Back in 2014, Angela and I went on our first backpacking trip together. I had thought this would be a perfect one - flat trail along the coast from Ozette to Norwegian memorial. I had done this trip back in 2012 right before I started at Amazon - extending all the way from Ozette to Oil city over 5 days - and this trip was to be a quick out and back, 2 day trip. I guess I had forgotten how rocky the beach was in this area…
2014-04-12
We had a very ceremonious start to the trip - beautiful day and happy faces on us both. The trip starts on a pretty easy boardwalk for about two miles - going from the north end of Lake Ozette and going to the coast.
After about 2 miles of hiking, you emerge onto the beach. It’s quite the sudden and stunning view as you emerge - dense forest opens to beautiful coastline.
We spent the next several hours on relatively easy sand or small rocks. Then it got worse, human sized boulders that required you to scramble over/around each of them. We slowed considerably at that point. Then, coming around a corner, we spotted a weird shaped rock - sort of long and much more golden brown than the rest of them. I got probably 20 feet away before I realized what it was - a dead whale. The realization came to me as more of a smell than a sight - but it was fairly obvious in retrospect…
The last several hours really drug on. We had emerged back into flat beach, but Angela was wiped and had a really hard time finishing up. But then, we turned a final corner and you could see a flat forest right behind the beach - perfect looking campsite and the Norwegian memorial. The first really camp-able spot in about 5 miles. I hiked ahead a bit and started to setup camp. Angela arrived and immediately laid down by the unlit fire and fell asleep. I went inland a bit to checkout the memorial…
I spent the next couple of hour setting up camp, making dinner, and then lighting the fire. Angela woke up just in time to get some food, see the beautiful sunset, and then sit by the fire for a while. Angela was smoked - but it was a beautiful campsite and we were sent off into dreamland by sound of the waves crashing into the beach.
2014-04-13
The following morning we got an early start because I knew the trip back was going to be tough for Angela. Almost immediately, we were stuck by high tide blocking the path. Should have checked the tide chart. Rather than wait (which would have been the smart thing to do), we climbed up and over. I thought this was great fun, but Angela was a bit hesitant. You have to remember that this was early in our relationship - she is a lot tougher now.
We continued our hike back out the way we came. The going was a lot easier for some reason, it might have just been mental. As we were walking along yellow banks, I was off in my own little world and I walked into a tree… Big cut formed just below my eye. I guess this was to be a tough trip for both of us.
The tide was out a few hours later - big open sandy beaches were laid out in front of us. Easy walking from here.
A dozen or more bald eagles where consuming the whale on the return trip. It was quite a shock as we came around the corner and this huge group of large birds took off and flew past us. I got a picture of one of them taking off and flying out to sea as we approached.
Right before we turned back into the forest to make the boardwalk hike back to the car, I saw a sea lion on the beach. I approached to about 10 feet and he didn’t move. I made a few sounds and he kinda barked and squirmed about a bit. I could see a huge open sore on his head and another one on his body. He didn’t have long left in this world - very sad.
The rest of the trip out was a breeze. I also found out why Angela was having such a hard time - her boots were about 2 sizes too small. Physically, she was up for the challenge but when you have boots so tight they bruise your toenails, it’s going to take all of the excitement away from anyone. Definitely need to get this fixed!
We made it!
