Today was a great and fun day. We started by getting up early (as compared to the last few days) and headed to the tide pools at Salt Creek Recreation Area for low tide. As the tide recedes, the water and sea life gets temporarily trapped in the rocks. We had a blast looking at the fish, crabs, mussels, starfish, & plant life.
Our brave little Alyssa was actually very reluctant to hold this monster seastar (left). Carlye carried this “weapon” (seaweed that permanently had attached itself to a rock) around all day–never know when a killer whale might appear.
These “seastars” were everywhere. They were heavy and rough feeling, but pliable.
Carlye loved getting her hands on anything and everything that was alive (left). In the distance lies the Pacific Ocean (living up to its name today–“peaceful”).
We found several different kinds of “seastars” including the 22-limbed “sunflower star” on the far right.
Jordan found many baby starfish and had fun letting random strangers hold them and take pics.
This cross-section reveals a tree 650 years old found here in Olympic N.P. (left). This friendly deer crossed the Hurricane Ridge Visitor’s Center parking lot to say hello (right). He’s one of many deer we say today.
Our favorite hike of the day along the ridge line. See the clouds rising up in the valley (right)? We drove and walked through thick cloud patches throughout the day.
The Cascade Mountain Range, still snow covered, lies in the distance. At an elevation of more than 5,000 feet, we hiked this mountain side trail lined with beautiful wildflowers. Mount Olympus (off to the right, not pictured) is the tallest peak at 7,963 feet high–almost 1.5 miles above sea level.
A doe with her twin fawns (left). Alyssa used every bit of self control in her 5 year old body to NOT run after them. The kids are quite the troupers hiking up and down mountains in 50 degrees today.
We ended the chilly, drizzly day with a roaring campfire back at the rv park where Jordan discovered that if you place a stone in the fire, it will glow red and become almost transparent from the intense heat. And that concludes todays lesson in volcanology.
I am so excited that you guys got to experience low tide!! Yay! And got to see baby fawns…and hike around Hurricane Ridge! Fun, fun, fun! (And I love the volcanology lessons…) 🙂 Where to next?