[crabio]

My daughters (Haylee and Samantha) decided that instead of getting me the typical fathers day gift, they would take me on a hike. They let me choose the hike and I really wanted to do this one right. My son in law still wont go hiking with me after the hell I put him through (see TR labeled How To Break The Spirit Of Your Son In Law) so I did not want to do that to my daughters. The goal was to get them somewhere that made them work a little but got them some incredible alpine views. After reading the TR from bcfc53 about Klahhane Ridge, I decided to take them there.

01 Starting out with a potty break

02 Big smile for that early in the morning

03 Me lecturing about the joys of hiking

04 Samantha enjoying the lecture

05 Uh oh ... that looks wet and cold

06 Entering the Heart O' the Hills

07 Driving, reading and talking along Hurricane Ridge road ... not a good idea

08 Mother grouse and her babies (you have to look close to see the babies)

It only took us 2 hours driving from Silverdale to the TH. We drove up Hurricane Ridge road and I had my eye out for the TH. We came around a corner and saw this huge open slope and I heard the girls say “Wow, Dad! Check that out !” I noticed that there was a parking area there and said “Guess what girls ? That’s where we’re going !”

09 Arrival at the Switchback TH

10 Excited about the upcoming climb

As we pulled into the parking area, I got out of the truck and looked up and thought to myself “No way. They will never make this” All the while I hear from the other side of the truck, “We’re going up there ???” “Dad, it’s cold.” “Umm Dad I broke your hiking stick” “Should I bring extra pants ?” “How far do you think it is ?”

11 I have my doubts at this point

12 Ready for our adventure

Interestingly enough, back in 2002, my Mom came for a visit and we stopped with the girls at this exact spot and they decided they wanted to try and climb that hill back then. Must have been destiny !

13a That was then (2002)

14 This is now (2009)

After we got situated, we headed out. Haylee decided that she was going to narrate our hike and began announcing points of interest along the way. “On your right you’ll see a big hole” This narration lasted about 5 minutes. By that time she was definitely out of breath.

13 Trail starts out pretty wet but the trail is in great shape

15 Starting out in the woods

16 I can see my truck through the trees

17 - Alpine hiking starts in just 20 minutes

The nice thing about this hike was the fact that after hiking for only about 30 minutes we were already into some incredible alpine views.

18 - Alpine hiking

19 Hurrican Ridge Road leading to the visitors center

20 Haylee says "whew" Samantha says "my stomach doesn't feel well"

21 Resting

22 Hiking

23 Resting

24 Still resting

25 Back to hiking

26 Trail through the meadow

27 "I think I'm gonna puke"

28 I'm ready to go

29 Hurricane Ridge Road

30 Resting at the junction

31 Alpine views

I have to say that as I hiked along and the girls lagged behind a bit I could hear them talking saying things like "Whoa ! Look at THAT" "Samantha look at THAT !" Hearing things like that just MADE MY DAY ! We had not been hiking long before we ran into a fellow who warned us about the aggressive mama goat protecting her baby. Well we were going along and I turned a corner on one of the switchbacks and there she was with her baby. I said, “OK girls. Just stop and ….” As I turned around, all I see is them practically sprinting back down the trail all the while saying … “Oooohh God …. Ohhhhhh no …. Daaaaaaad ! “

32 Mama goat and her baby

After I get them stopped and calmed down, we scooted up the slope off the trail and waited for them to continue down the trail.

33 Wait for me mama !!!!!

34 Goats heading away down the trail

So the girls were now happy. We were going UP and the goats were going DOWN. All was good …. And we continued on our hike/rest/hike/rest scenario.

35 Girls are doing great

36 "Are we almost there ???"

37 "Ten more minutes"

38 "Let's do this !!!"

39 Definition of a switchback

40 More alpine views

41 Making good use of the hiking sticks

42 Views start to open up

43 Road to the visitors center

44 Time to pose for pictures

45 More posing

46 And even more posing

47 Interesting cloud bank

48 Cloud bank

49 I have no idea wha they are looking at

50 What troopers my girls are

51 Alpine views

52 Alpine views

53 Hey Dad ! There's your truck ! No way ....

54 Well I'll be. She's right. There it is !

We get near the top of the ridge and all I hear is Samantha saying … “Oooooh Dad ! The goats are back !!!!! They are following us !!!!!”

55 Uh oh ... the goats are back.

Suddenly the girls had lots and lots of energy ! We again, scooted up the slope off the trail to let them go by on their way UP this time. This didn’t make the girls happy. The goats were going UP … and we were going UP.

56 Let them go around us

57 Well ?? Come on ! Get moving !

58 Moving right along. Nothing to see here.

So as we waited for them to get far enough ahead of us, we look back down the trail and all of a sudden we see the big male billy goat. We understood that he was supposed to be pretty aggressive as well.

59 Oh great. Here comes Daddy !

Great ! So now we have mama and baby UP the trail from us and nasty billy goat DOWN the trail. Well, then the bill goat decides to lay down right in the middle of the trail blocking our way back down.

60 And he decides to make a bed right on the trail. Nice !

So we decided to have lunch on the ridge and just keep things quiet and maybe the goats would meander away. No such luck. The funny part was that the girls were so taken with the goats that they never even realized that they had made it to the top and there was no more climbing to be done.

