Summer 2020 Fjord

MAPS • EVENTS • HIKES • HISTORY • ROAD TRIPS

CELEBRATE FOREST FESTIVAL Canceled but not forgotten: celebrating history, royalty, and fire safety – 6

LET'S GO CHASING WATERFALLS Romano pick 25 favorite falls to explore around the fjord – 14

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Rescheduled for fall in an outdoors location – 38

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If you have any of these symptoms, please call

COVID-19 RESPIRATORY ILLNESS TRIAGE LINE

to avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital:

360-427-3615

HOURS: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours please call 911 or your provider’s office if experiencing a medical emergency or COVID-19 symptoms.

• • • • •

FEVER HEADACHES SORE THROAT CHILLS REPEATED SHAKING WITH CHILLS • MUSCLE PAIN • LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL

Schedule phone and video appointments for · Primary Care · Behavioral Health · Specialty Care Call your provider’s office or call Mason Clinic at 360-426-2653

Find a provider at www.masongeneral.com

www.MasonGeneral.com • 901 Mountain View Drive, Shelton, WA 98584 • (360) 426-1611, from Allyn (360) 275-8614, Toll free (855) 880-3201, FJORD 2 TTY/TDD (360) 427-9593. Equal Opportunity Provider • Free Translation Services Provided/Se habla español • Mason Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation.

Welcoming summer on the Fjord Rachel Hansen | Fjord editor Well, wow. Hasn't this been a new experience? When the world was about to change our team was in Vancouver BC with a booth at a travel trade show. There we were, dousing every surface and post-handshake with a gallon pump of Purell.

We thought we were being weird as we forced a cheery smile and greeted potential customer after customer. Ha! Little did we know.

Fast forward four months and its a new world – masked and socially distant. For us, two kids graduated -- one from St. Martins and the other from high school with an AA in Biology giving us so many reasons to celebrate – quietly as a family.

It wasn't just isolation that caused uncertainty. My husband is an airline pilot.

At first is was fear as he landed in all the "hotspots." Now he just wonders when he will be able to get behind the controls again.

Despite this we adapt. The sun continues to shine on our beautiful Pacific Northwest. The tides go out and come back in again on the fjord.

We have planted an apple orchard, built raised beds (to feed the deer apparently), and finally made repairs on the oyster farm that had been delayed for seasons. Our biggest accomplishment these last few months was re-siding our home. It's an older rambler with "good bones" but short on insulation and character. The project became a palate for intricate marine designs. The medium: cedar shakes. We also developed a gentle companionship with our neighbor. As we finished a wall; she quietly arrived in her "staining" clothes and followed us with an oxen brush.

Now, as the world slowly creeps back to "normal," we jokingly refer to our Covid Projects. Maybe our kids will look at these walls in years to come and say, "Remember when Mum and Dad made that octopus during the Quarantine?"

These times will be a hardship for many.

We will continue to feel the effects and maybe never be "what it was;" however, I hope we never forget how it feels to slow down and enjoy each other and just be together as a family.

This issue of Tracing the Fjord has no event calendar for obvious reasons.

Fortunately this will not be a problem because there is so much to do on the Canal during the summer that is both socially distant and revives the spirit.

We hope you will join us in supporting all the wonderful community events - when they return – until then have a wonderful summer with your loved ones and stay safe and healthy!

Publication is produced quarterly by IMAGE IN ACTION | nwevent.org (360) 427-5599 or email:rachel@nwevent.org PO Box 622, Shelton, WA 98584 AVAILABLE FREE THROUGHOUT THE NW © 2020 | no reprint without permission.

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In this issue of the

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ISSUE 13 | VOLUME 4 CELEBRATING THE ANNUAL FOREST FEST - 6 ORCAS – 11 CHASING WATEREFALLS 25 falls to visit on and around the Fjord – 14

FRESH ON THE FJORD Grown local; buy local - 22

FRESH BERRIES - 24 LOCAL BOOK REVIEWS Hood Canal history picks - 28

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

EVENT(ISH) EVENT (ISH) CALENDAR For all the events that never happened in 2020, and those that still will not happen this year, we miss(ed) you. We all were stunned as campgrounds were locked, parks wrapped in caution tape, and the fields that ring with laughter and music during our annual festivals and events – silent and forlorn.

With eight pages stuffed with events in the spring issue of the Fjord it's hard to imagine what once was and now is.

Shelton residents were saddened when the Mason County Forest Festival announced that the festival was canceled. At first there was hope that the event could be moved to August, but as Phase 3 was late in coming, it soon became clear that the festival would be canceled until 2021.

Each year we usually create a full program dedicated just to Forest Festival – this year we wanted to make sure we still celebrated the royalty and their accomplishments; so check out pages 6-10 for all the details on these great kids!

Shrimpfest volunteers take tickets with a smile.

This year we will sorely miss Matlock Days, Shrimpfest, FjordinCrossin, Allyn Days, the Taste of Hood Canal, OysterFest and many other celebrations that have included so many dedicated volunteers and have marked the passing of our seasons. We hold on to the hope that we will dance to the music outdoors in the redefined and rescheduled Bluegrass from the Forest, September 11-13 (see page 38 for details); and celebrate the harvest at the Quilcene Fair (see page 44).

Everyone is looking forward to events being back in 2020. Since things change daily, please follow Tracing the Fjord's Facebook page for updates on local events and other happenings.

Guide to getting prepared -36

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Rescheduled to Sept 11-13 - 38

MILDRED LAKES HIKE

road trip-worthy bites: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 2-6PM

10AM-3PM

Romano takes us on a journey requiring stamina - 57

SALMON CENTER Summer programs - 63

5101 E HwY 106, UnIoN, Wa 98592 UnIoNcItYmArKeT.CoM 360.898.3500 FJORD

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SHELTON'S OYSTERFEST Canceled for 2020

Skookum Rotary Club is canceling this year’s OysterFest event based on potential Covid 19 risks and social distancing guidelines that they feel will likely be required for the remainder of the year.

Organizers do not believe they can hold an event that may draw over 12,000 people in a single, confined area.

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The decision was made early this spring owing to the large number of commitments that must be made to multiple company partners and local not-for-profit volunteers.

Skookum Rotary realizes that this is a large loss for the community, however, human safety and disease prevention is their most important consideration. Plans are underway to mark this event in the community in 2020 and hopefully assist the non-profits in regaining some of their potential losses.

The club anticipates a strong event for OysterFest 2021 and thanks everyone for their continued support.

Fjordin Crossin canceled due to the pandemic Hardware Distillery and Hood Canal Events look forward to welcoming you back in 2021. In the meantime Hardware Distillery will be bottling a barrel aged dill aquavit with the Fjordin label. Stop by the distillery in Hoodsport to taste.

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Marking the

V E RY QUIET

2020

Mason County Forest Festival The plans were made... the court was selected. The carnival booked & sponsors were signing up.

Then the whole country shut down. The Forest Festival committee attempted to hang on by rescheduling the event to August from May. But even that quickly became an uncertainty.

With the cancellation of the 76th annual event that means so much to the local community – we wanted to take the time to mark it with a few pages. Thank you to all the volunteers.

To help combat the destructive wildfires in the region — while also promoting the importance of forests to the local economy — Mason County hosted their first forest festival in the spring of 1945. The initial festival featured a parade, a beauty pageant (now the royalty court), a Paul Bunyan impersonator, and various other events and activities. The idea proved even more successful than imagined.

It is no surprise that the local community was pretty excited about the event, and still support it today with Mason County's heritage being long tied to the timber industry.

claim on a nearby inlet off Puget Sound. Sol G. Simpson came to the area and founded the Simpson Logging Company in the 1890s. The Simpson Company would eventually grow and expand throughout the country, but Shelton served as an important center of operations for much of the following century.

