Olympic Peninsula adventures loaded with history
Maps and illustrations by Sequim artist Per Berg.
Bret Wirta – The Incidental Explorer
If you are a detailed adventure planner or simply an armchair traveler, “In the Footsteps of…” stories are for you. Hike, sail, row, or bicycle the byways of the Olympic Peninsula and learn the history, legends, geology, flora, and fauna that make this region so unique. Each story is loaded with my photos and video clips, plus whimsical maps and illustrations by Sequim artist Per Berg. Enjoy! – The Incidental Explorer
In the Footsteps of those who First Crossed the Olympics: Backpacking Over Low Divide Retrace the footsteps of arctic explorer James H. Christie and the hearty men of his 1889 Press Expedition while examining records left by local Native American tribes to discover who were the first people to cross the enigmatic Olympic Mountains.
In the Footsteps of the Seattle Mountaineers: Backpacking the Skyline Ridge Trail Travel along one of the most difficult trails in Olympic National Park while following the Seattle Mountaineers’ early summer outings to understand how this club established the outdoor recreation industry.
In the Footsteps of Early Geologists: Searching for Clues to how the Olympics were Formed Because the dense forests and thick glaciers obscure the layers of rock below, it took a century to discern how the Olympic Peninsula was formed. Journey up the Dungeness River watershed to locate the final bit of enigmatic evidence that almost prevented the theory from being written.
In the Footsteps of the Banner Party: In 1890 the Olympic Mountains were un-mapped and little explored. Backpack up the North Fork of the Skokomish River and trace the route of three married couples from Tacoma as they out-explored a U.S. Army expedition in a race into the interior of the peninsula.
In the Footsteps of Sawmills and Timber Beasts: Search the neck of the Miller Peninsula for clues to the long-gone Snow Creek Logging Company and uncover the history of logging on the Olympic Peninsula.
In the Footsteps of Manganese Miners: Explore the Crescent Mine on an easy day hike and discover what mineral was more valuable than gold to warship builders during both world wars.
In the Footsteps of Homesteaders and Whalers: Hiking the Cape Alava Trail Follow the Cape Alava Trail and uncover how Scandinavians and Native Americans lived on the Northwest tip of our country.
In the Footsteps of Railroad Dreamers and Builders: Bicycling the Olympic Discovery Trail: Ride across the Olympic Peninsula and uncover why it took a generation to build a 100-mile railroad and what happened after the railroad company went bankrupt.
In the Footsteps of Filmmakers and Mountain Men: The Bailey Range Traverse: Bush-wack from peak to peak across the remote mountain spine surrounding Mt. Olympus and follow Disney filmmaker Herb Crisler as he bets his life he can survive the traverse without food back in 1930.
In the Footsteps of Admirals and Promoters: Fishing for the Beardslee Trout: Go fishing for a rare species of trout on Lake Crescent and see why the trout was named for the admiral of the Pacific Fleet.