Elevation Gain: Approximately 1000 ft.
Time: 9:00 am - 12:45 pm
Weather: Overcast, cool, light rain with periods of heavier rain.
Another weekend had me not dreading going out on a hike but terribly excited either. I should have gone on Saturday too, and I knew it. But Friday night had me out for dinner with a friend, then stopping by and seeing others, and I didn't get to bed until late. I slept in and thought considerably about ending my streak at 73. Later that day, hanging out with my same friend from the dinner the night before, I was kind of complaining about how I had to go hike the next day. She mentioned she had thought about asking to join me on a hike for the last year or so but never had. Needing a reason to plan a hike, I eagerly agreed and began thinking of where we could go for a hike. I thought a walk up the North Fork of the Skokomish out of the Staircase campground near Lake Cushman would be a nice gradual trail up a lower river valley, and we wouldn't have to worry about snow. It is about a 2 hour drive, and we both had stuff to do in the evening, so we were on the road at 7 am.
We got to the National Park entrance around 8:50 am to find the road closed. That left 1.2 miles of road to walk before we even got to the trailhead. The road had good grooves from park vehicles, but there was still a good amount of snow.
By the time we got to the trailhead, we were walking on snow. Thankfully the snow was packed down and pretty hard, so we did not need snowshoes (which neither of us had). We walked up the river in the pouring rain. We made it, to what I think was Madeline Creek about a mile below the turn off to Flapjack Lakes. We turned around and began our walk out. We stopped at an opening on the way down, and I looked out at what was truly a beautiful scene. I closed my eyes and heard nothing but the wilderness. For a brief moment, I was reminded why I love hiking and was so happy to be out in the woods.
Orchid: Hiking with a good friend for the first time.
Onion: Weather and lack of motivation to hike prior to the hike.
Picture:
Google Map
You know when it becomes a chore is when you need to stop and just go to be going doesn't have to be every weekend. Find other things that are your passion at this moment.
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