In 1853, Michael T. Simmons built the first sawmill in Mason County on Mill Creek just south of present-day Shelton.

Around this same time, David Shelton staked a settlement

photo: © Cooper Studios FJORD

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Festival background information developed from an Internet article by Eben Lehman, Forest History Society, Durham, NC

the thrilling parade and the exciting contests in which loggers demonstrate their skills at falling, bucking, tree topping and truck driving."

The first Mason County Forest Festival honored the industry by showcasing the value of timber and the importance of preventing forest fires.

The idea of a forest festival quickly spread across the country along with the Keep Green program. “You have in Shelton, in my opinion, the best all-around forest festival in the United States,” read a quote from a mid-1950s article.

“It has been the inspiration of many forest communities throughout the U.S."

The event continued to gain popularity each year. People from all over Washington traveled to Shelton to see, and in the words of an ad for the 12th Annual Forest Festival, “the dramatic Forest Pageant,

2020 would mark the 76th Annual Mason County Forest Festival. However, with the uncertainty and mandates imposed by COVID-19, organizers made the difficult decision to cancel this year.

Hood Canal, Wash.

Although the pageant is no longer and at times the "Keep Washington Green" message gets lost in the excitement of carnival rides, fireworks and cotton candy – this event is still very much an integral part of Shelton's heritage. The current festival features a car show, carnival, live music, logging show, vendors and the much anticipated Paul Bunyan Grand Parade down Railroad Street in which the annual court presides over.

Photo:KLAAS IMAGES

Let us be your guides.

Quilcene Munns Since 1888.

For four generations the Munn family has made their home along Hood Canal.

Today, brothers, Bruce & Jim Munn, are happy to help you find your Canal home and share their experience & knowledge of the area with you.

The Munn Brothers specialize in properties in the Lake Leland, Quilcene and Dabob Bay areas along the Hood Canal. Stop by their office for maps, tide tables and local insight. Visit munnbros.com to sign up for email notifications of available properties. Contact Jim or Bruce today to find your perfect place.

Experience counts.

MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL

ROYAL COURT Coronation was held on February 29, 2020 at Shelton High School.

The 2020 Queen of the Forest is Grace Renecker. Grace received a $2000 Scholarship donated by Phyllis & Duane Guenther Memorial Scholarship Fund, VFW Post 1694 and Lois Gibler Kussman.

Grace graduated in June from Shelton High School and was recently a full-time

294843 Highway 101 Quilcene WA

360-301-4700 Jim Cell 360-301-4026 Bruce Cell munnbros.com

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Since middle school, Grace has been involved in her community, volunteering at various events and even participating in the Rural Development Initiative (2019) as a student representative. Grace is a threeyear member of the high school cheer team and had the joy of being co-captain for the past two seasons. During high school she worked to establish the Interact Club and held the role as president all three years. Mason County 4 H has been a long standing activity for Grace and she is currently a member of two clubs.

GRACE, PAUL & BABE COVER

running start student at South Puget Sound Community College. This fall she will be attending Washington State University to major in Sociology and minor in crisis communication. Grace's goal is to return to her home town of Shelton upon graduation and work as a school guidance counselor.

Grace is featured on the cover with the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox mural that was erected to mark the 2020 Festival.

This year's Paul Bunyan is Kain Tinajero Hernandez. Kain received a $2000 Scholarship donated by Skookum Rotary & MC Forest Festival Association. After graduating he plans to attend Saint Martin's University to pursue a career in teaching.

In high school, Kain was the webmaster for Key Club and a member of FCCLA. He worked at Evergreen in the after-school program where he had the opportunity to interact with different age groups. Students in the 3rd and 4th grades impressed him with their creativity. Kain especially enjoys spending time with his family.

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ADVENTURE The 2020 Timber the Axe Man is Michael Gilman. Michael received a $1500 Scholarship donated by MC Forest Festival Association. Michael is a junior at Shelton High School. After he graduates he plans on attending Central Washington University to enter their commercial pilot program.

Michael is team captain of the Shelton High School wrestling team as well as a member of a Key Club and Honors Society. Michael is also a member of the climber crew; who are a group that helps freshmen acclimate to the high school's environment by showing them around and checking on them throughout the year. Michael feels that being a part of these activities has helped him become a leader and improve his public speaking. ​ The 2020 Princess of Cedar is Kiara Reyna.

She received a $1500 Scholarship donated by Kristmas Town Kiwanis & Shelton Kiwanis.

Kiara is a senior at Shelton High School.

After graduation she plans to attend Pima Medical Institution to become a veterinary technician.

During her senior year Kiara was involved in ASB. She was the class representative of 2020, having served that term for two years. She's been part of the Marching Band for five years.

She's served as the president of the Family Career Community Leaders of America also known as FCCLA and a member of National Honors Society. Kaira has also participated on the Shelton High School track team for 2 years. Kiara is a Girl Scouts leader and has been in the scouts for eight years. She also serves as an assistant children's teacher at her church.​

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Ella Jennings is the Princess of Hemlock.

Ella will receive a $1500 Scholarship donated

by Denis and Adele Leverich & MC Forest Festival Association. Ella is a graduating senior at Shelton High School. This fall she is attending Washington State University to study medicine, with the goal to be a dermatologist.

Ella is involved in the National Honors Society Program by being a "Big Buddy," in which students visit elementaries as mentors.

Loving the Big Buddies program has made her routinely volunteer at Mountain View Elementary in their classrooms. Ella is a four year varsity volleyball player at Shelton High School. Ella was raised on Mason Lake where she learned to love the outdoors. She enjoys boating, surfing, and hiking.

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FUEL

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skokomishtourism.com FJORD

PLANNING FOR A POSTPONED CELEBRATION

2020 BUTTON DESIGN WINNER Congratulations to Mason County Forest Festival button designer.

Ollie Abby, a student at Choice High School. Ollie's design shows this year's festival theme - "Gateway to Adventure." The button is sold throughout the community and is available for viewing any time on giant Paul Bunyan near Outlook Park (see cover image).

Congratulations, Ollie on a great design!

Due to continued Stay Home While all the volunteers and orders and the timeline of the participants are heartbroken, phased re-opening of WA State, they hope to plan a modified the 76th annual Mason County event later this year while the Forest Festival was canceled.

Royalty Court is home from .

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL

their post-high school endeavors and able to participate. Follow the developments of events at masoncountyforestfestival.org.

GRAND MARSHAL: DARREL ANDREWS

Darrel is a lifelong Mason County resident and has served as a business owner in Shelton for over 30 years. He is married with four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Darrel’s involvement in Forest Festival began as a child. From participating in the pageant at Loop Field to serving as a past Forest Festival President, Darrel has been very involved in the event since the 1950s. Darrel and his wife Linda are the creators of a wonderful slideshow containing pictures of all the floats from the very beginning of Forest Festival through today. The slide show is played at Coronation each year. Congratulations, Darrel, for being selected Parade Grand Marshal!

Are you Ready to Live Your Best Life... Consider Living on the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington If you enjoy the great outdoors and all that it has to offer, consider living full or part time where the Olympic mountains meet the Salish Sea. As a real estate professional, I have called the peninsula my home since 2003. Breathtaking scenery, fresh air, outdoor activities, small towns and seaports are food for the soul.

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Kathleen Wyatt Real Estate Broker

"THAR' SHE BLOWS." A shoreline guide to Orcas.

Stella Wenstob |

STORY

Walking along the shores of Hood Canal and the waters of Hammersley Inlet you can spot many interesting marine creatures from the lowly (yet delicious) Olympic oyster to the lumbering California sealion. Although not as dependable as catching a glimpse of a harbor seal, or a great blue heron, the sight of an orca (Orcinus orca) is perhaps the most rewarding.

