A man that has inspired me for years sent an email last week, asking if I would like to accompany him on a walk up the Quinault River drainage. We would be
hiking the Enchanted Valley Trail. His Olympic Mountain photography has personally inspired many of my adventures; often dreaming into these images during the winter months to get my wilderness fix. Of course I accepted the invitation, it is an honor to walk with him.
The original purpose of this trip was to enjoy the history that
the Chalet represents. Countless people have come from all over the world to enjoy this building through the years. To be honest with you, after a few hours observing the damage the river is about to do to this structure, I lost interest in it.
The Quinault valley was full of spring activity and countless wildlife. A full day was spent watching life happen before our eyes. Avalanches, Mountain Goats, Black Bear and Olympic Elk could all be observed in the same area. It's was nature in its pure form. An impression like this can be life changing. Powerful and real, this is wilderness to me.
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| East Fork Quinault Trail |
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| Pyrites Creek Ford |
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| First Black Bear of the season |
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| East Fork Quinault River |
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| The Burke Range holds winter |
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| One of the many countless spring avalanches off the Burke Range (see video below) |
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| O'neal Peak morning whispers |
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| The Lindsley Glacier of Mount Anderson |
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| Seasons change |
Video of the Trip (suggest full screen and good audio)
Overall this was a trip of a lifetime. Don't think I will ever be able to recreate it in all my days. It will forever hold a place in my heart. Look forward to creating future memories in the Olympic National Park.
Interested in the Chalet? Check out the building hanging over the river.
Updated in 2025 by
Barefoot Jake
