‘Squatches on the Peninsula

Location: Brown Creek Campground, Olympic National Forest, WA

GPS Coordinates: N 47°24.41 W 123°19.17

This past weekend, May 3-5, I had the pleasure of joining some of my best college friends on their annual Cinco de Mayo camping trip.  A friend of mine and I drove to the Olympic National Forest, about a 6 hour drive from Pullman, to meet up at Brown Creek Campground. Unfortunately, when we got there all the main campsites were full, due to it being the first nice weekend in the area, but my friends were able to find a dispersal site that was even better though. We camped right next to the creek, which, even though it was 80 degrees all weekend, the water was VERY cold. Another nice thing about this site was there were very little other campers around. I like my privacy, and it ups the possibility of a Sasquatch sighting.

Besides camping out and having a generally good time, there were lots of things around the area to explore, including interpretive trails, lakes, and rivers. About a ten-mile drive from our campsite, is Steel High Bridge.  As the name suggests, it is very high and made of steel, when standing on it, we were almost above the trees. One side of the bridge has a minimal guardrail, which I’m not ashamed to admit I stayed clear of. However, the other side has a walking platform and railing. If you aren’t afraid of heights, or can get over your fear for a few minutes, the views are phenomenal.  One side looks over to a creek and slight waterfall, while the other looks over to breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains. If you ever make out the area, it is a must see.

After the bridge, we made our way to Spider Lake. Along the way we stopped off at West Lake, where we didn’t stay long, because there weren’t many trails, but it would be a good spot for canoeing, and there were a few groups fishing.  Once at Spider Lake, there is 2-mile loop around the lake that meanders through an old growth forest, over streams, and offers beautiful views of the lake.  The trail is well maintained and offers a few interesting bridges, although there a few spots you may need to crawl under some huge fallen trees, but it’s all part of the adventure!

All in all, I had an awesome weekend, and hope to visit the area again. A few things I did learn from the trip: I will be investing in a sleeping pad very soon, make sure to bring bug spray and sun block, pay your park fees, and always leave your campsite cleaner than expected.

Conclusion: Had it been a not so busy weekend, a Sasquatch sighting may have occurred, the habitat appeared right, and the weather was beautiful.