Gary-Summer: March 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024 - Olympic NP, Hoh Valley

Title: March 27, 2024 - Olympic NP, Hoh Valley

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : Car

Trail head: Hoh Valley Parking Log

Trail: Mini Trail, Hall of Mosses, Spruce Loop Nature Trail

Destination: Hall of Mosses and Spruce Loop Trail

Distance: 2.52 miles

Start Time: 11:28

End Time: 2:25

Travel Time: 3:07 (0.81 mph)

Moving Time: 1:41 (1.49 mph)

Elevation Rise: 332'

Descent: 602‘

Maximum Elevation: 925'

GPS Tracks

Travel Time: 4:20

Mileage: 201 miles

Description:

Rialto Beach

Today there will be a lot of driving. Also we want to get to Rialto Beach at low tide, which is at 8:40. That being an hour and a half away, we need to leave by 7am. I got up 6 and had breakfast. We do manage to leave by 7. Andrea starts off driving.

We arrived at Rialto about 8:40 at low tide. Not sure how long we will stay out as there is a good rain and a pretty good wind. We still managed to walk the beach for about 45 minutes. While walking the beach is enjoyable, but it probably would not be for a long walk as we are getting very wet and not from surf, but from the rain. This is even with the rain suits on. That is except for David who has his umbrella out.

Andrea and David Walking the Beach

Walking on the beach, in the rain, in the wind, can be either miserable or delightful. Sometimes both, not that I am really a beach person. There is a sense of facing the elements with the waves crashing on your side and feeling the force of the blown air. And yet, on the other side are the piles of driftwood stacked by these same elements from previous storms. They will not be moved today.

Sol Duc River

As we walk along the beach, Andrea gets ahead of us, David has his head down looking for agates, while Sherri and I wander a bit. Eventually, I get ahead of Sherri and David and join Andrea. We talk for a while until we get to a small bit of water runoff where we turn around. After we got home, looking at some maps, I think this is Ellen Creek.

Sherri preparing to hike

When we get back to the car, we load up and I drive to Hoh Valley. The Valley offers some protection, with only intermediate rain and little wind. It must be a bit early in the season as we find the Visitor Center closed. But there is a number of people here as well, so we will not be lonely.

Since we could not ask anybody at the Visitor Center, we decided to walk the Hall of Mosses-in my notes I had the Hall of Moses, that is a bit of difference-there actually is a Moses Creek, but that is half a state to the east. The trail starts off level and is paved. We crossed an unnamed creek. Then the trail starts to climb. We come to a branch in the trail. A sign says to take a left and that is what we do. This is the start of wonder. As you can guess, lots of moss just hangs around.

Gary and his mosses

I do not think I can properly describe the area. I keep coming back to us being in awe of the moss hanging around. But it is not as boring as I am making it. Each area has its own character, and all which I can come up with is that the green moss is hanging. Maybe the pictures will give you an idea. But for 8 tenths of a mile , we certainly took long enough to go this length, I think it took about an hour and a half.

Mossy covered creek

Afterwards, we wandered over to the Visitor Center and had lunch. This at least got us out of the rain. Also a few minutes of rest. While the trail was not hard, it took a lot out of me. Maybe it is the length of time on my legs. But we rested enough that we decided to do another loop.

The other “short” loop is the Spruce Loop Nature Trail. This short trail is 1.2 miles long, longer than the Hall of Moss Trail so I wonder what this trail will do to me. There are some signs to inform the walker of what they are seeing. The signs are few, but interesting. The trail is pretty level. We pass by the trail which continues up the Hoh Valley-that is beyond the task of the day. But it looks like it would be an interesting backpacking trip.

Flatness does not mean that there are no obstacles. We came to a fallen tree which is about four feet in diameter. Andrea and David climb right over it. Sherri is much more tentative and shows her crawling skills. Me? I examine the problem and decide that I can easily go the short way around the log.

Sherri on top of the fallen log

About a third of a mile later, we came to the Hoh River. David plants his umbrella-the rain has stopped--and explores a bit of the bank. The clouds resting on the aspen, surrounding the mountains are worthy of our admiration. We enjoy this scene for about 15 minutes before moving on. The trail back is more of the same, not saying we are bored, just my descriptions are getting repetitive. We got back to the car at 2:30.

Mossy Tree

It is about an hour drive back. I am driving and the others take turns falling asleep. For some reason, I feel pretty much awake-I guess that is a good thing since I am driving. When we get back, we shower and do the laundry.

Now for the bane of our family-deciding where to eat. Andrea picks out an interesting sounding place: Next Door Gastropub. Before we can go in, we need to wait about half an hour. So we walk down to the waterfront and look around. Sherri and I have been here before 12 years ago when we went to Victoria. You would think we have walked enough today. We get back and they seat us about 5 minutes later. We order the various dishes: Nutty Professor, fish taco, Ron Brundgdy, and something else which I cannot remember. We all decided to order non-alcoholic drinks. Pretty good eating.

Next Door GastroPub

Tonight is dedicated to relaxing and letting Andrea get ready to return home tomorrow. I downloaded my pictures. By the time 9:45 rolls around, my body finds itself in bed.