This old truck is resting up after a life of hard work on the Kestner Homestead, now in the Quinault Rainforest area of the Olympic National Park.
Old Truck
Sword Fern
Sword Fern is prolific along the west side of the Olympics, becoming the major ground cover in some areas. It is also prolific in my yard … I’ve got several that provide year round beauty.
Kestner Homestead Nature Walk
The Kestner Homestead is near the Quinault National Park Ranger Station. Depending on your choice of route (there are several loops), the distance is a couple miles. It is a beautiful spot to appreciate the lush growth of this temperate rainforest.
East Fork Quinault Trailhead
I recently hiked the first mile or so of the East Fork Quinault Trail, which leaves from near the Graves Creek Campground in the Olympic National Park. I have hiked the trail a number of times, but not as many as the North Fork Quinault Trail. I have never hiked the Graves Creek Trail … for many years the section between Sundown Pass and Six Ridge was very brushy and seldom maintained. It’s a regret I have. It may be a little beyond my current strength level at this point. Oh well.
Even in the beginning of May, people were hiking into the Enchanted Valley, though. This time of year the snow melt turns mountains on the south side of the valley into an astounding collection of waterfalls. The 27 mile (round trip) hike wasn’t in the cards for this spring. But in our short time on the trail, we met a number of backpackers either hiking in or out … and lots of cars parked at the trailhead.
It’s a wonderful trail through a rainforest valley.
Quinault River Views
I have published shots from this spot before, but I was there last week again and took these from the middle of the bridge that connects the North Shore Road and the South Shore Road. While the river looks well behaved here, it recently washed out the South Shore Rd. That means a longer drive on a road that has foot deep potholes in places to get to the East Fork Quinault Trail. It is also a special treat to visit one of the major temperate rain forest valleys with such wonderful sunny weather.
