Hollywog's Pond

Backpacking trip!

I finally got to use all the neato backpack camping stuff I've been purchasing slowly over the past couple of years. It was a fantastic trip covering a few hot spots on the Olympic Peninsula. We saw so many wild animals including: sea lions, raccoons, bald eagles, sea otters, deer, and lots of itty bitty tide pool creatures!

Started off at Lake Ozette with the Cape Alava trail where we camped within barking distance of sea lions, a very bold raccoon and some pesky ravens. Then we were off down the beach to Sand Point for a more picturesque campsite and the cutest otters eating out on the water. So smart using rocks on their tummies to smash open their food. Throw some bald eagles in for good measure and it was quite the nature hike. The only downer was that I managed to leave my insoles for my hiking boots in my grubby tennis shoes back home so I used Kelly's super stinky running shoe insoles instead. I now call them his WMDs as I think they are the reason we didn't have more bug problems...

Third day had us moving on to Sol Duc which was like a luxury hotel at the car camping site in comparison to the "privy" available at the backcountry sites. Holy moly it was wretched. I only used it twice before I gave up and went for the exposed bushes instead. Egads it was awful. But Sol Duc... we went to the wrong hot springs. We were hoping for the ones that you hike into and are natural. Instead we were at the $11 per person swimming pool with sulfurous smelling water piped into it. We passed. Relaxed that night and then went to Sol Duc Falls the next day where we met a celebrity, Art Wolfe nature photographer extrodanaire, who was leading a class. Snapped a couple of pics along the trail and then my batteries died. :( The falls were big and beautiful though so it will definitely be a required stop for the next time.

We took the road passed Lake Crescent on the way home and WOW. Gorgeous lake. I even decided to throw caution to the wind and deal with my irrational fear of kayaks. My super fabulous rain pants kept me dry on the inside while Kelly sat and shivered in his cotton shorts. hehe lake water is chilly.

Back to civilization to be pampered with crepes from former pastry chef Leah and the vacation came to an end. Sigh.

Now to plan the Yellowstone trip!