Sol Duc Falls

In mid July of 2005, I went on a hike up Sol Duc Falls with my step-dad, who turns 75 years old in September. I can only wish we all will be able to hike 6 miles when we are that age. Started off at the Hot Springs, where he had gone almost 30 years ago. Whereas the hot springs used to consist of a small spring and a man-made snow melt pool, it is now a resort complete with a swimming pool, camp ground, huts, and teems of screaming kids. Not the solitude that it used to offer. The hike to the falls starts out right next to the pool, but lucky for us, no one there seemed the hiking sort and we didn't see anyone for the first few hours.

Its a nice stroll, with hardly any elevation gain (200ft). The highlight though is that you are hiking through the heart of Old Growth, so its a very calming walk with a lot of cool things to see. Six miles with the option of going 9 or 12 or more, the hardest part for my dad were the rocks and roots sticking out from the ground, so we made a quick hiking stick to help out. Best part was being able to hang out with him for 12 hours, driving by Crescent lake, and just shooting the shit.

Comments

[Jacob]

there were a couple places like that in the hike - Old Growth forests can be creepy like that!

[Chief]

http://www.seattlecasbah.com/photos/sol_duc/sol_duc_falls_020.html

This is just an alien abduction photo waiting to happen.