I don't want to talk about SMOKE
But really! What is next? Locusts? As if a pandemic and no group hiking wasn't enough to deal with. We now get these horrible wildfires, smoke filled skies, continuous hurricanes and the Seattle waterfront collapsing. But let's count our blessings too and do what we can to help people more directly impacted by all this trouble. Enough of that. The Seahawks won!
And I can give you a first hand report on the Queets River valley. Patti, Bella & I spent most of last week at Kalaloch and three days exploring the Queets. We drove to the Ranger Station and campground three times and the road is in really good shape. Much better than many of our east side Olympic roads. It is about an hour from Kalaloch to the Ranger station, with only the last 8 or so miles on gravel. We hiked the Sams River Loop on Wednesday. It is a lovely three mile mostly flat loop from the Ranger Station to the campground and back. It follows the Queets one way and passes by a few abandoned homesteads the other. We saw oyster mushrooms and a herd of ghostly quiet elk! On Thursday we returned looking for Bella's collar, which we thought might be at the Ranger Station, but it wasn't (it was found on the beach and returned - yay!)
On Friday I hiked 11 miles roundtrip up the Queets to Spruce Bottom camp and back and saw only two groups and two single hikers. The hike starts with a wade across the Queets River, which explains why nobody does this hike. Even when at it very lowest levels (now) the water is thigh deep, powerful swift and cold. I can't imagine crossing during thaw or after a rain. But once across, the trail is flat, easily marked and delightful. You follow the river through groves of ancient hemlocks, mossy maples and meadow remnants of abandoned homesteads. There are a few fruit trees and berry patches as remnants. Signs of elk, grouse, deer and bear are everywhere. The solitude is awe inspiring. and the trees!
And one more thing: Razor Clam digs days have been set. There are a lot this year! So let's get diggy.
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