Camping and hiking on the coast in Washington is one of those experiences that sounds amazing, but the reality of coastal rainforest often leaves a soggier reality. Planning a free weekend with friends more than a month out, we would’ve taken any weather we got, but it was a supremely pleasant surprise to get one of the nicest weekends of the summer for a backpacking overnight in Olympic National Park. With Lulu still rehabbing her new knee, we settled on the easy access of Third Beach with the ability to hike further over the weekend.
Looking back at Seattle from the Bainbridge ferry on Friday afternoon. While we cruised across the Sound, the advanced team snagged a camp site in Forks for an early jump Saturday morning.
The crew en route to Third Beach in Olympic National Park: Roger, Phil, Mike, Shannon, Shelley, Lulu, and Wren. The NPS ranger asked if we were going for a couple nights. Nope, just packing a lot of toys. While the surfboard didn’t see any use, just about everything else did.
The hike in went quickly, and we lucked into a group packing up on the prime site on the beach. A quick drop of gear to hold the site, and we continued on over the next headland to explore further for the day.
The headland crossings in the Olympics can be interesting, but with mostly dry trails things went pretty smoothly for Lulu and her new ACL. I wouldn’t want to work up and down some of the steep cliffy sections in the rain, although ropes left along stretches are certainly meant to make things a little easier.
The rest of the morning we explored the beaches further south toward Scotts Bluff, relaxing for some lunch, building sand castles, and catching more sun than we’ve had for a lot of the summer. Temps were in the mid-high 70s, with no clouds and no wind… a whole different world from the other times we’ve been out to the coast. I could’ve just as likely needed a shell or warm jacket for hanging around other summer days.
Our prime campsite… big enough for a group of 8, perfect log counter for cooking, nice firepit, and secluded spot out of sight from all the other camps on the beach. With crashing surf, we couldn’t hear another group. Fun for the afternoon: slackline, yoga, frisbee, football, and more. Bringing the beach slackline was an excellent idea, as Shelley demonstrates above.
Time for dinner, prepping a big meal of burritos for eight. Perfect spot to enjoy the meal, and watch the sun dip below the headland to the north, pink evening glow cast warmly on the sea stacks.
The fire burnt bright, and we passed marshmallows, s’mores, and the flask of Scotch around the ring. I hadn’t seen the stars so bright in a long time, letting us trace the Milky Way across cloudless skies all the way down to the horizon where the bits of light met a dark sea. As a shooting star trailed downward toward the water, I couldn’t help but think we stumbled onto the winning ticket for a Washington weekend.
That looks like a great time. The times we spent at Shi Shi and Rialta beaches were fantastic. I’d be kayak camping in and around this coast anytime I could get away (and the wind allowed) if I lived out there. No banana slugs on the way in?