With newborn calves weighing as much as 400 lbs, orcas are the largest species within the oceanic dolphin family. Full grown female orcas may reach lengths of 18-21 feet and weigh as much as 9,000 lbs and males can get to be 21-24 feet and weigh as much as 12,000 lbs. Because of their size these giants need to eat 150-250 pounds of food a day to survive.

Usually traveling in multi-generational pods of two or more family groups, lead by older matriarchs (grandmas) these whales are strongly devoted to family.

The matriarchs have been observed to aid in the raising of their grandchildren (in a way similar to human grandmothers) and, like human females, they live many years past their reproductive age.

The eldest sons and daughters of matriarchs tend to stay with the family unit (or matriline). Researchers using specially adapted microphones hung underwater, have documented that each matriline has distinctive calls special to it and apparently understood within the pod.

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This has led some scientists to argue that orcas have dialects and languages, something that no other animals are documented as having (beyond humans).

Orcas are found across the globe, usually favoring cold waters, but they swim to tropical waters to moult their skins. In the Pacific Northwest, researchers have documented three populations of orcas which have distinct feeding and social behaviors: the Transients who prey on other marine mammals, such as dolphins and seals; FJORD

Boat Launch, on Case Inlet at Latimers Landing, and at the Allyn Waterfront Park.

Along the Hood Canal orcas are more rare, but this Spring, a pod of Transients was spotted several times from the Hood Canal Bridge all the way down to Belfair. This group stayed in the area for quite a while much to the delight of the shore residents. the Residents who find sustenance primarily in chinook salmon; and the little understood offshore orca that are found from California to Alaska and are purported to eat fish and varieties of sharks.

According to researchers there are no obvious biological reasons why these whales eat such specific food.

In fact, this preference may be starving the chinook dependent Southern Resident whale population seen in the inland waters of the Salish Sea (Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and Georgia Strait), which are in such small numbers they are listed as endangered in both Canada and the United States.

Researchers have been struggling to save these whales and understand why they do not diversify their feeding habits.

The most interesting argument researchers have made is that the Southern Residents, although physically able to eat sea mammals or other fish, have established taboos within their groups that prohibit them – in an essence they have cultural constraints, such as seen amongst humans refusing pork or beef on cultural grounds.

Additionally, Residents and Transients have been observed to actively avoid one another, which is reflected in the fact that the Transients tend to visit the waters of Southern Puget Sound between the months of March and September, when the Southern Residents make their migration out of the Southern Puget Sound area.

Genetic research has further revealed that there is no interbreeding between these two groups– almost as if they were a different species.

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The Southern Residents may be seen chasing the chinook on their upriver run during the fall from several easily accessibly points on shore: on Hammersley Inlet from Walker Park (near Shelton), on Totten Inlet from the Arcadia Point

920 W Railroad Ave Shelton, Washington 360-426-2646

WindermereShelton.com

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Before you head out to look for whales, check out the many online resources provided by the Orca Network. They offer a constantly updated list of orca and whale sightings. In May the reports on the Orca Network Sightings orcanetwork.org logged orca sightings along Hood Canal from vantage points at Dabob Bay, Brinnon, Seabeck, Lilliwaup, Potlatch, Union, and Tahuya.

If you plan to search from the shoreline a good pair of binoculars and a zoom lens are recommended. Look for sudden sprays of water and the tell-tale black dorsal fin. If you are searching by boat, exercise caution and remember you are a guest in their waters.

If you see a blow go slow, it is the law in the US to travel less than 7 knots and stay at least ½ mile away when traveling by boat near orcas. If the orcas come closer than 300 yards to your boat, you must turn off the engine, as the noise from the engine can confuse the whales and there are many accidents resulting from props and whale collisions. Also fish finders and depth sounders should be turned off when not in use. http://www.orcanetwork.org

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LET’S GO CHASING WATERFALLS. When Craig Romano agreed to share with us a few of his favorite waterfalls in the Pacific Coastal region of Washington, we were frankly thrilled. If you’re looking for up-to-date details on local hikes and wilderness destinations – and the fun facts – Craig is renown as the guy to call.

Craig has written more than 20 hiking guidebooks including Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd Edition which includes details for popular and little known hikes across the Peninsula. An avid hiker, runner, paddler, and cyclist, Craig is currently working on Urban Trails Vancouver USA (2020); Backpacking Washington 2nd Edition (2021); and Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd Edition (2022). He is also a featured columnist for Tracing the Fjord.

Why we are so keen about Olympic Peninsula's falls?

As storms from the Pacific Ocean move across the peninsula, they crash into the Olympics and are forced to release moisture in the impact.

Consequentially, the clouds release massive amounts of rain (up to 170" annually) on the coastal side of the range and very little on the inland region. This is commonly known as the “rain shadow effect" and is why the Sequim area has very little annual precipitation. The massive coastal rainfall gives life blood to the hanging mosses of the perpetually soaked rainforests – Hoh and Quinault. On top the Olympic Mountains this moisture lands as snow – frosting the peaks with as much as 35 feet each year.

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Each spring the snow melts and creates icy run-off. Mix in a little more rainfall and the result is a fun to explore waterfall ring enveloping the base of Olympic range. There are literally thousands of waterfalls in the area to choose from, but in the next few pages we have selected just a few to get you started. Some are small, secret, and unique making them a great choice for social distancing, others are popular but magnificent. All are within an easy drive from the fjord and worth the journey!

Want to plan your next adventure chasing waterfalls? Check out the full descriptions, images, and maps at waterfalltrail.org or pick up at a waterfall guide at a local Visitor Information Center. This project is made possible by Mason County Lodging Tax and is hosted by Mason County Tourism.

25 AREA WATERFALLS THAT MADE THE CUT. Olympia & Hood Canal 1. Tumwater Falls Loop

(1 MILE – EASY) Take Exit 103 off of I-5 south to Deschutes Way. Continue to C Street for parking at Tumwater Falls Park.

No pass required, kid/dog friendly Located minutes from Olympia, Tumwater Falls is an iconic landmark. These thundering multitiered showy falls along the Deschutes River are located within a 15-acre park created on land donated by the Olympia Brewing Company.

Saunter over foot bridges and under historic road bridges taking in a little history along with the sensational scenery.

CAPE FLATTERY

The upper and lower falls are separated by a narrow gorge.

Here the Deschutes River drops 82 feet into Capitol Lake on Eld Inlet. The name Tumwater is derived from the Chinook Jargon for waterfall. Tumtum in Chinook Jargon means beating heart.

(6.8 MILE RT – MODERATE)

From Olympia follow US 101 north for 10 miles.

Then turn left onto the Old Olympic Highway and proceed for 0.8 mile to gated road on your left. Park on road should on the right.

No pass required, kid/dog friendly

From its origin at Summit Lake in the Black Hills, Kennedy Creek flows just shy of 10 miles to Oyster Bay tumbling over a two-tiered waterfall along the way. Reaching these pretty falls involves a half day hike on a closed to vehicles logging road through patches of cuts and mature standing timber. In the same area is Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail which opens in the fall for salmon viewing and field trips.

At the base of the upper falls admire a replica of the famous bridge that once appeared on the labels of Olympia beer spanning the river above the lower falls. Walk trails along the gorge between the falls and admire deep pools, eddies and jumbled boulders. Take time to read the informative panels on Tumwater—Washington’s oldest permanent non-Native settlement on Puget Sound.

LAKE CRESCENT LAKE OZETTE

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PORT ANGELES

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The best time to visit:

Pacific coastal waterfalls are gorgeous year round but tend to be most spectacular in early spring or during the first rains of fall. Summer is great for an icy dip but the flow may not be

as dramatic.

