MONDAY - Today we begin our 24-night visit to the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington state.
For the next 24-days we'll have little to no cell phone coverage, shaded campsites, so very limited solar charging and access to Starlink, also limited chances to fill our gas tank. Sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it?
Well, we're looking forward to the challenge and wouldn't think of skipping a visit to the Olympic National Forest and National Park.
We begin with a 3-night stay in the Olympic National Forest in the Quinault Region, known for its canopy of ancient Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock trees. These towering giant trees cloak the fern and moss laden forest floor in an ecosystem that contains more biomass per acre than any other forest type.
TRAVEL DAY PHOTOS
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Tricia had someone showing her the way to the bathroom showers this morning.
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No! Over here. It's this way!
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In the town of Aberdeen we saw this large carved piece of wooden art of the side of the road.
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Soon we were all set up in our campsite on Wynoochee Lake in the Olympic National Forest.
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We have a plenty large site here at Coho Campground but no sun for our solar panels.
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It's also next to impossible to get any Starlink service at this site.
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I first tried setting up the satellite dish out in the sun, but no service.
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I did manage to get very limited service from this spot on our campsite, but...
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I don't think this is going to work as a long term solution.
TUESDAY - Today our sightseeing is going to be in both the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic National Park.
That's not really hard to do when the two share a common border at Lake Quinault.
A LITTLE NATIONAL PARK AND A LITTLE NATIONAL FOREST (BOTH WERE OLYMPIC)
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This morning we're going to drive 40-miles just to get to where our sightseeing begins. The first 13-miles is all rough gravel road called Forest Road 22.
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There were however some very scenic portions along the road.
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I was wondering if we were going to see any wildlife along this road.
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He stopped to give us a look like we weren't supposed to be there.
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Today we are exploring the area around Lake Quinault. The north shore is managed by the National Park Service and is part of Olympic National Park.
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We stopped at the July Creek Picnic Area and walked a short loop trail down to the lake. That's where we spotted this hawk looking at us and searching for a meal.
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I guess he saw what he was looking for and made a dive towards the water.
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I'm sure glad they unblocked this trail, because no way we were climbing over that tree.
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This photo is from the north shore of Lake Quinault, looking towards the south shore.
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I liked the design of these picnic table legs, it means no banging your knees and ankles when trying to take a seat.
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Our next stop was at the ___________. I'll let you fill in the blank.
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The Kestner Homestead and Maple Glade Trails combine for a 1.4-mile loop.
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Between 1891 and 1897 Anton Kestner built his homestead near Lake Quinault.
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In 1892, his wife Josepha, with their two sons joined him.
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Some of the original farming implements were left at the site.
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After Anton's death the family’s children took over the operation of the property in 1939.
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Wild Salmonberries seemed to be everywhere you looked on the property.
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Time to head back to the parking lot via the Maple Glade Trail.
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Everything is covered in moss, this is a rain forest afterall.
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Hey, look at me sitting on my invisible bench. It wasn't very comfortable.
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Ferns and mosses were everywhere.
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On the other side of that bridge is the parking lot, yeah we made it!
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We drove a little further along the North Shore Road to this overlook.
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There used to be a 31-mile scenic loop drive around Lake Quinault, but no longer.
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The Quinault River as it snakes it's way towards Lake Quinault.
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The river water is crystal clear and very cold.
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We came upon the 1-lane bridge over Finley Creek.
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Currently it's the bridge over Finley "Dry" Creek.
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We're over on the south shore now. Remember how I said there used to be a loop road?
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This is why the loop can no longer be driven.
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The river decided to take a new path, unfortunately the road couldn't get out of the way.
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That's me talking with a Washinton couple out here for the first time in several years. They were so sad to see the current condition of the road.
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The South Shore of Lake Quinault is managed by the USFS as part of Olympic National Forest.
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The 40' tall Merriman Falls as seen from the side of the road.
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Guess again what we're going to see next?
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The blue sign informs everyone that the tree is 58'11" around and 191' tall.
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Here you have a Douglas Fir, a Sitka Spruce and a Western Cedar all in one place.
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You didn't think we could go a whole day without seeing a deer did you?
WEDNESDAY - Today we are going on a hunt in the Olympic National Forest.
It's not your typical hunt, this will be a hunt for waterfalls. We won't be seeing them all because we're limiting ourselves to nothing more than a 2-mile hike today. Actually we'll be lucky to get 2-miles total for the day.
CHASING WATERFALLS
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There is a .5-mile round trip hike to Wynoochee Falls. It's only 10-miles from the campground.
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When you first see it it's not as high as it was advertised.
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That's because you have to wiggle your way over to the side to see it's full height.
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All this water will eventually make its way down to the lake by our campsite.
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These identify as the species Threeleaf Foamflower. They sure are tiny!
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These identify as the species Thimbleberry.
