As you know, the 2008 Summer Olympics began this weekend over in the Far East. So what a perfect weekend to climb a peak, here in the Far West, named Mt. Olympus: highest mountain in Olympic National Park. "Home of the Gods" to English navigator John Meares, the man who named it in 1778.Our adventure began deep in the wettest place in the Lower 48: the Hoh Rain Forest. This temperate forest receives a whopping 180 inches of rain each year and up high on the mountain tops, 100 feet of snow! That unlimited volume of water nourishes a broad variety of gorgeous plant and animal life. It also helps the park qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hike itself is not quite as pleasant though, with over 21 miles to the summit. Scenic hiking along side the glacial-silt tinged Hoh River, and under giant trees curtained in moss eventually give way to a steep and lengthy ascent to base camp at mile 17.5. In a world that is shrinking because of modern technology, it is wonderful to be reminded again of how monstrous it in fact is!
That evening as the air cooled, puffy white clouds turned to classic Cascade drizzle and we began to debate our chance of summit success the next day. But it is a rain forest after all...and so during the flat light of a misty dawn we started up to see what we could achieve. Breaking free of the trees and moving onto glacial moraine the rain-drenched wind pounded away at our spirits and our modern rain gear. Soaked to the core, we reached the massive Blue Glacier that lies within a cirque of alpine summits named after Greek Gods. Here at these heights the weather charges in directly from the Pacific Ocean, unimpeded 1,500 miles from Alaska. With clouds thickening, temperature dropping and winds increasing, it didn't take long to conclude that a campfire sounds better than 7 hours in hypothermic conditions. Live to climb another day and come home stronger and smarter than before.
"The Gods" must have wanted the mountain to themselves that day.....but we are to return in better weather soon!
.jpg)