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Olympic National Park

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2. Kennedy Creek Falls

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3. Vincent Creek Falls (ROAD ACCESS – EASY)

From Shelton, travel north on US 101 for 7 miles, turning left (west) at milepost 340 onto the Skokomish Valley Road. Follow for 5.6 miles, bearing right at a V intersection onto Forest Road 23. Continue for 2.3 miles and bear right onto FR 2340. Then drive 2.4 miles to parking at the High Steel Bridge.

No pass, use caution because of low guardrail While Vincent Creek Falls are quite stunning crashing 250 feet into the South Fork Skokomish River in a deep narrow canyon; the High Steel Bridge which allows for their viewing is even more spectacular. The 685-foot long bridge spans 375 feet above the canyon. Walk across the bridge but use caution along its north side where the guardrail is only 3 feet tall. The arched truss steel bridge was built in 1929 originally for a logging railroad. In 1950 it was converted for road use. It is the 14th highest bridge in the country. Your heart is sure to pound as you walk upon its airy span. Eventually Vincent Creek Falls comes into view. Through a series of falls, Vincent Creek drops 250 feet down a canyon wall into the roaring South Fork Skokomish River.

Walk all the way across the bridge if you plan on capturing the falls in their entirety in a photo.

4. Big Creek Cascades Loop (4.2 MILE – MODERATE)

From Hoodsport follow SR 119 for 9.3 miles to trailhead in Big Creek Campground.

ONF Pass required, kid/dog-friendly Amble on a circuitous route in the Big Creek drainage within the shadows of Mount Ellinor; and delight in a series of tumbling cascades.

This wonderful loop utilizes old logging roads, new trails and a series of beautifully built bridges. It was constructed by an all-volunteer crew that continues to improve and maintain this excellent family and dog-friendly loop.

Starting from the Big Creek Campground, follow the Upper Big Creek Loop Trail to Big Creek and the first of several sturdy bridges along the way.

After a short climb you’ll reach the Creek Confluence Trail which drops to the confluence of the tumbling Big and North Branch Creeks.

The main loop continues to cross North Branch Creek on a good bridge. Just beyond it crosses Big Creek on a new bridge above a gorgeous cascade. The loop then descends skirting big boulders and passing good views of roaring Big Creek. It crosses a couple more cascading creeks before traversing attractive forest and returning to the campground.

Talk about a bridge over troubled waters. From the Mildred Lakes Trailhead walk across the high concrete bridge at the road’s end. You no doubt heard the roar of the falls when you drove across it. Now peer over the bridge and witness the cataracts responsible for the racket. Directly below, the Hamma Hamma River careens through a tight rocky chasm. These impressive falls are two-tiered crashing more than 80 vertical feet.

The road spans directly above the upper and smaller of the falls. The overhead view is pretty decent, but the lower and larger falls are more difficult to fully see. A very rudimentary path leads along cliff edges for better viewing, but it’s slick, exposed and treacherous.

5. Staircase Rapids Loop (2 MILE – EASY)

From Hoodsport follow SR 119 and then FR 24 for 14.7 miles. Then turn right into Olympic National Park and continue 1.2 miles to Staircase Ranger Station for trailhead.

ONP, pass required, kid-friendly, no pets This loop involves a section of an historic route across the Olympic Mountains to a suspension bridge spanning the North Fork Skokomish River near a series of thundering rapids. Cross the North Fork Skokomish on a solid bridge and follow a trail that was once part of the original O’Neil Mule Trail. In 1890 Lieutenant Joseph O’Neil accompanied by a group of scientists led an Army expedition across the Olympic Peninsula. Among his party’s many findings was a realization that this wild area deserved to be protected as a national park.

March up alongside the Skokomish River, passing big boulders and a series of roaring rapids.

The rapids’ name come from a cedar staircase O’Neil built over a rocky bluff to get past them. Follow the bellowing river from one mesmerizing spot to another before reaching a sturdy suspension bridge spanning the wild waterway.

Cross the river and complete this delightful loop by now heading downriver following the North Fork Skokomish River Trail back to the Ranger Station.

6. Hamma Hamma Falls (ROAD ACCESS – EASY)

From Milepost 318 on US 101 travel west onto FR 25 for 13.3 miles to road’s end at Mildred Lakes Trail.

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Hamma Hamma Falls | George Stenberg photo.

It’s best to experience the falls from the safety of the bridge. During periods of high water flow you’ll get the added bonus of feeling the falls too thanks to a rising mist. On the drive back look for a couple of pull-offs providing views of secondary falls along the Hamma Hamma.

7. Murhut Falls (1.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Milepost 310 on US 101 drive west on the Duckabush Road which becomes FR 2510 for 6.3 miles. Then bear right onto FR 2530 and continue for 1.3 miles to the trailhead.

ONF, no pass required, kid/dog-friendly Hidden in a lush narrow ravine and once accessed by a treacherous path, Murhut Falls were long unknown to many in the outside world. But now a well-built trail allows hikers of all ages and abilities to admire this beautiful 130-foot two-tiered waterfall. The trail starts by following an old well-graded logging road. It was past logging in this area that led to the discovery of these falls. The old road ends after a short climb of about 250 feet to a low ridge. The trail then continues on a good single track slightly descending into a damp, dark, cedar-lined ravine.

As you work your way toward the falls, its roar will signal you’re getting closer. Reach the trail’s end and behold the impressive falls crashing before you.

The upper falls drops more than 100 feet while the lower one crashes about 30 feet. Blossoming Pacific rhododendrons lining the trail in May and June make the hike even more delightful.

8. Rocky Brook Falls (QUARTER MILE – EASY)

From Brinnon at Milepost 306 on US 101, drive west on the Dosewallips Road for 3 miles to parking in turnout on your left just after bridge over Rocky Brook Private, no pass, kid/dog-friendly - check for closures One of the tallest waterfalls on the Peninsula, Rocky Brook Falls is also among the prettiest. Follow the trail past a small hydroelectric generating building and come to the base of the stunning towering falls fanning over ledges into a large splash pool surrounded by boulders. This classic horsetail waterfall crashes more than 200 feet from a small hanging valley above.

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While a penstock diverts water from the brook for electricity production, the flow over the falls is almost always pretty strong. Like all waterfalls, these too are especially impressive during periods of heavy rainfall. On warm summer days the falls become a popular destination for folks seeking some heat relief.

And while many waterways east of the Mississippi River are called brooks, creek is the preferred name in the west. There are only a few waterways on the Peninsula called brooks, and they were more than likely named by someone who hailed from back east.

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9. Dosewallips Falls

(9.0 MILE ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)

From Brinnon at Milepost 306 on US 101, drive west on the Dosewallips Road for 9.7 miles (last 1.2 miles be rough) coming to trailhead.

ONP, no pass, kid-friendly, dog-prohibited This spectacular waterfall used to be easily reached by vehicle. But the upper Dosewallips Road has been closed to vehicles since 2002 after winter storms created a huge washout that has yet to be repaired. Now to reach this waterfall you must hike or mountain bike the closed road. Walk past the road barrier and immediately come to the washout and a bypass trail. Steeply climb on the riverbank above the slide. Then descend back to the road and walk along the churning river. The road then pulls away from the river, passes a campground and climbs. The river now far below in a canyon is out of sight, but not out of sound. Pass beneath ledges and cross cascading Bull Elk Creek on a bridge. At 3.9 miles in a recent burn zone enter Olympic National Park. Cross tumbling Constance Creek on a bridge and continue climbing passing a big overhanging boulder. Then descend and skirt beneath a big ledge coming to the base of dramatic 100-foot plus Dosewallips Falls. Admire the raging cascade’s hydrological force—it’s mesmerizing.

