Two weekends ago was really our first really nice weekend of the summer. I just had to get outside and soak up some sun. So I planned to go hiking. I invited Kevin, Anda and the Boys along as well. We planned to go to an area near Snoqualmie where there were two hikes with waterfalls--Franklin Falls the the Denny Creek Slide. We were almost ready to go when I decided to call the Ranger station for information. Really I was mostly interested to know if dogs were allowed, but trail conditions wouldn't be a bad thing to know. So I called the Ranger Station and asked about those trails. Umm, one was in bad condition, the other still snowed in. I didn't know they were that far up the pass! (I'm glad I called, though. Lesson one: Always find out trail conditions before you go).
So, quick--back to the computer for plan B. We were set to go. It was sunny and hot. We had to go somewhere! So after a little searching to find somewhere not too far away we headed for the Olympic Peninsula and the Staircase Rapids. Sounded totally awesome--a trail that runs along the rapids that staircase down. Someday we'll actually have to go. We forgot rule one. (Repeat it with me: Always find out trail conditions before you go).
We got about 5 miles from the trail head and had to stop. Someone put this big sign in the middle of the road saying, "Road Closed." The trail might have been fine, but the prospect of hiking 5 miles just to get to the trail head was not very appealing, especially with a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old. So we went back a little ways and took the other fork to Mt. Elinore. (Incidentally I hiked Mt. Elinore on my 4th year hike for Girl's Camp). We drove up and up and up this narrow gravel road, pausing on the edge to make room for cars coming down. The view through the trees was amazing. Lake Cushman is really beautiful. At one point we stopped to stretch legs and stopped someone coming down. "So what's up there?" we asked. There were waterfalls! (And another closed road, but oh well). So we kept going.
Until we reached what we thought was the end of the line--a big yellow excavator using a log to smooth the road in front of us, right next to a waterfall. Kevin very carefully, and successfully since I'm writing this, turned the car around without backing off the mountain (Good job Kevin). We walked back to the waterfall, which was neat, but the experience was marred a little by Ben and Neal's intense concern for the huge excavator working just feet away. So, we walked back to the car, held a vote, and headed back down the mountain. (Turns out the road wasn't closed there, you just had to wait for them to let you past. Oh well. I'll go back another time).
This is where the cool part of the adventure started, though. We stopped at the waterfalls we had seen on the way down. Yes, we went off trail (not hard since there wasn't a trail really). We climbed down an embankment at one point to the water where there was a really deep pool. I love the cool air that comes off the river. It's just like air conditioning. I think it was hotter up there on the mountain than it would have been had we stayed in Tacoma. Hard to know since we weren't in Tacoma all day, but it was warmer than I would have thought way up high. There was also still snow on the side of the road in some places. Cool!
The second waterfall we stopped at was really cool. Kevin and Anda took there shoes off and waded a little--it was only ankle deep at some points. I decided against doing the same when 30 seconds later they were both saying, "Ow, ow ow--That's cold!" My mission was to cross the river without getting wet. So I climbed up the falls, through swarms of gnat-like bugs, to find rocks that were dry and flat enough to cross (wet rocks are really slippery). I did it! It was so cool. I put a stick in the water underneath one of the falls and the water there was at least 3 feet deep. The trees and undergrowth were also very cool. (I'm going to try and put a slide show on the blog so you can get an idea what it was like). To avoid the swarms of bugs I recrossed the river on a tree that was laying across the stream. Luckily I didn't fall off.
So, our waterfall adventures all done, we got back in the car and headed down. We stopped at Potlach State Park on Hood Canal on the way home to play in the water and cool off. I swam in the Sound, monitoring myself carefully for hypothermia (is there any warm water in Western Washington?). It was very nice. Ben and Neal found shells (big oysters and barnacles and such), and pretended they were in space. It might feel like walking through water with shoes on in space. I've never done it, so how would I know? Anda swam and tried to get Kevin in the water. He went
eventually.
So that was our big adventure. I love spending time outdoors, exploring cool things in nature like that. I have since bought a book of good hikes with kids in Western Washington. If anyone wants to come along just give a hollar. Next trip leaves soon!
Enjoy!
