These photos were taken from scans of photos that I took back years ago. Fortunately, I had shared prints with a friend and he still had them after my digital files were lost in a change to a new editing/organizing program (after which point I developed a significantly more thorough backup system). The Upper Dungeness Valley is outside of the Olympic National Park in the Buckhorn Wilderness.
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.
This was taken a few years ago when I was more able to wander around the high country. We were on our way up to the High Divide and then down to Hoh Lake and back. (Note that the pack doesn’t have a sleeping bag or other items strapped to it … a sure give away that this is a day hike.) We were camped down in the basin (which requires a hard to secure reservation for camping) and were enjoying the scenic highcountry without having a heavy pack. The 7 Lakes Basin is a frequent camp location to those hiking the High Divide loop trail, which provides some of the most stunning views of Mt Olympus and the central Olympics.
The area near Hart’s Pass has always been a favorite of mine. You can drive all the way up to subalpine meadows. (once the road is open … and what a road … not for those nervous about heights)
Unfortunately, a big section of what used to be the campground that I favored most burned several years ago. It’s still nice, but it has lost some of what made it special.
Regular readers will have noted that I often have images of misty mountain ridges. And yes, I really like the mystery of watching clouds move through the forested ridges that are so common in the Olympic Mountains. So, I hope you enjoy this one, it’s a nice one that shows the misty mood pretty well.