The weather forecast was for rain, so I thought I'd hike the easy 2.7 miles to Bark Shanty in the rain, have a cup of hot cocoa, and return to the trailhead in the rain. But it didn't rain, so I extended my hike to Camp Jolly, about 4.7 miles from the trailhead, for a total of 9.4 miles.
I left the house at7:15 and arrived at the Lower Big Quilcene Trailhead at 8:17. Started hiking at 8:30. It was cool and cloudy with some smoke oin the air from the forest fires that have been burning in Oregon and Washington.
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| At the trailhead |
The first part of the trail is an old road that stays almost level on its way to the river crossing. Easy walking.
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| The trail begins on an old roadbed |
It took me 55 minutes to walk the 2.7 miles to Bark Shanty. That's about 3 miles an hour, not bad. Bark Shanty is a large flat area covered in pine needles, beneath huge Douglas Fir trees. There's room for several campsites under the trees and alongside the river. Just a lovely place. I sat down for a fifteen minute break and caught my breath.
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| Bark Shanty camp |
Since it was only 9:30, I decided to continue two miles up the river to Camp Jolley. The trail becomes a regular footpath following the river. In places the trail goes through second growth timber because they logged the hillsides right down to the river, pulling the trees up to the logging roads above. In places there are still stands of larger timber.
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| Big Quilcene River |
Camp Jolley wasn't as picturesque as Bark Shanty, but I stopped for a break anyway. Returned to Bark Shanty and rested with my back to a big fir. I took out my stove and boiled some water for hot cocoa. It was a nice break. Returned to the trailhead, arriving at 1:10.
The only people I saw were four young women near the bridge. Other than that, I had the trail to myself. It started raining just as I got back to the car. Home by 2:17.
