This was a last minute hike on the Grand Ridge Trail, AKA Obstruction Point to Deer Park Trail. Its a very beautiful trail, and is said to be the highest trail in the Olympic Mountains. Robert L Woods, in his book Olympic Mountains Trail Guide lists this trail as the Grand Ridge Trail. When the Park Service decided to rename this the Obstruction Point to Deer Park Trail is unknown to me. Why would you name a trail after the trails it connects? The This Trail to That Trail, Trail. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, and seems lazy. But then again it is the Park Service we're talking about here. Anyone remember the Waterhole Ski Hut controversy? Or the Hurricane Ridge only open on the weekends policy?
I apologize. You didn't come here to listen to my diatribe. But I do feel better getting that off my chest.
Some history on the trail. Robert L Woods writes. "The trail is accessible by road at both ends-the Deer Park Road in the east, the Obstruction Point Road in the west. The Forest Service planned to connect the roads, and construction crews worked from both ends. However, the western crew stopped near Obstruction Point, and the one at Deer Park built less than a mile of road. Later the National Park Service considered reviving the project, but hikers conservationists, and ecologists objected to converting the Grand Ridge Trail, the highest in the Olympic Mountains, into a road, and the plan was abandoned."
I don't have much more to say about this hike as I've wrote about it before. With that said, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
This trail has perhaps the best display of Avalanche lilies I have ever seen. This hike was no exception. If you want to see this for yourself, you need to get up here early, soon after the snow melts.Nice trailThe trail drops down from Deer Park 300-400 feet and is forested for the first couple miles.Before too long the trail gradually climbs again and opens up to the most spectacular views. In my humble opinion, hiking this trail on a cloudy day would be a major bummer since you're going to miss (as Bruce Lee would say) all that heavenly glory!Hard to not enjoy days like thisBecause the views don't suck!Maiden Lake directly below. The body of water in the distance is the Straight of Juan de Fuca. To the upper left of the frame you can see Ediz Hook and part of Port Angeles.My friends Cheryl and Stephanie can barely be seen in the distance.My friends Cheryl and Stephanie can barely be seen in the distance.Spectacular views everywhere you look.Spectacular views everywhere you look.Spectacular views everywhere you look.Great name for a campsite. I think I'll pass.Grand ValleyLooking back along the ridge. You can see almost the entire route from here. The far mountain that is partly forested and partly green on top is Blue Mountain. The start of the hike was just this side of that mountain.I looked back and could see Cheryl and Stephanie sitting there on that point. You can just barely (not really) see them. I kept looking back over 30 minutes or so and they weren't moving so I figured they were not going any further.Selfie timeSome kind of thistle maybe?The line across the side of the mountain in the distance is the Hurricane Ridge Road.Panoramic view from Grand Ridge.Grand Ridge TraIlNice flowers everywhereWild Olympic Mountain onions. YummGrand Ridge TrailGrand Ridge TrailGrand Ridge TrailGrand Ridge TrailGrand Ridge TrailCheryl and Steph. Cheryl doesn't like to have her picture taken so I always try to get at least one, LOL. Look at her hiding under her hat, haha. I'm not sure why she doesn't invite me along on more hikes...Glacier LiliesAvalanche Lilies
Disclaimer* We only hiked to about midway between Maiden Peak and Elk Mt before turning around.
You have a good eye for composition and light. Love the lilies, which, as you mentioned, come and go like the wind. The purple thistle-like flower is my wife’s favorite – silky phacelia. Do you mind if I ask what type of camera you use?
You have a good eye for composition and light. Love the lilies, which, as you mentioned, come and go like the wind. The purple thistle-like flower is my wife’s favorite – silky phacelia. Do you mind if I ask what type of camera you use?
Thanks Jim. These were shot with a Sony DSC-RX100M3 in RAW format, and then post processed in Lightroom.