This past year has been so crazy and filled with awesome
adventures!! Although, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good trip outside,
since September actually. A coastal trip from Shi Shi to Ozette proceeded by a
couple weeks road tripping and visiting Yosemite, Zion and Yellowstone were my last
big adventures. Well, here I am trying to get my blogging-ness back!
11/21/14-11/23/14
This weekend my adventure buddy and I braved the cold rain
and headed out towards the Olympic Hot Springs. The road to the trail head has
been open just about a week now, and you can see they have done an abundance of
trail work to clean it up. We had visited the springs a couple times this past
year and it was scattered with downed trees. Starting just after 4:00 pm on
Friday we ended up at Boulder River camp, 2.5 from the TH, in the dark where we
spend the first night. We packed in a ton of yarn and spent the evening dry in
the tent making beanies!
Saturday morning we head up towards the snow covered
Appleton Pass. Took a couple short side trips to see the lower and upper
Boulder River Falls. As the trail comes up to the Boulder River crossing
(without the bridge) the river literally takes over the trail. I’m not talking
about just a wet trail, the river is flowing down the trail, likely compliments
of washouts and dammed up debris after the trail has been mostly unused for the
past couple years.
The snow has started covering the ground by now and
increased the farther we went. Shortly after the 3500’ sign stating no fires
the trail opened up and we basked in the glory of Appleton Pass. By now we had
noticed that there were little to no trail markings for snow travel, and with
an unmaintained trail the past couple years and expected fresh foot of snow
that night we decided to turn around and camp back at the Lower Falls. We were
prepared for snow camping but didn’t want to risk getting turned around on our
way home Sunday since we wanted to get out in time to soak in the springs!
There is a nice little spot by the Lower Falls we camped at,
and woke up to a spotty new dusting of snow. Packed up and heading back towards
the springs by 11 we crossed paths with another couple heading up to the pass
towards the Sol Duc Hot Springs. I hope they made it! We got to the Olympic Hot
Springs and headed to the pool we know as the best. There were already a few
people enjoying it, so instead of squeezing in we decided to opt out of a nice
soak. I think it was the second best decision we made for the weekend, as we
left we counted 15 more people heading in to the springs. It was going to be a
crowded time! Of course it was to be expected with the road finally being open,
so one can’t be too bummed.
11 cars and a motor home back at the TH, this place must get
busy!!! It was a great weekend out in the rain with the best adventure buddy a
person could ask for, much overdue.
Olympic Hot Springs 2.5 miles
Boulder River
Appleton Pass
