Our first stop of the day was the visitors’ center, where we met a lovely man named Stan. A park volunteer, he exuded passion for his role and gave us great insight into the best things to do and see. He encouraged us to stop at Crescent Lake on our way to Sol Duc and even told us about some “secret” trails. Stan was a gem!
So stop at Lake Crescent we did and wandered around for several hours. Stan gave us a loop of interconnecting trails to follow and they lived up to the sales pitch. We got to see Marymere Falls, ancient forests, giant ferns. We sat for a while next to the river and saw less than 5 other hikers. We visited the lake and lodge, a beautiful oasis in the forest. We had a lovely, peaceful day. Relaxing and just what I needed.
That evening, at Sol Duc, I pulled out my hammock for the first time and enjoying swinging and writing. The trip has been wonderful and full of so much adventure. Today is was nice to slow down and rest.
Tonelli's Travels 