Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hoh River Trail 5.17.09
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El Dooder
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Joined: 15 Jul 2007
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Location: Olympia, Washington
El Dooder
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PostMon May 18, 2009 10:36 am 
A stellar weekend forecast compelled us to make a pilgrimage to the mighty Hoh River valley for a quick overnighter at Olympic Guard Station, ~ 9 miles from the visitor center. Daytime temps reached to about 65-70 degrees but the intense sunshine made it seem much warmer when we broke out of the trees. Night time was very mild and clear reaching now lower than 45 degrees. The trail is in excellent condition and once we were beyond 5 mile camp we saw only about 10 people or so, which was a little surprising given the exemplary forecast. The flower scene is still a bit early. Oxalis dominated and many plants are still coming up. Prime time is still about a month away. The big news on this trip was the very large black bear that was hanging around at the OGS camp. He was directly in the camp we chose when we got there and huge scat piles were all over the place indicating he's probably a regular over there. This was the closest and vest view I ever got of a bear in the wild. He was not concerned with us humans and we went along with our business likewise, being careful to take care of our food and toiletries. All in all, we had a great time checking out one of the pearls of the Olympic Peninsula. I look forward to getting up to Elk Lake and beyond after the great melt. And now the eye candy:
A black bear welcomes us to the neighborhood.
A black bear welcomes us to the neighborhood.
Nina's first overnighter on the Hoh trail at olympic guard station.
Nina's first overnighter on the Hoh trail at olympic guard station.
Just a lovely place for respite on a hot hike in the Hoh
Just a lovely place for respite on a hot hike in the Hoh
The burned snags on the flanking peaks of the hoh trail.
The burned snags on the flanking peaks of the hoh trail.
A bridge utilizing local and sustainable materials.
A bridge utilizing local and sustainable materials.
Oxalis covers an ancient log.
Oxalis covers an ancient log.
A downed tree measuring maybe 12 feet in diameter, maybe more.
A downed tree measuring maybe 12 feet in diameter, maybe more.
treebeard, where are you??
treebeard, where are you??
Many plants stacked on top of each other in an ancient game of botanical Jenga.
Many plants stacked on top of each other in an ancient game of botanical Jenga.
Hiking along the patchy light that falls to the forest floor through gaps in the gerat Hoh canopy.
Hiking along the patchy light that falls to the forest floor through gaps in the gerat Hoh canopy.
This fluted Sitka Spruce trunk forms a sturdy base to hold up its tall crown.
This fluted Sitka Spruce trunk forms a sturdy base to hold up its tall crown.
Spanish moss extends more than a yard down from the ancient bows of this maple.
Spanish moss extends more than a yard down from the ancient bows of this maple.
Moss-draped maple in the hoh valley
Moss-draped maple in the hoh valley
Just one of many old blowdowns measuring over 8 feet in diameter
Just one of many old blowdowns measuring over 8 feet in diameter
Unusual cloud formation blows into the Hoh River valley.
Unusual cloud formation blows into the Hoh River valley.
Snow still caps the highest reaches of the Hoh valley.
Snow still caps the highest reaches of the Hoh valley.
A break in the forest canopy allows cottonwoods and maples and grass to gain a foothold on the fertile banks of the Hoh river.
A break in the forest canopy allows cottonwoods and maples and grass to gain a foothold on the fertile banks of the Hoh river.
Dense patches of vanilla leaf flank the hoh trail
Dense patches of vanilla leaf flank the hoh trail
Tiny mosses, lichens and Prince's-pine (Pipsissewa) battle for supremacy on an old log.
Tiny mosses, lichens and Prince's-pine (Pipsissewa) battle for supremacy on an old log.
Nina hikes under an attendant maple and mosses.
Nina hikes under an attendant maple and mosses.
The sights and sounds of water are always apparent on the hoh trail.
The sights and sounds of water are always apparent on the hoh trail.
Spanish moss hangs from an ancient tree in the hoh valley.
Spanish moss hangs from an ancient tree in the hoh valley.
unidentified waterfall on the hoh trail.
unidentified waterfall on the hoh trail.
By mid-May, the sun shows an intensity that made us very happy.
By mid-May, the sun shows an intensity that made us very happy.
"fiddle heads" emerge from this sword fern in the Hoh river valley.
"fiddle heads" emerge from this sword fern in the Hoh river valley.
Spanish moss adorns a maple in the Hoh forest.
Spanish moss adorns a maple in the Hoh forest.

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Canuck
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Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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Canuck
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PostMon May 18, 2009 11:09 am 
Botanical Jenga. lol.gif Beautiful pictures. I'm trying to find an overnight for the next couple weeks - this might just be the ticket! Excellent report, thanks!

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gone
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gone
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PostMon May 18, 2009 1:43 pm 
Great to see the non-snow-cave overnighters begin to appear again. Beautiful area, great pics! up.gif Btw, I believe that curved contrail is probably one end of a holding pattern. I've seen more of them from the Olympic Peninsula than anywhere I've ever been, though I don't know why.

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El Dooder
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Joined: 15 Jul 2007
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Location: Olympia, Washington
El Dooder
Green Earth Bum
PostMon May 18, 2009 2:14 pm 
ewb wrote:
Great to see the non-snow-cave overnighters begin to appear again. Beautiful area, great pics! up.gif Btw, I believe that curved contrail is probably one end of a holding pattern. I've seen more of them from the Olympic Peninsula than anywhere I've ever been, though I don't know why.
Ya, there were other contrails behind it. They blew clear into the valley and over the mountains. The clouds were very dreamy all day long peace.gif

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El Dooder
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Joined: 15 Jul 2007
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Location: Olympia, Washington
El Dooder
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PostMon May 18, 2009 2:40 pm 
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails
holding pattern contrails

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Malachai Constant
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Malachai Constant
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PostMon May 18, 2009 2:44 pm 
That's what they want you to think

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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El Puma
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El Puma
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PostTue May 19, 2009 10:28 am 
In regards to the contrails - they've been doing refueling training in the Olympic Military Operation Area (which pretty much overlies the NP...go figure). Most of it is done at night - I've sat in Forks and watched the blinking red lights chase each other. Makes "Twilight" so much more realistic biggrin.gif !
OlympicMOA
OlympicMOA
The contrails look like a typical tanker holding pattern, as others commented.

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bobbi
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bobbi
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PostTue May 19, 2009 10:43 am 
this was at the airport in port angeles....possibly the culprit of the contrails. photo taken may 15

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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El Puma
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PostTue May 19, 2009 12:06 pm 
*Temporary Thread Hijack* Hey, cool old C123 (as seen in Air America)... The contrails are likely made by these though. There is a good in-action shot in here! *Thread Released* Aircraft aside, great trip and pics, El Dooder! We were a ways back there a couple of months ago with some out-of-town friends to show them the rain forest. I always liked the atmosphere.

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