We did it!

Posted about 1 year ago by Kyle

Opal Creek (Miles 69-79)

Posted about 1 year ago by Kyle

A few weeks ago, Christy and I and our friend Shane went to the Opal Creek Wilderness in central Oregon. It is a wonderful area full of ancient old-growth forests that was just saved from logging about 15 years ago.

Opal Creek, due to the unique geology in the area, is a swimming paradise, full of waterfalls and deep pools. We made a video of our trip, which you can see below.

Fourth of July at Siouxon Creek (Miles 53-68)

Posted about 1 year ago by Kyle

Christy and I and ten friends went out to Siouxon Creek (the location of our first backpacking trip) to hang out for a long weekend, run amuck and swim. Unfortunately, the weather never really cooperated, staying cloudy and chilly all four days. Nonetheless, it was most enjoyable.

Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park (Miles 25 - 53)

Posted about 1 year ago by Kyle

In the middle of June, Christy and I and four other friends drove four hours north to the Olympic National Forest. It's in the northwest corner of Washington on the Olympic Penninsula, and plays host to the only rain forest in the United States. I had read about a place called the Enchanted Valley, a deep valley cut through the Olympic mountains, full of hundreds of black bears, large herds of elk, and some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes we can get to in a day's drive from Portland.

We left early Friday morning, drove the four hours, made it to the trailhead, cooked some lunch on our stoves, and began the walk.

Three miles in, we made it to the first milestone of the 13.5 mile hike into the valley named "Pony Bridge", giving us our first glimpse of the gray-blue water of the South Fork Quinault River, the river that formed the valley.

Resting a few more miles along the trail:

Eight miles in along the trail, we met our first bears! There was a mother and an adolescent cub grazing in a field, standing directly on the trail. It took us a lot of banging of sticks and yelling at the bears to get them to casually saunter off to the side of the trail so we could pass.

Another couple miles along, we ran across a momma bear and two very young cubs. The sow jumped from the tree the three of them were climbing and guarded the trunk while the little ones climbed higher and higher.

Finally, we made it to the valley, 14 miles and 8 hours later. This is one of the most beautiful areas I'd ever seen, slapping me in the face with the gorgeousness and grand scale of the area. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down five thousand feet cliffs to the west, and grasslands spread across the valley floor. And, there's a chalet built in the 1930's as a resort, now used in the summer by the Park Service.

It was cloudy when we arrived on Friday, but when we woke up Saturday, the weather had lifted. This is what we woke up to:

My friend and groomsman James and I went on a dayhike to see the rest of the valley on Saturday, while Ben (our officiant), Christy, Kyra, and Jillian stayed at camp for the day.

James crossing a creek:

We quickly met more bears:

Christy and I at the camp:

And posing in front of a bear:

Ben and Jillian:

Kyra and Christy:

Bears love grass. They are more cows of the forest than vicious killers and trouble-makers.

This was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and will likely go to until Christy and I hike 200 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail starting September 1st.

Dublin Lake (miles 8-24)

Posted about 1 year ago by Kyle

Three weeks ago, Christy & I went on another backpacking trip, this time with our friends James & Kyra. All told, it was a 16 mile, two-day trip and cumulatively gained about 7000 feet of elevation. Needless to say, it was pretty grueling.

We hope you enjoy the photos!