61 On the ridge

62 On the ridge

63 Don't look now but here I am !

64 - Posing

65 Like walking through a zoo

66 Not many places you can see this kind of a view

67 On the ridge

68 Standing on the edge of oblivion

69 On the ridge

70 On the ridge

We had a nice rest among the rocks and met a nice guy with a huge camera. He was nice enough to take some pictures of us. Samantha even discovered that she had cell service up there and began texting away. Sheesh ! Kids ! The sun broke out some and it was nice and warm. We also got to see the Olympic Marmots playing around in the rocks.

71 Olympic Marmot

72 Olympic Marmot

73 Up close

74 And personal

75 Just passing by

76 Looking for a snack

77 Disappearing .... for now

78 Lunch on the ridge

79 Anyone know what all that red stuff is in the snow ?

80 Looking along the trail that heads to Lake Angeles

81 Family picture ... WAIT ! Who is that on the left ?

82 Family picture on Klahhane Ridge

So as we ate lunch, we were doing our best to stay quiet, make no sudden moves so as not to alarm the goats. Little did we know that they were actually sneaking up right behind us. As I tried to get a picture, I thought it would be funny to get a picture of Haylee with the goats in the background and have her make a scared look. So I said … “Haylee. Make a scary face.” She then proceeds to look over at the goats, which are about 2 feet from her, raise her hands over her head and scream … AT THE GOATS !

83 Hey Haylee ! Make a scary face !

84 I can't believe you just screamed at the goats

Well of course the goats take off and almost run over the side of the cliff. I look at her and say … “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!” She says to me … “DAD ! YOU SAID MAKE A SCARY FACE !” I explained what I wanted and she then tells me “ Dad, you said make a SCARY face ! You should have said make a SCARED face ! THERE’S A DIFFERENCE!” Obviously ….

85 Fog starting to roll in

86 They're BAAAAAACK

87 and they're gone

88 and they're back ... closer

89 and closer

90 Oh Wow! I could reach out and touch her.

91 Hey ... Aren't you the human that screamed at my baby ?

92 I'll just jump up here and keep an eye on you

93 Staying close to Mama

94 Dad ? I've had enough. I'm ready to go back down now.

Well, after that everyone had had enough of the goats and we decided to head down.

95 Haylee has accomplished Klahhane Ridge

96 Say goodbye to the goats

97 Samanthas hands got cold.

98 Adding some goat fur to my human fur

On the way down we ran into this little deer ??? elk ??? Very gentle and the girls loved her.

99 More wildlife

100 This one seems gentle

101 So peaceful

102 Think I'll go around

103 Way around

104 Moving along

105 Checking each other out

106 Enjoying the view

107 Thanks for the visit

We made it back down safe and sound and then headed to the visitors center to visit the restroom and get out shoe shot that we forgot to get up on the ridge.

108 Back at the TH

109 Shoe/Non Shoe Shot

110 Trashed

A hike on the Olympic Peninsula would not be complete without a stop by Fat Smittys. For those of you that don’t know about this place, it’s just a hole in the wall burger joint that is pretty famous for their burgers. Near Port Townsend it’s right on the main drag. Be advised that their burgers are huge and its cash only. No check no credit cards … and NO REFILLS ON DRINKS EITHER (we learned that the hard way). The tradition at Fat Smittys is to sign a dollar bill and hang it somewhere. It’s a cool little place.

111 Time to order FOOD !

112 Burger time

113 Digging in

114 Pay no attention to the view "behind" Samantha

115 Fat Smittys dollar bill heaven

116 Good eatin

117 Fathers Day dollar bill

118 Find the right spot

119 Right here

120 Our bill right to the left of the frame

121 Fathers Day dollar

So although not a traditional Fathers Day gift, I got one of the best gifts I have ever gotten. The girls gave me a new place to go exploring. I have never hiked up there before and now I can go exploring up there for the next 2 years and not hike the same trail twice. The gift that keeps on giving. The perfect end to a perfect Fathers Day.

122 Perfect end to a perfect day !

[Timmie]

Nice report Finally "big" game

[gone]

Good for you and your daughters! Looks like a great time for all! Thanks for sharing the trail/wildlife pics and info, too!

[bobbi]

crabio......what a wonderful father's day outing with your beautiful daughters! great TR and photos. you had more goat sightings than i did i still can't believe i didn't see you there as the timing was right. btw: my #2 daughter is named Hayley!

[crabio]

[crabio]

[Hikingqueen]

I'm headed there tomorrow, and I might just have to stop for one of those burgers on the way home! Dang they look good, thanks for the tip on bringing cash. What time did you start hiking? I want to see Goats and Marmots!

[crabio]

[Jennifer S.]

What a great way to spend Father's Day... Treasure one another.

[Tag Man]

Nice trip report. Fat Smitty's is fun.

[ScottM]

Nice job. It's good to see your girls out with you. I try and get my daughter out every now and then even though she looks like she's "had enough" 15 minutes after we start. The red or pink snow in your picture is sometimes called watermelon snow and is caused by an algae.

[bobbi]

watermelon snow.......from obstruction point road 6.18.09

[dropkick]

Great trail report! That is pretty much just how it goes when I hike with my daughter. You just gotta hope that later they'll remember it fondly. I know mine sweats a lot more running lines for bball practice, but getting out on the trail and it's such a chore.

[crabio]