Sol Duc Wonderland

A couple of days ago I took the road up to Sol Duc Hot Springs in Olympic NP. The resort was not open yet...opens today, two days later...but the trail up the river was passable. A dusting of snow had added to the rainforest with a dash of white upon the green. The snow upon the carpet of ferns added a new dimension to the scene.

I hiked up to Sol Duc Falls, less than a mile from the trailhead. Though no rain or snow was falling, it was a soggy trek as clumps of half-frozen snow were falling continuously from the trees above. A few managed to fall between the collar of my parka and my neck. But the reward was superlative...a roaring three pronged torrent, fed by rain and snowmelt, cascading over a cliff into a narrow gorge. Exhilarating!