Chris’ big goal for the hike was to see goats. He was so excited about seeing them and he got his wish. They came out of the woodwork as soon as we started slowing down to look for a campsite. I swear they smelled us several hundred yards away and knew that humans equaled food and/or salt. At one point at our campsite there were six or seven goats hanging around, most were moms with their kids. A couple of times they eased themselves a little too close, causing us to shoo them away. I was expecting the marmots or chipmunks to be pesky, not the goats! Pesky or not,…

There is one thing this trail area was not short on and that was beautiful light peeking through the canopy and filtering onto the forest floor. Everywhere I turned there was something beautiful to look at, to soak in, and wish I could bottle up forever. Decadent. Stunning. Gorgeous. And Simple. All you need is a bit of the outdoors.

We had a long drive ahead of us as we had to leave the Olympic Peninsula and head to Wenatchee National Forest but that didn’t deter us from making a stop or two before completely leaving the Olympics. I *may* have been a little too excited to have picked up Canadian radio stations….I mean, Canada was right there. Wanting a short but scenic hike we chose the Barnes Creek Trail to Marymere Falls for its nearness to the road due to our time constraints. The trail itself is flat until shortly after crossing the creek and then it is a decent ‘up’ but it is well graded and not difficult…

I really thought we were going to miss visiting Forks. We’d approached the Olympic peninsula from a different direction than I’d scouted online so I didn’t think we’d make it. If you have no idea what the significant of Forks, Washington is you have probably never read or watched something called Twilight. Forks was, well, quiet, what you’d expect from a small industrial town (think logging and fishing). It has a handful of small diners, a couple of gas stations, a grocery store and I’m sure there was a little bit more but we drove right through town and exited out the other side. Chris was nice enough, and probably…

I’m going to step away from writing about the Hoh Rainforest and return to that in a few days. Now I want to delve into the main reason we went Washington: to go to the Enchantment Lakes. Last Thanksgiving when we went to Guadalupe Mountains National Park we met Sheri and Randy in the parking lot at the McKittrick Canyon trailhead. We talked to them for a good bit and got the word that the Enchantment Lakes were a must see. We decided that this would be a great trip for our 10th wedding anniversary so Chris put in for the permit drawings. Yep, this place is so popular you…

The Hall of Mosses is best enjoyed in either the morning or evening golden hours—-I can imagine the morning is even more mystical if there is fog involved.