“A Memorable Rainy Day on Public Lands”
SEASON 2, WEEK 12
November 29, 2018
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April 1, 2018
It was the final day of my long weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I had hiked the Ozette Triangle, visited Mt. Storm King and wanted a little more Olympic National Park before heading to my flight in Seattle.
I had spent Saturday night in Forks, after visiting Rialto Beach and spending time in the Hoh area so it was a great starting off point for this rainy day ahead. I put on my rain coat, checked out of the motel, and headed towards Ruby Beach. The rain was off and on, but when I got to the beach trail it was ON. It was sideways rain, but I was determined to enjoy Ruby Beach. I had visited Ruby Beach years before, and needed to revisit it. I was glad to see that you still have to climb over tons of fallen trees to get to the beach. It was gray and wet and completely perfect.
From Ruby Beach, I went to the Kalaloch Lodge to grab breakfast. I had breakfast with a view of the ocean, the gray sky, and a bloody mary. It wasn’t very busy and I felt quite relaxed between my stops for the day. From the lodge, I made my way out to the Quinault area. I did a little hike just past the lodge, on the Wrights Canyon trail, in kind of a misty haze. I didn’t go very far before turning around, just so I knew I had enough time to see everything I wanted to see. From that trailhead, I moved east around the lake.
I stopped to take an obligatory photo with Bunch Falls and continued on to the Maple Glade trail which was one of the highlights of the entire weekend. The forest was the greenest green and the rain was light but prevalent with added drops that collected in the canopy. The skunk cabbage was prominent, the water was flowing, and the trail was magical.
From Maple Glade, I finished the trek along the north side of Lake Quinault and back to the main road. The rain was picking back up, and the drive back towards Seattle was hit or miss with showers. I stopped at a rest area with the biggest trees I’d ever seen at a rest stop, it downpoured, and I continued onward to the REI downtown.
The Pacific Northwest is my favorite place to be no matter the weather. Rain is expected, and every time I’ve visited I’ve been ready for it. I went in the spring and I got spring. The weather was cool, wet, windy, and completely perfect. I’d take a rainy day in Washington over a sunny day in Texas any day of the week.