May 7th, 2012
Presented by Jack
Hi Hikers,
Elwha Valley
It was a busy time at the carpool area in Poulsbo, sorting out Hikers from Mountain Goats and greeting old and new friends in both groups. At 0800 hrs., two car loads of us took off for a workout on the Wolf Creek Trail which starts up from Whisky Bend trailhead on the Elwha River.
I say “workout” because this was not a very scenic hike. Even at our nearly five mile lunch/turn-around point, we had only peak-a-boo vistas. In another mile or less, we would have been into the alpine area with views every where. Discretion turned us around at the point where we encountered snow. The seriously melting snow was deep and wet. We had not brought snowshoes, so opted for an early lunch. “Workout” also because this trail is an old road bed and has a very constant grade with little relief.
On the lower reaches there is a lot of Salal taking over the trail. There were a moderate number of logs across the trail from the winter stress. Our front runners de-branched the mid sized logs and totally removed those smaller.
Spring time is upon us, Calypso Orchids
A view of the Elwha River. Faith Allie and Diane chose to hike down there and visit Goblins Gap a little further to the right. When the trail turned to slush, retreating to the sunshine for lunch seemed like a real good idea. What a view from our notch through the trees!! Zooming in, I think still, that Pat is the only one who knows their names.
Spring time is upon us! The lower elevations are alive with Yellow Violets and Calypso Orchids. We nearly always find deer at the trailhead.
What a relief to get those boots off!! The trip home included a pause at the destroyed Mills Lake Dam and refreshments at the Longhouse.
Here is the route we took, gaining 2400 feet elevation.
Photo credits to: John, Neil, Bob, Jim R. and Jack.
Happy trails and keep on hikin’
Jack
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- Starting up
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- Off we go
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- A little bushy
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- A broken tree
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- Trail cleaning
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- Elwha Valley
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- Trail turns to slush
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- Retreating to the sunshine for lunch
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- Retreating to the sunshine for lunch
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- Retreating to the sunshine for lunch
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- What a view from our notch through the trees!!
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- Snow a plenty
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- Lunch spot view
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- Spring time is upon us, Yellow Violets
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- Spring time is upon us, Calypso Orchids
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- Local resident
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- What a relief to get those boots off!!
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- A pause at the destroyed Mills Lake Dam
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- A pause at the destroyed Mills Lake Dam
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- Here is the route we took, gaining 2400 feet elevation
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