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The next waterfall was kind of hard to miss, being right there on the side of the road.
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We tried and tried, but couldn't find a name for this anywhere. Must be No Name Waterfall!
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How about this for a FREE boondocking spot in the National Forest?
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It's even got it's own path down to the river.
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This is Spoon Creek Waterfalls and again less than a 1/4-mile hike to see it.
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Spoon Creek Falls has another small cascade at the top you can't see from down below.
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This is the parking lot for the Wynoochee Lakeshore Trailhead.
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Another short trail, but there's no waterfall at the end. There is a big lake.
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If you want, you can hike the 16-mile trail that goes completely around the lake.
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Here's a view of the outflow from the bottom of the dam.
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The guy hanging there told me the last time they did this was 12-years ago.
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That's moss growing on the side of the concrete dam. It's everywhere!
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The day use and picnic area view from in front of the dam.
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I was wondering if we were going to see a dear today.
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As you can see it's not one deer, it's two!
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HEY MOM, WAIT FOR ME!
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
Tricia had someone showing her the way to the bathroom showers this morning.
No! Over here. It's this way!
In the town of Aberdeen we saw this large carved piece of wooden art of the side of the road.
Soon we were all set up in our campsite on Wynoochee Lake in the Olympic National Forest.
We have a plenty large site here at Coho Campground but no sun for our solar panels.
It's also next to impossible to get any Starlink service at this site.
I first tried setting up the satellite dish out in the sun, but no service.
I did manage to get very limited service from this spot on our campsite, but...
I don't think this is going to work as a long term solution.
This morning we're going to drive 40-miles just to get to where our sightseeing begins.
There were however some very scenic portions along the road.
I was wondering if we were going to see any wildlife along this road.
He stopped to give us a look like we weren't supposed to be there.
Today we are exploring the area around Lake Quinault.
We stopped at the July Creek Picnic Area and walked a short loop trail down to the lake.
I guess he saw what he was looking for and made a dive towards the water.
I'm sure glad they unblocked this trail, because no way we were climbing over that tree.
This photo is from the north shore of Lake Quinault, looking towards the south shore.
I liked the design of these picnic table legs, 
Our next stop was at the ___________. I'll let you fill in the blank.
The Kestner Homestead and Maple Glade Trails combine for a 1.4-mile loop.
Between 1891 and 1897 Anton Kestner built his homestead near Lake Quinault.
In 1892, his wife Josepha, with their two sons joined him.
Some of the original farming implements were left at the site.
After Anton's death the family’s children took over the operation of the property in 1939. 
Wild Salmonberries seemed to be everywhere you looked on the property.
Time to head back to the parking lot via the Maple Glade Trail.
Everything is covered in moss, this is a rain forest afterall.
Hey, look at me sitting on my invisible bench. It wasn't very comfortable.
Ferns and mosses were everywhere.
On the other side of that bridge is the parking lot, yeah we made it!
We drove a little further along the North Shore Road to this overlook.
There used to be a 31-mile scenic loop drive around Lake Quinault, but no longer.
The river water is crystal clear and very cold.
We came upon the 1-lane bridge over Finley Creek.
Currently it's the bridge over Finley "Dry" Creek.
We're over on the south shore now. Remember how I said there used to be a loop road?
This is why the loop can no longer be driven.
The river decided to take a new path, unfortunately the road couldn't get out of the way.
That's me talking with a Washinton couple out here for the first time in several years.
The South Shore of Lake Quinault is managed by the USFS as part of Olympic National Forest.
The 40' tall Merriman Falls as seen from the side of the road.
Guess again what we're going to see next?
The blue sign informs everyone that the tree is 58'11" around and 191' tall.
Here you have a Douglas Fir, a Sitka Spruce and a Western Cedar all in one place.
You didn't think we could go a whole day without seeing a deer did you?
There is a .5-mile round trip hike to Wynoochee Falls. It's only 10-miles from the campground.
When you first see it it's not as high as it was advertised.
All this water will eventually make its way down to the lake by our campsite.
These identify as the species Threeleaf Foamflower. They sure are tiny!
These identify as the species Thimbleberry.
The next waterfall was kind of hard to miss, being right there on the side of the road.
How about this for a FREE boondocking spot in the National Forest?
It's even got it's own path down to the river.
Spoon Creek Falls has another small cascade at the top you can't see from down below.
This is the parking lot for the Wynoochee Lakeshore Trailhead.
Another short trail, but there's no waterfall at the end. There is a big lake.
If you want, you can hike the 16-mile trail that goes completely around the lake.
Here's a view of the outflow from the bottom of the dam.
That's moss growing on the side of the concrete dam. It's everywhere!
The day use and picnic area view from in front of the dam.
I was wondering if we were going to see a dear today.
As you can see it's not one deer, it's two!
HEY MOM, WAIT FOR ME!
