I’ve decided that I’ve dedicated way too much time lately to responsible-adult/homeowner stuff and really wanted to just go camp at the beach this weekend. However, I forgot the small fact that it is, indeed, tourist season up here in the Pacific Northwest and every single campground on the Olympic Peninsula and coast was full. Well, shit… So, day trips it is! We had heard about Mt. Ellinor from a friend and then googled it… there’s an upper trailhead that is only like 1.5 miles from the summit. How hard can it be, right? Famous last words right there, folks… Granted this is our first hike this summer, but this was brutal. Just stairs, switchbacks, and loose rock all the way up.  …and in our infinite wisdom we only brought ONE granola bar and left the truck right before our normal lunch time. Because sometimes we’re very stupid. :/  Either way, the pain and suffering and burning, shaky legs were was worth the view at the top.

This photo is a cheat, because it's from my backyard.  But look at that sunrise!!!
This photo is a cheat, because it’s from my backyard. But look at that sunrise!!!
Moody photo of lake Cushman. I wanted to play with filters... so sue me.
Moody photo of lake Cushman. I wanted to play with filters… so sue me.
Tree root bark that looks like lava
Tree root bark that looks like lava
Hole in the tree
Hole in the tree
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
Purple and yellow
Purple and yellow
Light filtering through the trees
Light filtering through the trees
Thistle. I'm fascinated by these for some reason.
Thistle. I’m fascinated by these for some reason.
Poof!
Poof!
Another thistle...
Another thistle…
Delicate looking little blooms
Delicate looking little blooms
Tree bark details
Tree bark details
Purple flowers along the trail
Purple flowers along the trail
Through the forest
Through the forest
Daisies
Daisies
Berries of some kind
Berries of some kind
Funny curved tree
Funny curved tree
Tree sap
Tree sap
Lighting on this was perfect!
Lighting on this was perfect!
...and in black and white.
…and in black and white.
Wildflowers lining the trail along the upper part
Wildflowers lining the trail along the upper part
Lake Cushman
Lake Cushman
More flowers
More flowers
Columbine
Columbine
Tons of bees!
Tons of bees!
More little flowers growing on the rocks
More little flowers growing on the rocks
Blooms through the wire.
Blooms through the wire.

ellinor-12

Rows of plants growing where they can...
Rows of plants growing where they can…
Dead tree
Dead tree
Rock stacks! My favorite!
Rock stacks! My favorite!
More of those little purple flowers
More of those little purple flowers
Along the trail
Along the trail
Another moody black and white
Another moody black and white
This was lunch... so sad.
This was lunch… so sad.
Trail to the top!
Trail to the top!
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
Very rocky
Very rocky
Fellow hikers
Fellow hikers
Light playing on the rocks
Light playing on the rocks
Worth the pain and suffering for sure...
Worth the pain and suffering for sure…
On top of the world!
On top of the world!

So this was an awesome hike… and also my first legit mountain summit! Which I didn’t really realize until just now! Go me! 🙂 It was also neat to see into the interior of the Olympic Mountains.  Before this the only real hiking we’d done in the Olympics was from Hurricane Ridge. Still gorgeous, but this felt more like you were really IN the mountain range.  Cant’ wait to explore some more!


 

1 Comment

  1. Lawrence Mecklenburg August 11, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Gorgeous pics, Ashley! I was on the Mt. Ellinor trail in 2003 and thought my knees would give out on the way back down, so I know just how painful that hike can be, but the views are worth it. Can’t believe you only took a granola bar with you… That’s insane I tell ya!