Olympic Day Four: Sol Duc and Hurricane Ridge

After exploring Forks and La Push, I drove past beautiful Crescent Lake to Sol Duc Hot Springs. A hot springs resort in the mountainous wilderness! In other words, sulphuric water piped into concrete pools filled with white tourists.

It was actually very relaxing. I soaked my sore muscles in the hot water and read the novel I'd brought. The air temperature was surprisingly warm (upper 70s) so I ended up moving to the colder pool after just a few minutes. I did not make any friends during my hour at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.

Next, I hiked to a waterfall:

bad body language :/

adorable matching hiker-sister-twins (note the cargo shorts and bucket hats)

Later that evening, I drove up to Hurricane Ridge, a scenic viewpoint featuring an incredibly broad range of snow-capped Olympic mountains:

I hiked to Blue Glacier!! 

bear prints in the sidewalk concrete

trail closed due to snow! The temperature was in the mid-60s when I was there.

a beautifully peaceful sunset to end my trip

~golden hour~

I returned to my campsite 12 miles down the road, at a lovely area called Heart O' the Hills. I then slept appx. 4 hours, got up in the middle of the night, packed up my tent and belongings, drove two hours to Seattle, returned the rental car, and then flew (via D.C.) back to Charlotte–where I spent the night with my aunt and uncle before driving my grandmother back to Chapel Hill and then finally to Tarboro. But that's a different story.

Byeeee, Washington </3