10. Fallsview Falls

(0.2 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Quilcene drive US 101 south for 3.6 miles to Falls View Campground. Then proceed the trailhead located within the day-use/ picnic area.

ONF, pass required, kid/ dog friendly, ADA

As far as cascades go, Fallsview Falls lacks the “Wow factor.”

However the canyon these falls tumble into is pretty impressive.

And if you plan your visit for late spring, blossoming rhododendrons line the trail and frame the view with brilliant pinks and purples. The trail to the falls is short, easy and ADA accessible. Follow the 0.2 mile loop to a fenced promontory above a tight canyon embracing the Big Quilcene River. Gaze straight down to the roiling river. Then cast your glance directly across the canyon to an unnamed creek cascading 100 feet into it. By late summer it just trickles—but during the rainy season the falls put on a little show.

If you want to stretch your legs some more afterward, you can follow a trail into the little canyon and hike along the frothing river.

Lake Crescent & Elwha River 11. Striped Peak Falls (2.2 MILE RT– MODERATE)

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west to State Route 112. Continue 7.2 miles and turn right at Milepost 54 onto Camp Hayden Road. Then drive 3.4 miles to trailhead in Salt Creek County Park.

No pass, dog-friendly The falls are small but their location is stunning in a remote cliff-enclosed cove on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Getting to these falls is best for sure-footed explorers as it involves descending a steep trail to the coastal hideaway—then a tough climb back. The trail begins by winding through forested flats on a bluff above a rocky shoreline.

The way then climbs and enters a primeval grove of towering hemlocks, firs, and cedars.

12. Madison Creek Falls (0.2 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west to milepost 240, just before the Elwha River Bridge.

Then turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Rd (signed “Elwha Valley”) and continue 2.1 miles.

ONP, no pass, kid-friendly, ADA, dog-friendly A paved trail leads to these pretty falls in the famed Elwha Valley. Hikers of all ages and abilities can make the walk to the mossy maple and cedar grotto that houses Madison Creek Falls. This path is also one of the few within the park that is open to dogs (on leash).During the summer if there is a good flow, the splash pool at the base of these nearly 50-foot tall falls should help provide for some cool refreshing breezes.

13. Wolf Creek Falls

(0.8 MILE ROUND-TRIP –MODERATE)

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west to milepost 240, just before the Elwha River Bridge.

Then turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Road (signed “Elwha Valley”) and continue 4.0 miles turning left (just beyond Elwha Ranger Station) onto dirt Whiskey Bend Road. Then continue 4.2 miles to trailhead.

Note: Road is currently closed beyond Madison Creek Falls due to washouts. Hiking and biking road to trailhead is permissible.

ONP, pass required, dogs prohibited Follow the Smoky Hill Trail on a steep and short descent. After a steep descent to the river turn right and then walk a short way along the gravel bank of Wolf Creek and come to a gorgeous and

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little known waterfall in a dark mossy hollow.

Admire the fanning 25' falls. If you step back a little you may catch a glimpse of another tier falling above it. That cataract drops nearly 100 feet and while it is difficult to fully see, the added thundering and swirling mist adds to the enchanting beauty of this waterfall.

14. Goblins Gate

(3.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west to milepost 240, just before the Elwha River Bridge.

Then turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Rd (signed “Elwha Valley”) and continue 4.0 miles turning left onto dirt Whiskey Bend Rd. Then continue 4.5 miles to trailhead.

Note: Road is currently closed beyond Madison Creek Falls Trailhead due to washouts.

Hiking and biking to trailhead is permissible.

ONP, pass required, kid friendly, no dogs Hike to a rocky gorge where the Elwha River thrashes over a series of rapids. The approach to the Goblins Gate is via the historic Press Expedition Route. In 1889-90 James H. Christie funded by the Seattle Press newspaper, led a group of five men, a couple of dogs, and a pack of mules on an exploratory journey across the Olympic Mountains. It was the first successful European-American crossing of the Olympic Mountains.

Christie and company named many landmarks along the way including the Goblins Gate for its ghoulish looking rocks guarding this chasm.

15. Boulder Creek Falls

(8.4 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)

From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west to milepost 240, just before the Elwha River Bridge.

Then turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Road (signed “Elwha Valley”) and continue 10 miles.

ONP, pass required, dogs prohibited Boulder Creek Falls consists of a series of thrashing cascades in a wilderness valley cloaked with luxuriant old-growth forest. The hike to these falls is an all-day event but their location far from the popular Olympic Hot Springs and Boulder Lake usually means you’ll have a little solitude while savoring them. The lower falls plunge 25 feet into an inviting pool giving you a much colder and less crowded soaking spot than the hot springs.

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16. Marymere Falls

17. Sol Duc Falls

From Port Angeles follow US 101 west to Barnes Point at milepost 228 and turn right at entrance for Lake Crescent Lodge. Proceed 500 feet and turn right for parking area near the Storm King Ranger Station.

ONP, no pass, kid-friendly, dogs prohibited Located just off of a busy highway and reached by a wide short nature trail help make Marymere Falls one of the most popular waterfalls on the Olympic Peninsula. But if it was harder to reach, this 90-foot horsetail cascade set in deep mossy timber would still be a well-visited destination.

From Port Angeles follow US 101 west turning left onto the Sol Duc Hot Springs Road (just beyond Lake Crescent). Then drive 14 miles to trailhead at the road’s end.

ONP, pass required, kid-friendly, no dogs

(1.8 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

(1.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

An iconic landmark, Sol Duc Falls is Olympic National Park’s most famous and photographed waterfall.

The falls tumble about 40 feet into a tight rocky slot, but what really makes them stand out among the many cascades of Northwest is their unique shape.

The Sol Duc River abruptly flows at a right angle careening into (depending on water flow) three or four chutes into the gorge.

Follow a well-groomed nature trail through a tunnel beneath US 101. Soon afterward turn left at a junction and follow Barnes Creek upstream under a cool canopy of old-growth giants.

Pass the Mount Storm King Trail and reach the trail for falls. Take it crossing Barnes Creek on a bridge and then climbing to a cool narrow ravine where Marymere Falls plummets 90 feet down a rock face. Follow a short loop to several vantages for viewing the cataract.

Pacific Coast & Quinault 18.Strawberry Bay Falls (3.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY

From Forks follow US 101 north for 1.5 miles.

Follow SR 110 west for 7.7 miles to Quillayute Prairie, where SR 110 splits. Bear left (La Push Road) and drive 3.8 miles to the trailhead ONP, no pass, kid-friendly, dogs prohibited

Hike to Third Beach on the wild Olympic Coast and witness a waterfall tumbling more than 100' from a towering headland straight into the rocky surf. Strawberry Bay Falls (also known as Third Beach Falls) is one of the larger and more accessible of the cascades that plunge into the ocean along this rugged stretch of coast. The trail starts off on an old road gently climbing through a forest of Sitka spruce, hemlock, and alder. The trail then descends to Third Beach. The one mile long beach sits on Strawberry Bay hemmed in by two headlands, Teahwhit Head and Taylor Point. Now hike south for a half mile on the beach coming to the waterfall plunging into the waves below.

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19. Mineral Creek Falls

(5.0 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Forks, travel south on US 101 for 13 miles, and turn left onto Upper Hoh Road. Then drive 18 miles to its end at Hoh Visitor Center.

ONP, pass required, kid-friendly, no dogs

A pleasant hike through primeval forest and along the glacier-fed Hoh River to reach these falls. Hike through colonnades of spruces and through tunnels of mossy maples. And while the surroundings are lush, the understory is open due to browsing elk. A hike here in winter is a good time to see them. At 1.5 miles the trail finally comes along the river. One mile farther just past a campsite, the trail crosses Mineral Creek on a bridge just below the 66' waterfall.

