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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
I was here just 3 weeks ago but I really wanted to get back and see how spring is coming along in the rainforest. I had a little party to attend at one of my friends house in Puyallup on Saturday, so I thought this would be a good day to continue on over to the Olympics afterwards. My boys had b-ball games so my wife handled that this weekend and I was by myself.
I arrived at the Queets campground at 4:30 p.m. and wanted to get a quick hike in before it got dark and before I had to set up camp. I headed out on the Sam's River trail and took many different side trails that I didn't take last time. I found an old logging road uphill and took many elk and deer trails back towards the water. I went on some gravel bars and little forest islands that the river has created.
At the around 6:00, I decided to go back and set up camp. As I was hiking in the woods near the river, I noticed something moving near the gravel bar. I stopped and I noticed that it was a bear. It wandered downstream for a little bit as I slower walked and watched it. When it started to go into the woods, I went toward the river. I didn't see it anymore, so I started to make some noise so that we didn't surprise each other and that it now knows someones around. I waited awhile and went back into the woods along the trail and the bear reappeared up ahead. After I made some more noise, it took off running away. That was a cool experience that made my day. Back at camp, the campers next to me said that they saw a bear cross the road on the way to the campground. Anyways, the bears are now out.
I set my tent up and had somemore time, so I went a little down the Sam's Loop trail before it got too dark. My neighbors were friendly and invited me over to hang out for a while before I headed to bed.
I woke up early and grabbed my raft to cross the Queets river and I was hiking by 6:30. I immediately ran into a few elk that were grazing in one of the grassy areas. A little later, I ran into a bull elk by itself. It took a while for him to notice me but I eventually scared him off. At the site of the old ranch, I wandered around and saw the remains of buildings and a vehicle from many years ago. I then followed more game trail towards the river and ran into 3 more elk. I walked the river for a while before turning around. It was nice to see that spring is started to come to the forest.
building remains vehicle remains grasses coming up in a swamp forest across the river swamp and mosses top of the tree stuck into the ground next to its snag along the Queets road
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Layback Cascades Expatriate
Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics Location: Back East |
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Layback
Cascades Expatriate
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Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:01 pm
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So the bears are out... Very cool.
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bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
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Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:37 pm
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Bears, oh my!
lovely triliums!
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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Aaron Solem Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
The Queets is on my to do list for this spring, maybe this weekend. Is it possible (wise) to ford the river without a raft?
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gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
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gone
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Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:37 pm
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raising2hikers wrote: | Back at camp, the campers next to me said that they saw a bear cross the road on the way to the campground. |
Q: Why'd the bear cross the road?
A: To show the opossum how it's done.
Thanks for the pics and update, I've got to get over there this summer!
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:02 am
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Your two pictures of 'remains' remind me of when I think of the world after we are all gone.
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
Aaron Solem wrote: | The Queets is on my to do list for this spring, maybe this weekend. Is it possible (wise) to ford the river without a raft? |
The river was slightly higher than it was 3 weeks ago and I didn't see any good spots to go across without the raft. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use it but I'm glad I brought it along. Sam's river was easy. Possibly with a dry week, the water level might fall some, if the snow melt doesn't cancel it out too much. Here's a link to the water level on the Queet's river.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?12040500
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Wazzu_camper Go Cougs!
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 550 | TRs | Pics Location: Woodinville |
Thanks for the memories. I haven't been up the Queets trail since I was about 10 with my father. By the way, the remains sit in Andrew's field. I remember walking around in the fully erect barn there and also at Smith's Place a couple miles up river. Glad to see you got a across the river without a problem.
I plan on taking a four day trip up there later this summer, I'm going to see how far up the trail I can get. Should be a good time. Anyway, thanks for the report.
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