This Beautiful Place-Talapus and Olallie Lakes (Pt 2)

The mushrooms on this hike totally blew my mind! I was thrilled to the point of ridiculousness to see so many mushrooms throughout the entire hike and in some spots at least a dozen different types completely surrounding me! AH! Finally!!! The whole hike was stimulating with all these unfamiliar mushrooms to check out but I also found a few other critters about!

This frozen bee completely surprised me but I took the opportunity to kinda poke him (nicely of course!) and check him out! Fun and random - apparently the whole swarm will become docile just before transporting the Queen to a new hive and there's some crazy videos out there of people scooping them up and just holding handful of chill bees. Pretty neat. There was plenty of toads in the creeks and I found this little mini mini one! And I have to admit, I love this photo below! If you look closely you can see mini frog, chillin, staring out across his entire universe.

 

This Beautiful Place -Talapus and Olallie Lakes (Pt 1)

I think this hike is officially my favorite of all the hikes I have done so far since being here in Washington! The trail was absolutely beautiful from beginning to end, plenty of waterfalls and mushrooms (oh the mushies!!!), traversing through old growth forest to Talapus lake and eventually you climb along the valley to Olallie lake. It's an easy 6 something miles round trip, smack in the middle of Snowqualmie Pass, and there's even a few forest bridges (forest boardwalks?) on the trail!

Olympic National Park - Lake Crescent

We stopped at Lake Crescent to check out Fairholme campground and were basically rooted right to the spot. We quickly discovered there are about 9 (?) coveted walk in spots that are right on the shores of this beautiful emerald azure lake. It was so breathtaking we couldn't help but spend a few nights camping here!

Just a few shots from around the campsite; we had lots of ducky visitors! And then since baby animals are so cute and stuff, some fawns! Below is probably my favorite photo from the entire trip which was my morning view. Seeing the sun rise and set on this lake was one of those absolutely sublime feelings; those moments as described by Dr. Vasant Lad, "when you look at a beautiful sunrise, sunset, lonely light on the water, beautiful bird in the sky or a flower dancing in the wind - at this moment of beauty, you get absorbed and truly connected with the world. At that moment true happiness is unfolded in your heart. That happiness is beauty. That happiness is love. That happiness is awareness."

I dream about this place. I cannot wait to go back. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, even just to stop by and stay a moment.

Olympic National Park - Hoh Rainforrest

Summer is defnintely on! We finally had our first guest out to the PNW and we all decided to go to Olympic National Park for some much needed adventure! It was amazing. We spent the first afternoon hiking in the Hoh Rainforest and hung out on the river all evening hunting elk tracks. 

Totally crossed this log ^^^ and only had a mild heart attack. One of our party actually forded the river which was impressive - IT'S FREEZING! The river beds are fun to explore, as the water levels recede it reveals sand pits and fun little worlds. Here a new river is rising, a moss river!

When I'm camping or hiking I like to leave a rock tower or pile or something - something to inconspicuously mark that connection you have made with where you are and what is surrounding you. After I made my tower,  I was super excited to come across these two markings left by someone else! They were very 'Andy Goldsworthy' so I couldn't pass them by! 

Hoh Rainforest Rundown:

Camping - This is a great place to camp especially if your arriving later in the day, but don't plan on getting a waterfront spot, those usually go first! I've now camped at the Hoh Campground twice; all campsites are in old growth forest. The A loop has larger, more open spots great for multiple tents and also better river access, the B loop has smaller, more secluded spots - by this I mean your totally surrounded by ferns and moss covered trees (so it can be a little wet!). Definitely a great stopover. 

Hikes - There are 3 rainforest walks at this location which total less than 3 miles round trip of easy hiking (hence why its easy to arrive later and leave early). Next time I'd like to tackle the Hoh River Trail, a 17.4 mile hike out to Glacier Meadows that begins here. 

This Beautiful Place: Deception Falls Pt 2

Here is the second photo dump from the Deception Falls hike! I allllmost didn't cross this bridge! It was very difficult to take pictures on it so I mostly shot blindly while death gripping the railing up to my elbow. Both the falls and the hike were incredibly beautiful. One thing I loved and couldn't get over were the skunk cabbages!! Skunk cabbage, lysichiton americanus, is known for having the largest leaves - two feet wide and four feet tall! Cresting a incline to see a miniature valley of these abnormally large, vivid green plants just feel magically prehistoric!

 

Cute ferns!

All rolled up!

 

Skunk cabbage plus foot for reference 

 

Some beautiful coloring and forest patterns!

Looking at the path ahead

I made a blurry gif! River from the bridge!