20. Cascade Falls Loop ( .7 MILES LOOP – EASY)

From Hoquiam, drive north on US 101 for 38 miles turning right (at milepost 126) onto South Shore Rd. Proceed for 2.3 miles to trailhead just past the Quinault Ranger Station.

ONP, no pass, kid /dog friendly Not the tallest, nor most popular of the handful of waterfalls within the Quinault Rainforest, Cascade Falls is perhaps the prettiest. The trail leading to them is a delight to walk passing through groves of magnificent ancient mossy conifers and maples and along chattering waterways.

21. Merriman Falls

(ROADSIDE—MINIMAL WALKING)

From Hoquiam, drive north on US 101 for 38 miles turning right (at milepost 126) onto South Shore Rd. Proceed for 6.7 miles to pullout.

ONF, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly It’s nearly impossible to miss these falls if you’re driving by on the South Shore Rd as they practically crash down into the road itself. One of the most easily accessible falls in the Olympics, all you need to do is pullover, grab your phone or camera and walk just a few step to soak (literally during the rainy season) up their grandeur.

22. Enchanted Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls

(26 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE BACKPACKING TRIP)

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Follow the East Fork of the Quinault River through a primeval cathedral forest to a big open valley flanked by sheer walls that sheen with scores of waterfalls. An easy day trip up this valley is the 5 mile roundtrip to the Pony Bridge spanning the river where it thunders through a tight chasm. For backpackers going the full distance, the mileage isn’t too difficult thanks to little elevation gained along the way. Upon reaching the emerald Enchanted Valley, admire an old historic 1930-built chalet (used now by backcountry rangers) sitting in a meadow on the banks of the channeled river. Behold its stunning backdrop of sheer cliffs 3,000 feet high streaked with waterfalls and hanging snow and ice. The Enchanted Valley is also known as the “Valley of 1,000 waterfalls.” Hyperbolic? Perhaps just a tad—but start counting them until you’re convinced the name is fitting.

Wynoochee River Valley 23. Spoon Creek Falls

(6 MILE ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)

(541) 519-4200 24. Maidenhair Falls (1 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Montesano, travel north on Wynoochee Valley Rd for 34 miles. Continue north on FR 2312 for 5.8 miles to where it splits. Left, cross the Wynoochee River, left onto a spur (FR 2385).

ONF, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly Overlooked by many waterfalls admirers due to its close proximity to Wynoochee Falls, Maidenhair Falls is a pleasant little surprise in a quiet corner of the Olympics. From the parking area, locate the Wynoochee Lakeshore Trail and follow it north.

25. Porter Falls

(1.6 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)

From Elma drive 6.0 miles east on US 12 to hamlet of Porter. Turn left at Porter Saloon onto Porter Creek Rd and follow for 2.9 miles from where it becomes the graveled B-0150 Road. Continue north for .5 mile to a junction and turn left on the B-Line. Then drive 0.9 mile to trailhead.

Discover Pass, kid/dog friendly Little Porter Falls are located at the confluence of the South and West Forks of Porter Creek.

Here one branch cuts through a cleft while the other plunges over ledge into a big punchbowl.

Follow a quiet trail through stately moss-covered trees to a small hidden rocky chasm to view them. The West Fork plunges into a basaltic punchbowl basin while the South Fork careens through a tight basaltic chasm.

From Montesano, travel north on the Wynoochee From Hoquiam, travel north on US 101 for 38 Valley Rd for 34 miles. Then turn right onto FR 23 miles turning right (at milepost 126) onto the and continue for 2.5 mile to trailhead.

South Shore Lake Quinault Rd. Then drive for 13 ONF, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly miles to a junction at the Quinault River Bridge.

Spoon Creek Falls plunge into an impressive box Continue right on Graves Creek Rd for 6.2 miles.

Check out full descriptions, images, canyon. It’s a short hike to reach them. Descend into ONP Wilderness Permits required, maps, and directions for each of the 25 the canyon and get an up-close-and-personal view of kid-friendly, dogs prohibited waterfalls at www.waterfalltrail.org. the pretty 93-foot falls. The trail first travels through Not a destination for the casual waterfall old-growth forest coming to an obscure viewpoint of admirer, the Enchanted Valley is for hardcore

FJORD the falls dropping into the21 gorge below.

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(Facing page) Anna Miller of Skokomish Valley Farm gathers flowers for delivery; (above left) fresh produce available Saturdays all summer on Railroad Avenue in Shelton at the Skokomish Valley Farm tables; (above right) James Richert harvests strawberries throughout Mason and Thurston counties.

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BEARING BERRIES ON THE FJORD A trailside guide to enjoying local wild fruits in season Stella Wenstob |

STORY

The Pacific Northwest with its lush temperate climate is home to some mouth watering berry bushes. The Native Americans have a tradition of picking and preserving and promoting the growth of these “nature’s candy” and with long summer days ahead of us, why not try your hand at picking wild berries? Prepare yourself for a productive and palatable adventure.

Hummingbirds happily proclaim the first opening of the Salmonberry (Rubus spectablilis) early bright pink blossoms in late February. Salmonberries typically ripen in late April to mid-June – making it the first berry of the season. The fresh shoots cleaned of its prickly outer layer are harvested by many Native American groups (as well as by foodie foragers) and are reported to taste similar to asparagus when steamed.

Salmonberries (Rubus spectablilis)

The berries are loved by bears, birds, and children. They vary in color from orange to a deep red reminiscent of salmon eggs, which is where some believe the name came from. The flavors can also vary depending on the bush but are generally sweet with a slightly acidic aftertaste that can make the uninitiated wince. The berries are a drupelet shape, similar to raspberries and blackberries, which is a composite berry made of lots of seeds.

They make great jams, jellies, and sauces for the more savory taste buds looking to dress up pork roasts and duck.

Somewhere near the mouth of the Duckabush River, there is rumored to be a hybrid variety to this rose cousin with showy double blossoms. Look for this tall, bushy berry in shady areas near streams. Berries are often higher on the branches so if you are vertically challenged be sure to bring a stick with a crooked end, something to stand on, or an obligingly tall friend.

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Gloves and long sleeves are recommended because salmonberry thorns don’t give up their berry bounty without a fight.

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

The next ripe berry on the west coast is the sweetly tangy Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) which comes into fruit late June to early July. Thankfully thorn-less, this tall bush also has edible shoots in the early spring, adorned with delicate white flowers. The shoots are best peeled and dipped in sugar.

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24210 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport, WA • 206-300-0877 • hardwaredistillery.com Theses berries are also drupelet in shape, but the fleshy part is much thinner and the berry is hollow inside allowing the whole picked product to easily fit over the fingertip, just as a thimble would. The large soft maple-shaped leaves are covered in a fine hair and are known to be one of the best natural substitutes for toilet paper if you are ever without in the woods. Besides harvesting the stems, Native Americans would press and dry the berries into cakes for later use. These delicate berries are a little tricky to harvest since they have a tendency to fall off the branch when bumped, so be ready with your basket, bowl, or baseball cap to catch them. These berries stain your fingers, so perhaps a baseball cap isn’t advisable as a picking vessel.

Red Huckleberries (Vaccinium parvifolium)

Salal (Gaultheria Shallon)

the red berry part). The Native American Salishan word for Red Huckleberry, t’əәxw (Twana dialect known amongst the Skokomish) or t’íxw(i) (Lushootseed dialect known amongst the Squaxin) both describe how it was traditionally picked with combs ‘to brush, sweep, [or] shake out’ the berries. Slightly sour to taste, these berries do well in jams and pies.

actively gathered by permitted commercial harvesters in the Olympic National Forest.

