We took a break while on our walk up at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park on May 3rd. While we were enjoying a snack and the view, we had this raven come in to visit (and/or beg for some of our snacks). Its beak is open, but it wasn’t squawking. I think it was trying to cool off … it was a record warm day (for May 3rd) and I don’t think it was used to the temperature.
Taking advantage of beautiful warm spring weather, we went up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. The views were stunning, but comparing the view (above) with a photo from about the same spot back 5 years ago and three weeks later in May shows that we have a very low snowpack this year.
For another view, this time looking down the Elwha River valley. This one is a little more difficult to compare snowfields, because they are similar and both are a long ways away.
Hurricane Hill is one of the most visited spots in the Olympic National Park both summer and winter. In summer the trail is paved (and thus accessable) and heavily used. The number of visitors is restricted in the winter because the road to Hurricane Ridge is only open on weekends. At 5757 feet (1755 m) the “hill” is a snowshoe and crosscountry ski destination. This winter there isn’t enough snow for much of that … at least at this point. Hopefully, there will be some winter or spring storms dropping lots more snow.
This was taken from Hurricane Hill, a short hike from the end of the Hurricane Ridge / Hurricane Hill road in the Olympic National Park. There is a rainbow reflection in the middle of the rain shower over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I haven’t looked down on a rainbow like this before … not sure exactly what to call it, since it isn’t really a “bow”. I wish it was more clear, but it is what it is … I played with it in Lightroom, but this was the best I could do.
From the top of Hurricane Hill, you can see just the top of Mt Olympus “peaking” above the Bailey Range (which runs down through the middle of Olympic National Park. I thought the dry grasses in the foreground made an interesting contrast.