We had left one of the door flaps rolled back so we could see Mt. Olympus in the early morning.  To our surprise, we woke to see clouds had covered the valley and were rising up in places, shrouding parts of our view.  Even with the clouds, it was a pretty sight – not like anyone would ever have from their bedroom window.  We indeed were most fortunate.  The clouds continued to move around and by the time we were up having breakfast, the low clouds were rolling over the ridges in the valley like the flow of a river over rocks underneath.

It has been far too long before posting the most pivotal trip Nivaun and I have ever done to date. And the one that lead to building our future plan to finish this life together, exploring nature across our planet.

The “morning of” was no different than any other trip Tim and I had done – it was Tim’s last minute packing ritual of sorts.  Scott, a man of military precision, watched in fascination, the workings of a creative mind trying to bring order to the gear strewn throughout the house.

The final two days of our journey…

We had a couple wonderful story filled zero days with a Warm Showers host. The inspiration to this entire ride was to visit Westport Winery and pick up our wine. We finally arrived on day nine.

The day before we had been musing over whether or not to get a hotel room on the trip.

In a few days a heatwave would hit the Pacific Northwest and we were riding towards it on hot pavement, road tar melting and popping under our tires…

After visiting Westport Winery we were impressed with their fruit wines and joined their wine club…

We were invited to go snowshoeing with a very good friend to a snow hut managed by Mount Tahoma Trail Association (MTTA). They have two yurts and two huts - High Hut and SnowBowl Hut. We went to SnowBowl Hut…

For many, there are areas of great life changing importance. Lake Crescent in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is such a place for me and Deborah. It has been the location of many firsts during our currently 26 years together…

Many have been here before and I wonder throughout the millennia how many footfalls have etched their memory upon the sand, only to be erased by waves and winds in time…

The date was set, now all we had to do was wait and watch the weather predictions. At first it was going to be cold with possible snow, then some rain but chances of sun…

The one memory about the drive to Obstruction Point that touched me the most was not the incredible view, nor the alarming lack of snow. It was the fragrance.

I am not sure what the real name of this trail is. On some topo maps it is listed as Silver Lakes Way Trail. I like to call it the Silver Creek Trail…

We left our house with thoughts of hiking in either rain or snow so we were quite surprised to find the drive up completely snow free and no rain. The cloud diffused light that reached the forest was the most beautiful I have seen in a long time and made for a lovely beginning to our hike.

Joined Kitsap Photography Guild on a photo walk.

It is about around a 7 mile round trip hike to the top of Buck Mountain and back. The last 3 miles of the trail is on FS030 (Jackson Creek Rd). On this trip we did not go to the top. Visibility was zero and we only walked far enough to get water for the return trip.

Originally published August 7, 2013. For turning 50 I planned on a fifty day backpack across the Olympics, this was the beginning of the journal. True to form, I never kept up on it.