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After teaching my course at the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication (SIIC) in July 2016, we took a 10-day trip to the Olympic Peninsula, returning to some places we've visited during previous trips and also exploring new trails. Our first stop was in Forks, on the west coast, where we stayed in a small cabin in the forest outside town. From there we had 2 beautiful beach hikes and a hike through the Olympic Rain Forest. Our hike along Rialto Beach, just outside the small community of La Push, was on a fantastic day, with clear blue skies and calm winds. The stunning scenery as we make our way north included long stretches of sandy beach, with numerous sea stacks rising from the water, and hundreds of huge logs washed up on the shore. We also hiked at Second Beach, enjoying wonderful late afternoon light and a beautiful sunset. Then we returned to a hike we had taken 25 years earlier, along the Upper Hoh River through the Olympic Rain Forest. It's a primeval feeling, walking through the giant conifers of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, western red cedar and Douglas fir, taking breaks down by the wide but swift-flowing river. While taking our last break at dusk, a herd of elk came down to the river on the side, getting their evening drink before finding a place to bed for the night. Pretty special.

After spending a couple of relaxing days with our friends Joyce and Nils at their beautiful house in Port Ludlow, we enjoyed 2 long days hikes in the Olympic National Park. First, we drove to Obstruction Point and hiked the Grand Valley Loop, where we hiked up to a pass overlooking Grand Valley, down switchbacks to Grand Lake, along Grand Creek to Badger Creek, and through Badger Meadows, before climbing up switchbacks to our starting point at Obstruction Point.
Following a recovery day, we hiked Upper Big Quilcene River to Marmot Pass, an out-and-back hike of approximately 11 miles. Gorgeous scenery all the way, and well worth the tired feet at the end!

Fortunately, the next day we were able to mostly sit, first by kayaking on the Hood canal with Joyce and Nils, and then going out into the bay on a friend's boat to pull in his crab pots, after which we enjoyed a nice dinner on the patio, watching the changing colors of sunset. A perfect end to our Olympic Peninsula trip.