On April 1st, Mr. Watt and I went up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park to have our annual snow experience before it all melts away and leaves the wonderful wildflower meadows. At the snow depth measurement station at 5010’ elevation, there were 91” on the ground. It was a beautiful sunny day with fluffy white clouds drifting above the peaks.
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The road to the Hurricane Hill trailhead is closed in winter and becomes a popular hiking/ snowshoeing/ cross-country skiing trail. We took our snowshoes with us, but the snow on the road was so well-packed that we left them behind in the car.
The hike offered views of the Olympic Mountains in one direction and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Victoria BC, and the San Juan Islands (waving “Hi” to OceanDiver) in the other.
Wildlife consisted of birds. We saw ravens, Gray jays (those beggars), and juncos. There was also what I guessed to be a small flock of Yellow-rumped warblers. I didn’t get a good photo as they were usually in motion or foraging off in the trees. If you have a better ID, please correct me.
Raven Gray jay perching on hiking pole and hoping for a handout Possibly a Yellow-rumped warbler (?)My next installment from Hurricane Ridge will be early spring wildflowers. The snow is melting very quickly, as shown in the webcam.
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Your turn! I bet very few of you are going to seek snow at this time of year. What are you seeing in your area?