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Archive for October, 2011

Day Trip on the Olympic Peninsula

Friday, October 21st, 2011

By Damian Humphreys

June 21th 2011.

Day Trip on the Olympic Peninsula

A daytrip to Hurricane Ridge and Dungeness Spit in one day takes in the top two tourist attractions for the area. When you add in a catered lunch and a knowledgeable tour guide from Evergreen Escapes, that will explain the science behind the wonderful scenery I am viewing, then it makes for a day that is well worth the cost. I could do it myself, but I would miss out on learning about the unique beauty of the area.

Leaving the Holiday Inn Express in Sequim at 9.30, the bus carried me to the summit of Hurricane Ridge at 5200 feet. Snow covered much of the ground. The peaks of the Olympic National Park greeted my arrival at the summit. The visitor center has a lot of information regarding the ecology and topography of the area. I had ample time to wander by myself as and took the opportunity to join a guided hike where I learned about the local wildlife and vegetation that is synonymous with the region.

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Salmon Fishing on the Hoh River

Friday, October 21st, 2011

By Bret Wirta-The Incidental Explorer

Distance: drifting a few miles – - Time: all day

Rating: Lots of Fun and Excitement

October 11th 2011

Hoh River Fishing 2011

The Hoh River is a magical. Not because the river runs through one of the few temperate rain forests in the United States, but instead the river is magical because this time of year so many salmon appear.

I was lucky to be fishing on the Hoh with my friend Tom. Our families have enjoyed the outdoors together over the years, from canoeing on the Missouri River to camping in the North Cascades. Tom is a fly fisherman who, like most of us busy trying to earn a living, doesn’t fish as much as he should. Pat Neal was our guide. I went steelhead fishing on the Bogachiel River with Pat this summer. Pat is a Peninsula native who’s had many careers including logger, guide and now writer. Many have enjoyed Pat’s witty books about his outdoor exploits.

We didn’t shove our drift boat into the current until ten. There were dark clouds roiling about. While the river was open and spacious, the dense forest grew right to the edge of the bank. The rows of trees closest to the river had toppled over in piles of branches and roots, like people in a crowd being pushed forward against their will. We were alone on the river, nothing but trees, water, and sky. Pat steered the boat with his oars. Tom and I sat in our seats in the bow, our poles in their holders, lines far downstream with shiny lures fluttering down deep in the cold river. It was good to be out on the river.

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Posted in Audio/Video, Author, Bret Wirta, Fall, Season | 4 Comments »

Goats Notes-MT. TOWNSEND/WELCH PEAK

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

October 17, 2011

By John

Mount Townsend/ Welch Peak

It was a beautiful day for I hike and therefore well attended. There were two options, either the traditional route to the top of Mt. Townsend or the more adventuresome Welch Peak.

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Goats Notes-Klahhane Ridge/Heather Park via Switchback Trail

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

October 10, 2011

By Neil

Jim to the rescue---just in time!

The plan: Climb Switchback Trail (1500’ of elevation gain in 1.5 miles), cross Klahhane Ridge, traverse the Heather Park Trail, tramp down to Heart of the Hills. In the rain at the gathering place it seemed a pretty ambitious project. Recent Monday hike weather gave little reason for optimism. Could we possibly rise above the lowland wetness? Undeterred, all hands piled aboard for the long drive to Port Angeles. An optimistic voice invoked the “rain shadow” argument when the subject of weather came up. In fact Sequim, true to its chamber of commerce promotion, was dry. The condition stretched to Port Angeles. It was raining at the Switchback trailhead. We put on our raingear and began the steep climb up Switchback. Near the top the visibility was minimal and the wind was howling.

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Goats Notes-Tubal Cain Mine

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

October 03, 2011

By Frank

Tubal Cain Mine

Four Goats, Gunda, Jim, Karen & Frank showed up for the hike to Buckhorn pass, but since neither Gunda nor Frank had been to Tubal Cain mine, we decided to go there instead. The forecast called for showers & that’s what we got. Some rain, some blue sky, sometimes both at once.

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Goats Notes-Van Trump Park

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Septemeber 19, 2011

By Ed

Van Trump Park

Four carloads started out from Kitsap County for a hike to Van Trump Park in the Mt. Rainier National Park. After a brief stop at the bakery in Spanaway, we all arrived at Longmire. Then, on to Christine Falls, the start of the hike where several hikers would go only to Van Trump and back to return cars to Longmire where the remaining hikers would finish.

The hike started with a bridge immediately above Christine Falls. As we worked our way up toward Van trump Park, the views of the cascading falls of Van Trump Creek were stunning, and the camera could capture neither the depths nor beauty of the worn-away rock. Our group paused many times along this first climb to wonder at the beauty that existed here.

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