Saturday Washington time, four of us decide to take a relatively easy hiking trail in the Olympic National Park in an area called Buckhorn Wilderness North. This trail is rated three out of five in difficulty, and considered the easiest trail in the Olympic National Forest. As the weather is beautiful, we, Rexplorer, Capt. CC, John, and Alice, pack up sandwiches from Safeway, snacks, and water, drive from Port Townsend to Sequim, and ten miles on old logging roads to the trail head. This is the same trail head taken by R & C two weeks ago to Royal Basin, except this time we veer left and cross the Royal Creek to hike along the Dungeness River. After signing in at the trail head, along with quite a few hikers already on the trail, we begin our hike.
Sign post for our hike into Buckhorn Wilderness as we enter the old growth forest.
First log bridge across the Royal Creek. This is where the trail splits up between the Buckhorn Wilderness and the Royal Basin. This creek is the one that flows along the trail that goes up to the Basin. We will approach toward the Dungeness River. A nice hiker takes this photo for us.
Walking the plank above the rushing river.
Alice taking a shrimp chip break.
Devil's Club. Very thorny with large leaves, looking a bit like the papaya leaves. One would not want to stumble into them, even though these bushes are supposed to have medicinal values.
Crossing the second log bridge over Dungeness River.
The Dungeness River is crystal clear from mountain runoffs, not glacier runoffs.
Rexplorer, Alice and John resting by a dried creek bed. We are near the destination for lunch.
Not to neglect the importance of eating a good and healthy lunch, we have brought sandwiches, sliced apples and cucumber, kettle corn, nuts and rice crackers, chocolate and candies. Feast for starving hikers.
We find this little stream along a rocky shore, perfect spot for a picnic. With the sun overhead, and the gentle stream alongside, this is as good as it gets.
View from our picnic "table".
An unusual cloud formation.
The shelter near where we have our picnic. This is a nice little structure for hikers who are caught in a rainstorm. It is very solid and well protected from the elements.
We take a photo break on the way back.
Tree Hugger.
The boys are looking for shrimp in this very calm and deep pool.
We have to take this "thorn between two roses" picture.
A poster at the trail head reminding everyone the impact of leaving anything on the trail. The amazing thing is, we find absolutely no trash along the 6.8 miles (round trip) hike, or any of the other hikes we have taken.
Buckhorn Peak.
Because of the recent rain, numerous mushrooms appear along the trail, many of them are still pushing their way out from underground. Here is a collection of the more interesting ones we find.