The dark-purple/black berries ripen in August, once the sticky white bell-shaped flowers have been pollinated. The berries form on the branch in a way similar to grapes.

Children find the berries fun to play with as their round shape can be squeezed to form a star. Packed with antioxidants, flavonoids, and up to five times more tannins than blueberries, these sweet, slightly mealy berries are a newly re-discovered superfood.

A little goes a long way with these black beauties, as these berries are a natural hunger suppressant.

Although Red Huckleberries (Vaccinium Facing warm sunny locations, along shoreparvifolium) start forming on the bush in lines, roadsides and trails is the prolific early June, they don’t reach ambrosial ripeSalal (Gaultheria Shallon). Popular ness until late July, when the berry’s light amongst florists as a filler since the 1940s, blush changes to a tasty red. The bush and this cut green is a huge industry and is berry of the huckleberry are very similar to the domesticated blueberry (except for

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Salal’s health benefits have long been reported by Native Americans up and down the coast who would traditionally press and dry these berries into cakes or fruit leathers. Jams and jellies are the popular way to process salal berries now and it really does taste like a good medicine when you spread it on your toast. Salal berries aren’t guarded by nasty thorns, but they do release a dark pigment, that can be used as a dye, but also can irreparably stain clothes, so dress accordingly before harvesting. Another difficulty with salal is the way in which the berries firmly attach to their branch. Pick the whole branch and clean them when you get to a table or flat area.

Jelly and jam makers often combine the sweet flavor of the Salal with the tangy, sour of the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) another August (to September) fruit. Oregon Grape, the state flower of Oregon (surprise there!), grows on a three-

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Himalayan Blackberries (Rubus armeniacus)

five-foot tall bush that has large sharply, serrated green to red leaves reminiscent of holly. The berry matures from a bright yellow flower, changing in color from green, yellow, red, purple before ripening to a pale chalky blue. The berries themselves, though perfectly edible are bitterly sour and don’t release their deliciousness until cooked into a syrup or jelly. Oregon Grape syrup makes a lovely addition to ice cream and vodka or gin cocktails.

summer, including the Himalayan Blackberries (Rubus armeniacus), wild Blackberries (Rubus ursinus), Blackcap Raspberry (Rubus leucodermis), and Blue Huckleberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium). Check out Pojar and Mackinnon’s definitive classic Plants of the Pacific Northwest (2004) to find out more.

There are many more native and newly wild berries offer picking pleasure over the

The internet has many great sources, such as the Burke Herbarium Image Collection (biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium) and Dana Kelley Bressette’s Pacific Northwest plant encyclopedia (nativeplantspnw. com) to continue your berry hunt. Happy Harvesting!

Lake Limerick Golf Club & Cafe Welcome Back Golfers!

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Serving our Members and the Public Must call for Tee Times Pro Shop 360-426-6290 Credit Card Only www.LakeLimerickGolf.com elen@lakelimerick.com 811 E Saint Andrews Drive Shelton WA 98584 Join us on FB

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NEW OUTDOOR OUTFITTERS STORE OPENS IN BRINNON After twelve years of providing kayak rentals and educational kayaking tours, Hood Canal Adventures has opened an outdoor outfitters store and outdoor adventure information center in Brinnon.

It was a rocky start for the company’s expansion with a late opening, slow downs in obtaining inventory, and closed campgrounds due to COVID but they are finally open for business and ready to provide visitor information on local waterfalls, hiking trails and other activities.

They carry an array of gear and locally made gifts including: hammocks & kites, hiking and plant/animal guides, oyster knives & gloves, tarps, ropes, backpacks, dry sacks, mushroom gathering gear, camping supplies, hats, water shoes, sandals, headlamps, batteries, bug spray, and more!

For those already in the area, the store serves as a convenient place to get information on the company’s kayak rentals and tours. Stop in to book your adventure in person. For those visiting the area, you may contact (website: hoodcanaladventures.com) the store to book in advance before you arrive in town.

The store, named Hood Canal Adventures’ BASECAMP is located on the south end of the Brinnon Community Center at 306146 Hwy 101 N and is open 9:30 to 5:00 Thursday through Monday throughout the summer. Hours are subject to change in the fall.

July 17-19 - Allyn Days UPDATE

MOONFEST 2020 MESSAGE

To help keep our guests & musicians safe, this year's classic MOONFEST event has been postponed until August 13-14, 2021. .

With this years "non event" we are offering a commemorative “Classic Quarantine” t-shirt.

For information on how to purchase or to view bands & vendor updates, visit our website. Explore and discover new wonders in your own backyard of the beautiful Olympic Peninsula!

classicmoonfest.com

July 3 - Thunder on the Canal UPDATE

The Allyn Community Association Board of Directors, as of June 20, do not Alderbrook Resort & Spa is canceling Thunder on the Canal July 3rd have the confidence that they will be able to host an event in accordance due to state-mandated restrictions. As a gesture of community goodwill with the state guidelines. They regret they are canceling the 2020 Allyn they have decided to still celebrate with fireworks, as they are visible from Days/Salmon Bake & Geoduck Festival and look forward returning the many places around town. Only registered hotel guests will be permitted event in July 2021. They are hopeful to be able to host their Oktoberfest, on site but the community is invited for a live streaming of the fireworks on Sept 26, 2020. ASA thanks the community for their support and will on Alderbrook Resort's Facebook page on July 3 at 10 PM. miss connecting with community members and guests. They wish family, friends, and neighbors stay safe.

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PLAN YOUR ESCAPE

Travel through time aboard steamships and dugout

canoes meeting the shapers of the Olympic Peninsula.

STELLA WENSTOB | STORY

In these strange times, when walking the street requires a face mask, gloves and copious amounts of hand sanitizer, curling up with a good book is a nice escape.

Why not brush up on your local history while you are at it?

Travel through time and space aboard steamships and dugout canoes meeting the shapers of the Olympic Peninsula.

Although there are many great historical volumes to recommend, the titles below are a good primer and are accessible at home through your e-reader and to order in good old-fashioned print.

Olympic Mountains is positively antiquated, but charming. When describing how the old timers explained how the Olympic Mountains came to be William’s turns to the myths of Paul Bunyan and his trusty ox Babe:

Originally published in 1955, Murray William’s The Last Wilderness: A History of the Olympic Peninsula is a classic.

Although prone to a dated rhetoric and perspective, especially concerning the Native American influence in this history and the environmental impact of extractive industries on the Olympic Peninsula, William weaves an engaging history. His descriptions of the geological forces that created the fjord of Hood Canal and the

The professional storytellers who took over Paul Bunyan from the loggers naturally credit Paul with the creation of the mountains that grow America’s greatest forest. They say that when Paul had finished logging and clearing North Dakota so the Swedes could go there (“Because,” Paul explained, “everyone knows a Swede belongs in North Dakota”), his pet and helper, Babe, the Blue Ox, came down with the croup. Johnny Inkslinger, the first bureaucrat in American mythology, suggested that a million gallons of milk from the Western Whale might be good for what ailed the colossal critter. So Paul carried Babe to the Northwest and laid him gently on the plain that stretched from the Rockies to the sea. The rolling hills of the

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Your Desi gn

Her e Your D esign

Here

Your Design

Your Design

Here

Here

Palouse country are the imprint made by Babe’s ribs; in his thirst he licked the Grand Coulee dry. Paul dug Coos Bay, down Oregon way, as a whale trap, but before a whale swam into the pen Babe grew so weak that the great logger despaired of saving him. So Paul dug a grave for Babe, a hundred miles long. As he worked he threw the dirt to his right, the rock to his left, the dirt making the smooth line of the Cascades and the rocks the rugged heap of the Olympics. Before Paul had scooped out the last of the rocks he heard a whale splashing in his trap. He stepped down Coos Bay way, milked the whale, and poured the green milk into the Blue Ox, who recovered. So Paul scooped out the Strait of Juan de Fuca and let the Pacific rush into the unneeded grave, thus forming Puget Sound and leaving the rock pile of the Olympics bordered west and north and east by deep salt water.

