Back to Dosewallips

The bridge over Constance Creek has been cleared of down trees and the trail head sign has been moved back to its rightful position. There are still a few trees down across the road, and people have taken to closing the National Park Gate after they go in.

I had planned on hiking at Staircase on this day but my friend wanted me to cancel my dial-a-ride to staircase so she could hike with me. My friend could have ridden the dial-a-ride with me but she did not want to be on the bus, so she asked me to cancel my dial-a-ride because she "did not mind driving".

This road washed out in 2002

So on Friday I cancelled my dial-a-ride and on Monday we headed for Dosewallips. My friend is in PT for shoulder injuries so we chose Dosewallips as a nice smooth "trail" where the chances of her falling on her bad shoulders was slim and he would not need to use trekking poles.

My friend picked me up at 9:30, but first we had to drive my daughter to school because she had missed her bus. My house was chaos. My husband lost his job, my daughter had missed the bus and I was totally stressed out. It was good to get out of there.

My husband wants to apply for disability but he's too sick to go in and do it.

My friend was quiet for most of the hike. We reached the old car campground at 1:45 and my friend seemed kind of distant.  I cajoled her into telling me what was wrong. It turned out she was upset because the drive took a lot of gas and she "had to" use her credit card to pay for gas... sigh..

Oh well, least I got out and got some good exercise and did not have to get up at 5:30 in the morning.

11 miles with 1,100 feet elevation gain

rough section just before the climb up the falls

old car campground 

the flagged off widow maker tree fell down

thirds

My mossy mom version 1.3 backpack

thirds

A trio of trilliums to represent the trinity
the trinity of shame, Guilt, Sin and Blame

Lots of  NOT Yew trees are growing on the old road bed.  In college I was taught that
these were yew trees.  This is actually a grand-fir



Dosewallips falls

Sign is back

Thirds

Spring

It never rains in Quilcene

My first hike with my new camera. I got a Nikon D40 with a 18-55 lens for hiking. It is so much nicer to carry than my D90 with the 18-200 lens, it is lighter and does suffer from zoom creep, so I can wear it around my neck and over my shoulder.  It cost $200, second hand.  My D90 cost $1,200 new plus I upgraded the lens later.

Changing buses in Brinnon, Dotty was off and a good driver was filling
in for her, so did I not get sick.  I probably could have eaten breakfast
before getting on the bus today.  Just look at that sunshine!
  It was raining when  I got on the bus in Shelton at 8:05



Little detour at the trail head to let someone
who looked strange pass.  It turned out he was
just fine and my caution was unwarranted. But I
got to see some interesting stuff while I was detouring.



Rhody shadow



Cherry bark texture

Homalothecium mega moss



Going up, up and up

Finally on top




Panorama from the North viewpoint sun and clouds



Two hikers dogged me all the way up
I'm amazed that they did not pass me
this is the first time that I have not been passed.



This Cetraria chlorophylla lichen is not normally this brown
This is at the south view point where I went to get away from
the two hikers that dogged me



Hypogymnia lichen are not normally brown either



I walked down on the road and I saw this Invasive moss from Europe Pseudoscleropodium purum,  I found it road side in the mountains today! Will it invade the forest next??

Fairy vomit lichen and Dicranum moss on a stump



Too bad the DNR owns this part of Mount Walker.
I saw this disgrace on the road walk.



Interesting bark on the way down



It was to cold and windy to linger at the top so to kill time after
 having my tea, I opted to walk down the road and add 2 miles to my hike



Back down to 101, proof that it does sometimes rain in Quilcene



Abandoned outhouse in abandoned campground on my Elbo Creek detour route



Jefferson Transit picking me up at 2:55 the driver
was gruff.  Maybe he did not like me taking this picture



On the bus about to get off in Brinnon



The Ranger from Dosewallips State park in Brinnon
Passed me while I was waiting for the bus at Mount Walker.
He seemed friendly, I think he is a friend of a friend.



Somehow I lost my change for the bus so I
had to buy something in the Brinnon store to get change.
This is the Mason Transit bus coming to take me to Shelton at 3:15



The rain starts as soon as the bus heads south.  This
is the Hamma Hamma river



The farther south the bus travels the harder it rains



The bus took a break at the Hoodsport visitor center
and there was none other than Ranger Davis the mushroom
stomper sitting in his truck.  Can I ever go on a hike without seeing that man?



This passenger got on at the Port of Shelton
she was dripping wet



My view

My hike today 8 miles with 2,200 feet elevation gain