It's Sunday, and the Saipan hikers are keeping the schedule intact. At 8 a.m., the Kosacks and the Pierce converge from the north and the west to meet at the Olympic National Park Ranger Station at Quilcene. Our destination is the trail called Upper Big Quilcene River, considered the best hiking trail in the National Park. Rexplorer and CC had hiked it the year before and discovered numerous mushrooms of various bright colors.
The day starts out foggy and cold. Kosacks drive for about one hour to reach the Station, and Pierce drives a little less time. At the station, we pick up the map and instruction to reach the trail head. From the station, we drive another 45 minutes on gravel and potholed roads, finally find the trail head and notice a large number of cars already in the parking lot. It is Sunday and many hikers camp out. We suit up and get out hiking poles ready for the adventure.
Chloe, Justin, Rexplorer, and Peppy stop at the trail head to sign in, a required procedure to make sure everyone who hikes signs out upon returning so the rangers will not have to search for them if their names are not checked out when they are supposed to.
The trail runs along the Quilcene River, which is the water source for Port Townsend. This time of year the river is very full. The shorelines and the trail are covered with various types and shades of moss, fern, lichen, and ground covers. The air is quite damp. There are many fallen trees and branches covered with moss and lichens as well. We spend much time admiring these beautiful finds. The trail continues uphill, some portion of it quite steep. The cool temperature makes the efforts much easier to manage.
Walnuts? Brain? Neither. These are the strangest looking mushrooms we have ever seen. They are called the Witches Butter. Figures...
One of three streams we have to cross. Careful positioning of the feet will keep us from slipping and falling, or getting wet. Rexplorer helping Justin and Chloe over.
With the help of the poles, Peppy makes it across successfully. Notice the foggy background.
Taking a break at the turn around point. We had agreed to hike up 2.5 hours and hike down 1.5 hours, regardless of where we end up on the trail. The alpine area is still some distance away, and we don't plan to make it. We are sitting on a bed of pine branches some people had obviously arranged as a sleeping area for the previous night. It is quite damp, but we brave the wetness and share some snacks. Justin has taken this photo and we are all looking a bit off-focused.
A little cold and wet. But Peppy looks pretty happy for her first hike in the Olympic forest. We plan to do more the next time we are all in town.
Good hiker Chloe. Despite and cold and dampness, she is in good spirit.
Another good hiker, Justin strips down during the uphill climb. But as soon as we stop for snacks at the turn around point, the cold sets in right away.
A miniature forest created on top of a rock. Photo opportunity is everywhere.
Waterfall above the second stream we have to cross. The water is of course icy cold, as melted snow from the mountain cascades down into the river.
A forest of little spores growing out of a carpet of green lichen on top of a rock. These spores are only about one inch tall.
Another most interesting fungus-like growth on a falling tree stump. The brown droplets are saps oozing out of the fungus. We are not familiar with most of the things we see on the trail. We will have to look them up in our guide books.
On the way back down to the car. These are the tall trees all along the trail. We make it back to the starting point, mark off our names on the check-in box, unpack our bags and return to the ranger station for the return trip. The hike is definitely of a five sneaker ranking. The fog, cold and dampness give it a whole different dimension from a sunny day hike. Both give us a different perspective at viewing the magnificent forest and its habitat.
