West end of Aurora Ridge

 I hiked up the west end of Aurora Ridge so that I have now completed the entire Aurora Ridge trail. 15.0 miles this trip and about 3,800 feet elevation gain.

Left home on Wednesday at 9:30, got my permit from the Wilderness Information Center at 11:15, reached the trailhead at 12:25. Hiked for an hour and had lunch, then continued up the ridge to the Eagle Lakes turnoff. The afternoon was hot and there was no breeze under the trees at first. My legs felt like lead.

 

After awhile the canopy opened up and I could feel a cooling breeze. The trail was lovely, leading steadily uphill through stands of timber. Reached the turnoff to Eagle Lakes at 4:10 and descended the 400 feet to the lake, arriving at 4:30. I was tired.

Afternoon sun on the trees at Eagle Lakes

 

 

 

 

My camp at Eagle Lakes

 

 

The lake was serene, with the sun going down on the trees on the far side of the lake. Relaxed and solved a crossword puzzle, made dinner, read from Emerson's Essays. Asleep by nine.

Making coffee in the morning

Slept until six, then retrieved my food sack where I'd hung it. Made coffee, had granola and packed up. On the trail by 7:25. Climbed back up the 400 feet to the ridge trail, then continued along the ridge in the cool morning air. The trail continued along the ridge top, occasionally traversing on one side or the other. Not many views because of the trees.

Hiking along the ridge in the early morning

Stopped at Sourdough Camp to look at the old shelter runs and check the spring. It was completely dry. Arrived at the Aurora Creek trail junction at 11:10 and started down the switchbacks to the highway. Had lunch partway down the spine of the ridge.

Going down the steep Aurora Creek trail

The switchbacks were just as excruciating as the last time I descended them. My thighs were aching and my feet were sore by the time I got to the bottom. 

 When I reached the turnout on the highway, I called Clallam Transport and asked the dispatcher to tell the bus driver to stop for me. Waited for over an hour for the bus to arrive, just before 4:00, and climbed on for the short ride to Sol Duc road. 

Hiked up the road with my thumb out but I didn't have any luck for the first mile. Then a nice lady with a toddler in a car seat stopped for me. "Do you need something?" she asked. I think she felt sorry for me. She gave me a ride for the last 1.7 miles to the car.

Hitchhiking the last couple of miles to get back to my car

Drove in a leisurely manner into Port Angeles, where I stopped at the Corner Caboose, a tiny food truck at the outskirts of town, where I had the best pulled pork sandwich I can remember. The pork was tender and juicy with a deep smoked flavor, with cole slaw on a soft warm bun. Delicious. Home by 8:15 pm.