Snowshoe Hurricane Ridge

Monday December 31, 2012

This morning we drove from Port Townsend to Port Angeles to rent a third pair of snowshoes for Nikki before heading up the mountain into the Olympic National Park to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.

It was really foggy driving up the mountain. The visibility became less and less the further we went up. It started to snow as well. We made it to the top in 4 wheel drive with chains in the Xterra which the park requires due to the frequent change of throughout the day.

It was cold up there around 30 degrees with a wind on the open ridge by the visitor center. We quickly bundled up before heading to the trail. It was 3 miles one way to the top of Hurricane Hill.

Joe pausing for a picture on the snowy trail 

Joe actively snowshoeing 

The view from the trail early on in the hike 

Nikki & me 

Snowshoe poles 

Nikki snowshoeing 

Joe in Whoville (we just watched The Grinch)

We’re starting to see more beyond the trail. 

Gaining some altitude 

...and dropping 

 

Alpine bird, a black-capped mountain chickadee I think 

Snowy tree creature 

We stopped for a lunch break about a mile down the trail on the roof of the summertime trailhead bulletin board at the parking lot. 

Visibility is starting to get better. 

The sun is trying to peek through. 

Nikki beginning to climb Hurricane Hill 

We soon had steep hillsides to hike along. You need to make sure you have good footing in this area. 

Mountain ridges beyond starting to be seen as the cloudy fog burns off 

Jackie and Nikki pausing to take it all in 

Blue skies shining down on me 

Better view as you gain more elevation 

A little clearer view 

The ups and downs of snowshoeing 

A break in the clouds to the west 

The blue skies clear 

Nikki’s a natural 

The snowshoe perspective 

I like getting in the photographer’s way 

The snow breaks at the edge are beautiful but warn the potential danger of mountain snow sports. 

Sun’s getting brighter & bigger 

Bliss 

The partial cloud cover at various elevations makes this area truly beautiful 

Wispy clouds as sun breaks through 

Nikki sliding down the slope 

I finally got the man to smile for a picture 

Millions of trees 

Nikki & Joe 

Nikki & Joe from further to prove they aren’t photoshopped 

More black-capped mountain chickadees 

Can you spot the one perked on the tip of a tree? 

The view northeast 

The view southwest 

The view west 

The view south 

Snowshoe jump 

It’s so hard to leave such a beautiful place 

Hehe snowshoe basket boobies 

We reached the time where we had to turn around so we could drive back down the mountain before dusk. We didn’t make it to the summit of Hurricane Hill with views back to Port Angeles, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, but the mountains were majestic on their own. The steep side slopes also deterred us from the very vertical remainder of the hike. 

I just couldn’t put the camera down on our trek back. 

You do not want to lose your footing here. 

Majestic wisps 

Winter wonderland 

Such a great way to celebrate the last day of 2012

The northeastern blue sky 

Joe marking his spot 

Happy New Year! 

Snow, trees, light, sky 

Cute little bird again 

Where’s my pumpkin hiding? 

Insurmountable beauty 

Nikki decided to take the hard way and climb over 

How many trees do you count?

Tree peaks 

The snow swirls makes this feel like we’re in Whoville again 

Streaks of color 

Joe’s abominable snow creature 

Such difference weather conditions can change a few hours later in the Olympic Mountains 

Northern view 

Southeastern view 

Mountainside 

Lower cloud cover 

A peek at what’s to come…

Glorious 

Blue sky snow glow 

Amazing 

And it just keeps getting better… 

Breathtaking 

Another chickadee came to visit during our snack break 

Joe “dropped” a piece of salami 

Life doesn’t get much better than this. What a year 2012 has been! God is good! 

Olympic mountain chickadee in flight 

Chickadee perch 

Cute little thing 

I guess it’s time to head on '

Peaceful 

We made it back to the visitor center. This time we were able to see how the windy conditions leave their evidence on the trees. 

Hurricane Ridge 

Jackie, Nikki & Joe 

Great day! 

Our GQ pose looking into the sun according to our cross country skier photographer 

Hurricane Ridge pull rope lift for skiing & snowboarding 

Hurricane Ridge in the winter time 

Icicles on the Visitor Center roof 

We made our drive back down the mountain to return the snowshoes and have dinner back in Port Townsend.

We ate at a Thai place and then walked around downtown before the 9pm New Years fireworks. Tis was a cool underground sidewalk. 

The mayor raising “the anchor” at the strike of 9pm (midnight in New York) and then a firework show. 

We spent the night back at the cottage watching New Years Eve TV coverage, playing rummy and cracking a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle’s sparkling wine.