crystal clear
DETAILS
When — June 7th, 2O22
Where — Port Angeles, WA
Mileage — 0 miles
Compliments on my motorcycle - 1
motorcycles, mountains, and a hard hike
Day 16 of the Double Nickel Ride was absolutely perfect. After a great night‘s sleep in the tent, I made breakfast and then was off to climb Hurricane Ridge with the Indian Springfield. She turned over hard and her air pressure sensor activated, which is her way of complaining about 49 degrees. The skies were crystal clear, the curves were smooth, and the elevation were fantastic! Motorcycles and mountains just go together. When I got to the top I could see athe Olympic Mountain Tange. Temperatures ranged from 48 degrees to 63° through the day, with the higher elevation there was a lot of snow still on the top of the mountain on Hurricane Ridge. I hung out there for a few hours walked a few trails got some great photos. I then headed back down the mountain.
I went into town to provision. Mainly gas, firewood, and ice. I stopped and visited the visitor station for Olympic National Park. I got an idea for a hike and headed back to camp. I unloaded my supplies, ate lunch with a little friend, and changed into my hiking clothes. I headed for the trail head which just a 1/2 mile away.
This hike is called the Angelus Lake Trail. It is scheduled to be a 9 mile hike with a 2500 foot elevation change. The trail description calls it strenuous. I thought I was up for the challenge, I have been doing well on the other hikes. This one beat my ass. Two miles in I realized that strenuous was a understatement. It had some very steep grades, it had a few dangerous water crossings on logs with rails, and you had to cross a few wide mountain streams in stepping stones. Unlike some of my other hikes this destination was a disappointment. The lake did not make it worth the hike. Mainly, because the lake is really being taken over by the forest. What I mean by that is part of the lake is actually a bog. It has thick grass growing on top of the water that you can actually stand. It wasn’t a gorgeous lake that I was expecting to see. I did find a nice spot to sit down hang out and have a snack and contemplate the trip down. Overall, it was a 9.5 mile hike and I have to say that the trip down was tougher than the trip up. These old knees aren’t what they used to be and towards the end of that hike I was hobbling to get back to camp.
I got cleaned up made my dinner and then met another motorcycle rider who is traveling in the area. He found out the hard way about lack of firewood here at the campground. I had an extra bundle so I donated it to my brother on two wheels. He is going to make me a cup of coffee in the morning, he has a French press. We will see how it tastes.
It was a great day today, good weather good roads, a good hike, and fantastic campground.
Tomorrow I’m going to visit some natural hot springs and ride along the Pacific Ocean. I will spend the night in a hotel night in PortAngeles because. I haven’t seen a shower in a few days and I need some Wi-Fi so that I can share some of these great videos.
Take care!
