Backpacking to The Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, Washington ~ Day 1

So this trip has been on our backpacking list for a few years and we were finally able to find the time this summer (ya know, since the world is shut down) and there were no forest fires creating smoke issues, major rain storms, etc…..

Our intent was to be in the car by 7am for the 4 ½ hour drive to the Quinault Rainforest; we got on the road at 7:30am.😉

We were hoping to start the hike at noon; we were on trail at 1pm. 😉

When we backpacked Mt. Hood a couple weeks back, we said that it was the warmest we’ve ever hiked…..nope – this was! It was probably about 90-degrees when we started, but luckily there was a lot of shade along the trail.

As it was a Sunday, and as mentioned, a hot one, there were lots of day hikers that we passed as we worked our way towards Pony Bridge – apparently this is a popular spot to swim – which is strange, since this swimming hole is pretty much in the middle of nowhere and about an hour drive on a gravel road and 2 ½ miles hike – there’s gotta be easier-to-get-to place to swim. Regardless, we arrived to Pony Bridge 2:15pm and continued on our way to O’Neill Creek where we had a permit to camp.

We walked along the Quinault River…..

And through more forest…

 

And by more river.....

Arriving at O’Neill Creek (6.9 miles from the trailhead) at 4:30pm. The campsites were large and somewhat shared, so while there were a couple groups of people already camping, we found a sole hiker from Phoenix (Romney) in one camping spot and asked if we could share the space.  Sole hikers want peace and quiet and to be left alone, so except for introductions, a two-minute conversation, and a quick good-bye the next morning, we all kept to ourselves – perfect! 

Our site was right along the river, so after hanging some wet clothes (wet from perspiration!) and setting-up camp, we hung out along the river – reading e-books and eating dinner.  We originally did not put up the fly (for those of you who are non-campers, that’s the extra layer of fabric that keeps the rain out and keep the inside of the tent warmer), but once we got settle for the night, there was a drizzle and we quickly put up the fly. 

 

Oh, and there was a privy on-site….no cat holes for us!😀