Hoh River Trail

At Kalaloch Lodge, we have our own rustic cabin complete with wood stove; spacious and cozy all at once. Dinner in the Lodge dining room is especially fun for us after our hike on the beach during the incoming tide. Trying to outrun the water has brought the group closer and given us something to laugh at--especially the Fast Women.

Rested and refreshed, we start our next day with another hike in the temperate rainforest along the Hoh River, which descends from Mount Olympus, the Peninsula’s highest peak.  Like mountains, canyons, and other natural phenomena, the rainforest continues to awe me.  It gives my world --and my life-- perspective.  Humongous, ancient trees tower over me, and the surreal canopy of green mosses, new growth sprouting from old, and layers of life, all make me feel simultaneously small and insignificant, and yet part of a vast and endless cycle of life.
  

 Rainforest along the
Hoh River

Besides the prolific tree and plant life of the rain forest, a variety of wildlife also thrives here. I’ve  seen the insect portion of it. (If you've followed my blog for a while, you know mosquitos love me.  Apparently wild animals ---not so much.)  Theoretically we could see deer, black bear, eagles, cougar, bobcat, otter and a host of others, but so far—insects.

And a marmot! The Olympic Forest marmot population has been declining, but I thought I’ve occasionally heard a whistle-like call that wasn't really bird-like.  Marmots sound alerts to the others in their group when intruders approach (that would be us) or to the interlopers (again, us) to warn them away.  As we're moving, someone in front of me points... there he is!  The lookout marmot doesn't yell at me the way the one in Yellowstone did.  In fact, he doesn't stay long ...but I do manage to get a photo. 

Olympic Marmot

We hike through the rainforest to Marymere Falls.  I'm not sure whether I took an easier route, was preoccupied with finding wildlife,  was too uncomfortable to appreciate consistently the beauty around me... but fortunately, my friend Linda has pictures of places I either missed or failed to photograph.  (Thank you, Linda.)  The one below was en route to the falls.

 And we stop at the falls for lunch.

Marymere Falls

The last section of the trail up to the falls is a little tough but I make it, plant myself on a mossy log, and enjoy a cheese sandwich that tastes better than anything I’ve ever eaten.  Amazing how outdoor activity can have that effect.

The hike back is mostly downhill (a bit of a challenge to my knee)  about 2.5 miles.  We return to the vans for rest and refreshment and then, a raft trip down the Hoh River.

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I couldn't find a definitive term for a group of marmots: a sprawl, or a madness,  a group...?  If you know, please let me know.