National park with three distinctive climates - Olympic National Park 151
What and Why
Olympic National Park is a national forest distinctive in a number of ways: It is a relative small area but within the park there are three or four distinct ecosystems, including subalpine forest, temperate forest, glaciated mountains, and the rugged Pacific coast. As a result it offers a diversity of distinct endemism and plant species that varies within the park. The park remains fairly undeveloped with very little road access that penetrates into the forest to protect the ecologies and ecosystems within and much of the park remains in some form of wilderness.
Toponymy
In 1788 CE, the British mariner John Meares passed by the snow-covered mountains of northwest Washington and the peaks reminded him of the Mount Olympus (Greek: Όλυμπος, Olympos), the mythical dwelling place for Greek gods in ancient Greece.
Port Angeles means the port of angels in Spanish. This came from its original name Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles when the area was claimed by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza y Reventa in the late 18th century CE.
See
As above we started from Renton and drove from the east. We shall mainly follow the Route 104 and 101 on the northern rim of the park.
Olympic National Park Visitor Center
The main starting point of the park is the official visitor centre which is located in the town of Port Angeles, which is the last point of modern civilisation. The centre is small but offers some kind of exhibits to briefly explain the ecology and ecosystems of the park.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is a mountainous area in the park, which is a popular hiking and snowsport area, with the short access having a number of picnic areas along the way.
While we did not pursue all the way up, this stretch represents one of the more beautiful parts of the park. The climate of the area is largely subalpine and hence there are a number of meadows along the way, plus the scenic mountainous vista.
Elwha
Elwha is a recreational area that stretches along the Elwha River. The area is renowned for its impressive salmon returns. As a result, the park service has made extensive protection and restoration projects around the area and as a result there are not as many picnic areas compared to other areas. Having said that, this remains one of the most visited areas of the park. Elwha is classified a montane forest.
Lake Crescent
Probably the most popular spot of the park, Lake Crescent is known for its brilliant blue waters and exceptional clarity, caused by a lack of nitrogen in the water which inhibits the growth of algae. As a result, the pristine waters of this deep, glacially carved lake make it an ideal and popular recreational area which is home to a number of trails.
The lake was formed when glaciers carved out deep valleys during the last Ice Age, and hence making it very deep. The natural beauty of the area makes it the most ideal place for relaxation and picnicking.
According to the few anglers we met, the water is home to two distinctive types of trouts, which is the result of a massive landslide that isolated Lake Crescent from the nearby Lake Sutherland approximately 7,000 years ago.
Sol Duc
The interesting name of the river valley comes from the local Quileute name, /só:liɬt'aqʷ/, meaning sparkling waters, Sol Duc is another famous breeding ground for Washington salmon. As a result, there is popular spot called the Salmon Cascades, especially during the breeding season in late October / early November. Visitors come to watch the determined salmons leap over the falls on their way to spawn upstream in the Sol Duc River.
Of course we were not so fortunate as we went there during summer, but we did see the mossy salmon creeks.
Old-growth forest, sub-alpine lakes, and snowy peaks populate the Sol Duc landscape.
Hoh
The Hoh rainforest is based along the Hoh River, which houses the Hoh tribe. No etymology can be found for the name. The rainforest is fed by this glacial river fed by glaciers all the way from Mount Olympus. The area is not that accessible and many access are more like dirt roads than paved roads. The area is famous for the presence of many elks around the area though.
Buy and Do
What else other than hiking? There are several beaches where water sports are fairly popular and these beaches can get crowded.
Getting There and Around
The only way to access into the park is by car. Olympic Park is roughly two-and-a half hour drive from Seattle. Unlike other national parks in America, this park does not have a lot of access roads that penetrate inside into the park and hiking is the only option. Clearly we made no attempts to hike up Mount Olympus, which is 2,400 m above sea-level.
Technically the park has the usual USD $25 entrance fee, payable at the visitor centre. However the area is so vast in the wilderness and fairly open that one can easily miss the visitor centre. There are no rangers visible to patrol around. We spent just one day in the park, jumping from spot to spot quickly to take photographs, but if one has the audacity to hike, the one-day road-trip did not do justice to the majesty and diversity of the park.
UNESCO Inscription
Located in the north-west of Washington State, Olympic National Park is renowned for the diversity of its ecosystems. Glacier-clad peaks interspersed with extensive alpine meadows are surrounded by an extensive old growth forest, among which is the best example of intact and protected temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest. Eleven major river systems drain the Olympic mountains, offering some of the best habitat for anadromous fish species in the country. The park also includes 100 km of wilderness coastline, the longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States, and is rich in native and endemic animal and plant species, including critical populations of the endangered northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and bull trout.
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