Olympic National Park Pt 1

The traffic was loud all night but I managed to get enough sleep. My hikes for the day both started at the Storm King Ranger Station next to Lake Crescent. The trail to Marymere Falls had multiple trailheads for other trails on it. I did Marymere Falls first and it was an easy 1-mile add-on to the longer hike I planned on doing. I hiked through beautiful forest, crossed a few bridges, and climbed up a few switchbacks until reaching the falls. It was pretty tall and it hit part of the rock wall it fell down before hitting the pool below. Ferns and moss covered the rock wall on either side of the falls making it look very lush and alive. After seeing the falls I hiked back the way I came to the Mount Storm King trailhead. This one wasn’t as easygoing as the falls trail. Steep switchbacks made up this hike. The trail carved into this steep and lush mountain face. More tall and wide trees, a busy forest floor with ferns and moss-covered rocks. The sunlight filtered through the leaves and poked out through the holes in between the giant trees. It was a really beautiful hike and a bit challenging. There were lots of breaks taken since I was in no rush to complete this hike fast. It was the only thing I had planned for the day so I made sure to slow down and enjoy it. As I neared the top, the thick forest and soft ground turned to open views and rocky footing. The initial view was of the valley where the Marymere Falls trail went through, pine-looking trees completely covering the mountainsides, besides the small areas where snow filled in at the tops. Clouds made a roof above the mountain peaks, some dipping below the tallest trees. As I made my way higher I saw a portion of Lake Crescent as well. A sign marked the end of the maintained trail and this is where the fun really began. The trail narrowed and instead of a well-padded forest floor, it was now weathered rock that I followed. At this point in the trail I was alone and didn’t have someone to follow or someone to follow me. I found the ropes that help you climb up the rugged cliff to get higher. I started climbing and the view of Lake Crescent kept getting better. There were about six areas that had ropes to help you climb higher. After the ropes, there was a rugged peak. It seemed too dangerous to go up that way and I saw a thin path leading down to the right of it. I followed it but it was a dead end. Everything in me told me not to climb up the slender rocky peak, but I did. And it was the best decision!

The view was insane. I could see most of Lake Crescent, the valley I just climbed up, and all the way to the Salish Sea. It was absolutely stunning. There was a young woman around my age already at the top with her arm outstretched feeding the wild birds. She and I talked for a while and took pictures for each other. She took a video of me feeding the birds. There were three of them, I think they were Gray Jays, that would swoop down from a tree and land on your hand. They were gentle when they gathered as much of the crumbs as they could fit in their beaks before flying off. It was so so cool. A few more people came up after us and a few of us talked for a little while, snapping some pictures for them too. Everyone was so friendly and hyped up about this incredible view. The camaraderie was part of why this hike was so fun. I hung out at the top for a long while eating snacks and looking at the view. I could see Marymere Falls from the top and the Ferrie that went to Victoria Canada too. Finally, I started on my descent. As I was going down from the steep peak part two young women were coming up, one just clinging to the rocky ground. She stayed put as I found my way around her since she was too scared to stand to make room. I reassured her and her friend that they were so close and that the view was beyond worth it. I gripped the ropes and sidestepped most of the way down. I only slipped once but my hand caught me before I fell. The hike down felt so much faster than going up but it was still a decent ways back. My hikes came out to be a little over 6.5 miles and I know the Storm King trail had over 2,100 ft in elevation gain, so not too long of a hiking day. My legs were a little tired, but my toes felt all the downhill I did. I went back to my van and ate a late lunch and talked with a friend on the phone for a while. I headed for the Port Angeles Walmart where I would stay for the night. I had a really bad headache but after taking some pain meds, drinking a bunch of water, and eating some dinner it went away. Today was a really great day. The Mount Storm King hike is probably in my top three favorite hikes I’ve done in my life so far, it was so good. Definitely a day very well spent.