We go hiking for a few days in the northern part of the Olympic National Park in Washington State. The park covers nearly a million acres (404,685 hectares) of vast wilderness and numerous distinct ecosystems including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles (113 km) of wild Pacific coastline. We start with a hike on the Hurricane Hill trail, near Port Angeles on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with expansive views of the mountains making up the Bailey Range, a subrange of the Olympic Mountains with one of the finest alpine routes in the Olympics.
We drive up to the Hurricane Ridge parking lot, located at an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,598 meters) and offering panoramic views.
Parking lot
Views from the parking lot
Short trail up
Views from the top
Snow trail
This path is also closed
Road to Hurricane Hill
Views along the road
Hurricane Hill trail at Hurricane Ridge
Along the trail
About three quarters of the way to Hurricane Hill, the trail turns a corner away from the sun and is covered with snow the rest of the way. The people behind us have brought crampons in their packs and are clearly better prepared for this eventuality that we are. We turn around and return to the trailhead.
Shady side of the mountain
The trail back (sunny side)
The signs at the trailhead warn of mountain lions, cougars, and bears, none of which we meet today.
Warnings at the trailhead
Views from Port Angeles (back at sea level)
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