Friday, October 30, 2009

Hurricane Ridge

(August 2009) On a cloudy and overcast day we headed out from Port Angeles for the 17 mile drive to Hurricane Ridge. Following a winding but well maintained road we leave sea level and end up at 5,200 feet elevation. A stunning 360* view awaits us at the Summit. Hurricane Ridge is part of the Olympic Mountains range and offers views of high meadows, wild life, wild flowers and the distant high peaks including Mt Olympus and Mt Angeles. Hurricane Ridge was so named for it’s sometimes intensive gales and winds. As we were driving higher into the clouds Bob kept saying, “I think we picked the wrong day to come up here~we won’t see a thing.” The fog /clouds were so thick. But I kept saying, “ I bet when we get to the top we’ll be above all this.” Well, I was right…..as we rounded the last big curve, heading for the parking lot….we were indeed above all the fog/clouds.

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And it was beautiful! We always love to come to Hurricane Ridge and we’ve never been there when the weather was absolutely dreadful (maybe that’s why we keep going back.)

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009166

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On a clear day you can see the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, British Columbia from the vantage point below.

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009180

Hurricane Ridge has a fabulous Visitor’s Center for the 3 million or so visitors each year. It contains an interpretive center, theater, gift shop, restrooms, first aide station and snack bar. Even the views from inside the Center are breath taking. From the Visitor’s Center parking lot there are many paved meadow trails that lead off to various hiking trails. Along the trails are benches where one can sit and just take in the ever changing views. On this day the clouds lay in the valley below us when we first got there. They were swirling and blowing and by the time we left several hours later came swirling down over us as we sat on a bench on the other side of the parking lot watching a group of marmots playing in the meadow below us. This area is also home to black bear (we didn’t see any) and black tail deer (we saw lots of those).

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009183

A sweet little doe, Bob figured I was perhaps 15 feet from her. She would look up from time to time but then just keep on eating.

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We walked on by her to enjoy more views of this lovely area. Below you can see the ski tow that operates during the winter months for skiers.

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009187

There is a trail that goes out to the rise in the background and there were people out there strolling along. My knee would not have taken that trail so we skipped it this visit.

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Heading back to the Visitor’s Center we came upon the doe we had seen earlier or maybe another one….still eating and completely oblivious to the crowds of people snapping pictures of her.

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009192

Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009193

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009197

We crossed the parking lot and just sat there for about an hour, taking in the beauty. An older couple came along and sat down, sharing our bench. They were from Germany…traveling around the United States in a rented motor home. We had a lovely conversation with them and they both said that the sights of Hurricane Ridge reminded them of the Swiss Alps.

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Around the loop  august 17 thru 22 2009199

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The clouds came sweeping over us as we walked to the truck and headed back down to Port Angeles. It was an exhilarating day.

Come back for the next installment; Cape Flattery

12 comments:

  1. GREAT pics!! But I can't BELIEVE how close you got to that doe, and how she looked at you and just went on about her business, not bothered in the least!! LOL!! That's AMAZING!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

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  2. Hi Linda,
    I love reading about your travels and am SO envious! I have always wanted to spend some time in a motorhome, my husband Peter says that when he retires in two years time we can rent one for three months to travel America, your blogs give me lots of ideas of places to go!
    Thanks for putting them on here! ~~~ Love, Pat

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  3. Great Pictures, Sweets! I copied two of the deer pictures...they're really cute!

    Jimmy

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  4. Hello Linda, Looks like you had enjoyed your journey. Love the photos and they all beautiful. Take care! Nancy

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  5. Oh Thankyou for sharing ,this is awsome ..love Janxx

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  6. So pretty! Lovely day for the trip.

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  7. the view at the top is outstanding! so magnificent looking! neat you could come so close to the doe; all great pictures :)

    betty

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  8. The shots are all wonderful. I love the clouds and mountains peaking out above them. The doe looks pretty well fed.

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  9. This looks like a great place to visit and so beautiful! I love your shots of the deer, they are gorgeous and it surely looks like they have become familiar with people. Fabulous views in your pics - a great day for sure.

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  10. Did I read that sign right, hurricane ridge is a mile high?

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  11. Your pics are beautiful Linda as always. We truly loved the trip from Olympia up to Port Angeles one I would truly love to do again. Since I have been following your travels I hope we go back up that way and continue on from Port Angeles. This further part of the country up that way is spectacular so much beauty. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Breathtaking!! and I'm sure the deer are used the people coming and going by now... you are so friendly, making friends every where you go... :)

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