wild traxx

Had a pretty fantastic time this past weekend on the Olympic Peninsula. We backpacked about 30 miles in two days, camping along the way in the glacier-hewn Enchanted Valley (this guy did better justice with a camera, although it wasn't as snow-capped when we were there). I've been to few places so sopping green, misty and meadowed. Small gods swirling along every shelf, vine, clobber of feet. The snug envelope of the place helped me keep going, even after my legs and feet felt shattered (this was my first ever backpacking trip, although I now feel like a pretty serious convert). We made it to the valley around 6:30PM, camped on a gravel bar under the stars near the Quinault River, full on potato soup, salami, Irish cheese, candied ginger, and Oregon chai, and woke up to a black bear silently wandering 50 - 75 yards away, totally uninterested in us. We followed his paw prints from where he crossed the river. Also saw several Roosevelt elk, chipmunks, wood squirrels, and lots of freakish mushrooms, including the rare phantom orchid (see below). This year's Labor Day weekend receives an A+.



Floppy fungi.



Rare phantom orchids.



Orange shelf mushrooms.






We came along a field of llamas carrying packs for weary mountain travelers. They had long, soft necks.






best blues.



We were there.



Don't let this photo fool you. We really aren't related.