Martin on the docks at ten o’clock sharp. The captain is the proud owner of The Water Limousine, a beautiful 26-foot Glacier Bay catamaran by the name of “Livin’ the Dream”—a title that, by the tone of the captain’s voice as he speaks it, indeed seems to have its personal significance. “Livin’ the Dream” is used primarily for private cruises, such as this one, and the multi-hulled yacht provides a very smooth, stable ride for up to six people.

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