Dave came west for a couple weeks this August. After nearly a decade of missing the summer fun of roaming
around Washington's beautiful country, his focus was hiking. He picked out several interesting "long-ish" hikes that had
shorter hikes nearby, suitable for the seniors. So, our news is mostly our travels around the Evergreen State, enjoying the
natural beauty of its two
mountain ranges and 3000 miles of coastline.
That's Mt. Index (L) and Mt. Dunn (R) in the North Cascades range with the crystal clear waters of the Skykomish
River burbling past. Though it is merely a random spot along the river ... it's a decent enough place to "pull up a rock"
and enjoy lunch!
A Pretty Place to Enjoy Lunch
News & Notes
Most of our hiking was on the Olympic Peninsula. Dave had planned a hike from the famed Hurricane Ridge, but it was closed following a cougar attack. In nearby Deer Park, he chose an 8 mile hike to the summit of Maiden Peak. At the ranger station, a hand printed sign again warned of cougar sightings, but he opted to hike anyway and remain alert.
Dave At The Deer Park Ranger Station, Olympic National Park
Meanwhile we left in a different direction from the same trailhead to hike to the summit of Blue Mountain. The less-than-a-mile trail winds past diminishing alpine fir to the tree line. The grand views presented in all directions including north to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island CA beyond and snowcovered Mt. Baker WA to the right.
J on Blue Mountain (Actually, the brown part Is Blue)
The beauty of Dave being on Maiden Peak and we being on Blue Mountain summit is we could look straight across at his progress and he could see where we were. Naturally, these are mountains, so we were less than a pixel in size in each other's view. Afterwards, we agreed it was still fun to know someone you know is out there in your view, and you know about where they are.
Maiden Peak (At The Break In The Clouds)
His hike from Lake Ozette out to the Pacific Coast, which finished with a refreshing swim in the Lake out to a moored native canoe, included not only ancient native petroglyphs but also a small bear noshing on a dead fish on the beach. Not knowing if the bear was traveling alone, Dave sensibly kept to the tideline.
Pacific Coast on the Lake Ozette Hike
The Murhut Falls hike, under two miles round trip, is typical of WA's hidden gems. Short, and very sweet!
Dave picked Hama Hama Oyster Farm for his birthday celebration. Conveniently enough, they place A-frame shelters next to the tide flats, where oyster-lovers can open the freshest oysters available. (The "oystermen" came in as we sat down.) It's recreation on a half shell! We spent a leisurely lunch emptying dozens of shells. Slurping saves blowing out all those candles!
Hama Hama Oyster Party
Over his visit we managed to empty dozens more oysters, including at Taylor's Seafood,, which is also built on a pile of shells.
The Macaw Indians' tribal lands are centered in Neah Bay WA, where they have an exquisit museum of pre-contact Macaw artifacts. The Macaw are whale hunters, and the museum describes how in their native canoes they carried out an amazingly dangerous hunt. If successful, they surrounded the whale with seal skin floats for the arduous tow to shore. What caught our attention is some dude had to jump into the frigid ocean and sew the gray whale's mouth shut, to keep it from taking on water and sinking. (Ancient Macaw wisdom: Never aggravate your canoe captain!) Photos are not allowed in the museum, but the National Geographic has a painting of the idea at the gift shop.
Macaw Cultural Museum's Painting of Sewing Up the Whale's Mouth
Cape Flattery is the Northwesterly-most Point of the Lower 48 States. It is a popular attraction for tourists and a short hike to a beautiful sight. Behind us is Tatoosh Island, a smidgen further on, and then open ocean all the way to Alaska.
The View Northwest from Cape Flattery
We opened this page with the Mt Index photo, because it's more than a random spot along the Skykomish; it's also our family's favorite picnic spot. Right after we moved to Seattle, we started late summer and fall visits to this spot with a picnic, our dog Josie and two boys who loved to play in the water and among the rocks. In summer the river is swift but quiet. (In spring it's just violent.) The huge "shark fin" rock was always tantalizing to the guys, but they were never allowed to wade out to it. But by the time you're escorting your ancient parents through the rough country to the river, it's time to find out what's on the other side.
The Picnic Spot, And Maybe the One Rock That Hasn't Moved in 40 Years
After Dave headed home we worked in a trip to Libby MT to visit Jim and Julie. During our visit their grandsons came by for a fun weekend of boating, kayaking and floating the river. Brian is a software developer at Nintendo, Cole is a junior in Kirkland high school, and Calvin is a cybersecurity major at Western Washington U.They're great guys and fun to hang with.
Brian, Cole and Calvin
