A Poem as Lovely as a Tree

The old growth forests in Mount Rainier were just a taste of the magnificent trees that we have found on the Olympic Peninsula.  Home to some of the largest trees in the world, the Quinault Rain Forest simply amazed us.

We left Rainier, camping at Rainbow Falls State Park near Chehalis, Washington. As dusk approached, sun filtered through the canopy of trees.  Nestled among old growth spruce, Oz looked like a tiny toy.

The next morning, we traveled across the southern portion of the Olympic Peninsula to Lake Quinault and the Willaby Campground.  Our campsite was right on the lake, so our favorite Golden stayed wet nearly our entire stay.

The sun was out when we arrived at the campground; however, by morning clouds had settled over the lake.  The air felt heavy and cool.  It began misting as we gathered our gear to begin hiking this ancient rainforest. 

A tiny vole boldly entered the camp to eat truffles.  I inched within three feet of him to take photos.  With the thick cloud cover, I had to use my flash.  Of course, he immediately scurried off.  Surprisingly, however, within minutes he returned and allowed me to take several more photos before he disappeared again.

The Quinault Loop trail is over five miles in length and began just across from our campsite.  We hiked through the heart of Quinault’s temperate rainforest, up a steady rise into a much drier eco-system, down along the river’s edge, across cedar bogs, and looping back along the lake. 

The Pacific Northwest is home to over 66 percent of the world’s temperate rainforests. 

Considered the “Emerald Jewel” of the Pacific Northwest, the Quinault Rainforest has dense, lush vegetation, high mountains, and abundant moisture.  Resting between the Pacific Ocean and the western slopes of the Olympic Mountains, the rainforest receives over 12 feet of rain each year.

As we reached high points along our hike, the temperature would rise (along with the number of mosquitoes).  As we walked through the valleys, the air felt heavy and almost chilly. 

Here are a few photos that we took along the way:

After resting for a bit, we drove into the quaint little town of Quinault to find Internet service.  Then we drove to the trailhead of the world’s largest spruce tree. 

As you can tell from the photos below, this tree is more than magnificent.  Standing over 191 feet tall, it is over 58 feet wide at the base.  The tree is over a thousand years old.

We decided to treat ourselves to a delicious salmon supper at Quinault’s Salmon House.  Over our meal, we pondered whether to stay an additional day at the lake or venture further up the peninsula. 

With friends waiting our arrival in Seattle, we decided to continue northward, but have not ruled out returning after catching up on some much-needed maintenance.  The Xterra has already logged nearly 3,900 miles since we left Texas.  We are also in dire need of a Laundromat and replenishing supplies.  So we will leave Quinault for the moment and see what Papa has in store for us next. 

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast,

A tree looks at God all day.

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

(The Tree, by Joyce Kilmer)

Olympic Peninsula on Dwellable