I hiked from the Storm King Ranger Station on Lake Crescent up Barnes Creek to Aurora Ridge, along the ridge, and then back to Highway 101 down Aurora Creek trail. 15.8 miles, 4,100 feet elevation gain.
On Wednesday morning I got up at 5:30 and was on the road at 6:05. At 8:25 I arrived at the Storm King Ranger Station and started up the Barnes Creek trail. This is the same trail I hiked last week, so I knew it well.
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| Lower Barnes Creek trail in the cool morning |
I knew I had 8 miles and 3,700 feet of elevation to gain, so I walked steadily with a 15 minute break every hour. I was surprised at what good progress I made. My legs felt fine and I marched right up the trail. I got to the upper Barnes Creek camp at 3:00 and took a long break.
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| Upper Barnes Creek camp |
From my last hike I knew there would be mosquitoes, so I brought my one-man tent, and it turned out to be a godsend. Around dinner time the mosquitoes came out in force, and by 8:00 I was forced to dive into the tent for my own protection. It was a relief to get away from them and watch them fly impotently outside the tent netting.
For this hike I brought the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. It's considered a classic of black literature, written in 1937 by an author who was also an anthropologist. An excellent read.
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| Almost ready to leave in the morning |
I slept well, waking up very early. Had coffee and granola for breakfast and started hiking at 7:45. It was nice and cool as I started up the last few switchbacks. Got to the Aurora Ridge trail junction at 8:10 and started the hike along the ridge.
It was easy going at first, almost level with a few ups and downs.Despite being up high, there are very few views because the ridge is well forested. There were a few places to peak out, and I saw views to the North and South.
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| Boulder Peak and Mt. Appleton to the South |
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| Mount Olympus peaking through the trees. |
| Aurora meadow |
About 10:30 I came to Aurora meadow, a long meadow on a steep slope below Aurora Peak. The trail gets lost in the meadows and it's hard to find where it resumes on the other side. Luckily the trail crew had improved the trail in the meadow and I was able to find Aurora Spring (only moist at this time of year). From there the trail disappeared, but after a little reconnoitering, I found where it left the meadow and continued on.
I reached the junction with the Aurora Creek trail just before noon, and took a break. I was very tired from the poor trail and the ups and down. Then I started down the switchbacks to Highway 101. This trail plunges down the side of the mountain without relenting. My thighs were screaming, my knees were aching, and my feet were protesting.
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| Looking down at the beautiful blue waters of Lake Crescent. |
Finally I could see Lake Crescent through the trees and about 3:30 I emerged onto Highway 101. I called the dispatcher at Clallam Transit and asked him to tell the bus driver to pick me up when he came through. The bus was about twenty minutes late, but when I saw it I flagged it down. It took me to Storm King Ranger Station where my car was waiting.
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