Morgan, Murray, The Last Wilderness University of Washington Press.

(360) 432-2992 822 E HIAWATHA BLVD. SHELTON, WA 98584

Visit our gallery online at: ommco.net

The unique old world feel of the history is a snapshot of a simpler time in itself.

Additionally, William offers enchanting descriptions of beachcombing, bush pickers and plywood factories, meanwhile supplying a biting analysis of severe clear cuts and over-reaching pioneers. This book was recently re-released (2019) with an enlightening introduction by conservationist Tim McNulty, providing a much-needed contextualization of William Murray’s life and impact on the writing of local history.

It is available through Amazon as a kindle edition or as a paperback.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula: Who We Are (2008) is a nice counterpoint to Murray’s romanticized stereotype of the ‘native.’ In a rhetoric so often dominated by non-indigenous historians and anthropologists, this volume comes directly from the people it describes.

Although edited by Jacilee Wray, this book was prepared by the cultural specialists and elders of the member tribes of the Olympic Peninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee, making it truly sanctioned and produced by the tribes. This publication provides a solid primer to the nine Native American tribes who inhabit the Olympic Peninsula. Each chapter describes the geography, culture, traditional ways and modern adaptions of the tribes demonstrating how "a tribe consists of not just individuals in traditional roles; a storyteller, basket weaver, or fisherman may also be a mill worker, lawyer, teacher, or government representative."

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Additionally, each chapter is accompanied by a further resources section, which is good starting point to learn more. This book is available through Amazon as a kindle edition or as a paperback.

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ARTIST PROFILE:

JENI GRAY Local photographer, Jeni Gray, recently expanded into a unique business model – rental art for vacation rentals, real estate staging and businesses.

Jeni Gray has been interested in photography from a young age. In college she got serious about exploring portraiture, as well as commercial and fine art photography.

After graduation Gray managed a Seattle studio before moving to a rural area where she opened a boutique art gallery that showed local art. During this time she chaired the local Arts Commission and helped get their first Art Walk started, along with several public art installations.

Gray opened her second gallery on Hood Canal, serving the area for two years. Nowadays she is pursuing her first love, fine art black and white photography, which lends perfectly to her surroundings; the magnificent Olympic Peninsula.

Recently Gray branched into a new opportunity through leasing her art photography, "I believe art should be accessible. It's educational, therapeutic and subjective." states Gray, "my framed art collections can be used in real estate staging, vacation rentals or at events that need an aesthetic appeal."

Along with selling her prints, Gray flexible monthly leasing packages start as low as $30. Her extensive collection of Olympic Peninsula fine art black and white photographs can be viewed at jenigrayphotography.com and are the perfect medium for decorating fjord homes.

For those more interested in directly supporting local booksellers, the Mason County Historical Society’s Museum offers a great local history section. Although, their physical storefront and museum is closed due to Covid-19, they have an easy to navigate online store offering deliveries.

The Image of America series is a good choice for history buffs who enjoy a healthy complement of black and white photographs. While there are a number of editions available in this series, including Michael Fredson’s Hood Canal (2007) and Logging in Mason County (2015), and Margret Pauley Kingrey’s Shelton (2009), Jean Cammon Findlay and Robin Patterson’s Mosquito Fleet of South Puget Sound (2008) is highly recommended. With well researched stories and engaging pictures, this volume offers illustration to a unique part of history of the South Puget Sound region.

The “Mosquito Fleet” were a haphazard fleet of steamboats that connected the waterways of the South Puget Sound from the 1860s into the early 20th century. Delivering freight, people and mail, these boats were an early essential service, yet they were as unique as the people they delivered. Ranging in size from 40 to 300 feet and propelled by stern-wheelers, side-wheelers and propellers, and operated by organized transportation lines, or lone tug-boat captains; these boats met the needs of the loggers, farmers, bush-cutters, oyster pickers, and general public that made their home along the many inlets of South Puget Sound.

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This volume is available for delivery through Mason County Historical Society’s online store and through Amazon (kindle edition and physical copy).

No list of Mason County history is complete without a profile of at least one of Michael Fredson’s extensively researched histories.

The Artist Colony on Hood Canal: Pixley, Orre Nobles & Waldo Chase (2011) paints a picture of the early luxurious and decadent traditions of Union and the Hood Canal, that can still be felt in the cutesy, artistic vibe of this thriving town.

Like the waters of the Union River in the summer, Fredson’s narrative bends and twists in a slow and enigmatic manner often getting lost in grassy tributaries, but if you are willing to float and enjoy Waldo Chase’s wood cuts and Pixley’s peculiar dress-up photos it is an enjoyable read.

Revealing in the glamour and mystic of Hood Canal – Fredson’s characterizations harken to William’s romantic description of beach combing and the pioneer spirit.

This book is also available through Mason County Historical Society’s online store.

University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections

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SHELLFISH & BEACH

Guide

SOUTH PUGET SOUND & HOOD CANAL

PULL-OUT GUIDE TO SHELLFISH, WATER EXPLORING & BEACH ADVENTURES ON HOOD CANAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND

COVER PHOTO: GEORGE STENBERG

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GUIDE PRODUCED BY MASON COUNTY TOURISM

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MASON COUNTY'S B

shellfish Forage on Washington’s Wild Side.

Our Local Bivalves

Mason County’s saltwater bays and inlets OLYMPIC along Hood Canal and South Puget Sound are renownFOREST for NATIONAL some of the tastiest and freshest bivalves in the OLYMPIC Northwest. Visit for the NATIONAL PARKpristine waters, open wilderness and public beaches stocked annually for the public to enjoy!

EAGLE CR Hamma

Get to know a few species NATIVE LITTLENECK CLAM

Up to 3.5” with rounded shell displaying concentric rings and radiating ridge lines, cream, grey, brown, or mottled.

White inside shell; found at 6-10” deep in gravel, mud, mid-tide level.

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MANILA LITTLENECK CLAM (NOT NATIVE)

Up to 2.5”, oblong shell, Color can vary—typically grey,brown, or mottled and often times with what appears to be handpainted designs; some purple on the inside shell; found at 2-4” in gravel, mud, sand, typically above the half-tide level.

LILLIWAUP STATE PARK

Full off on Hwy 101, stairway to beach at north opening of Lilliwaup Bay. Walk north or south when tide is out.

Oysters and Clams. Eagles andOLYMPIC osprey. Overnight RV camping permitted; no restrooms.

NATIONAL FOREST

BUTTER CLAM

Up to 5”, shell with concentric rings (no radiating ridge lines), Yellow to grey/white colored; found at 1-1.5’ in sand, gravel, or cobble; lower intertidal or shallow subtidal zone. Butter clams retain marine biotoxins longer than other clams.

TAYLOR SHELLFISH 130 SE Lynch Rd Shelton (360) 432-3300 Taylor’s product line includes worldwide export of geoduck, clams, mussels and oysters. Headquartered in Kamilche, retail store is open daily. taylorshellfish.com

COCKLE CLAM

Up to 5” with round shell; prominent evenly-spaced radiating ridges fanning from hinge; mottled, light brown color; found at 1-2” in sand, mud in intertidal or subtidal zone.

HOODSP

Visitor Informat

HOODSPORT

Public boat dock with beach access. Starfish and crabs at low tide. Closed to shellfish gathering. Picnic tables & restrooms,nearby dining, grocery and shopping.

POTLATCH

POTLATCH BEACH PARK

Longest stretch of public beach in area, popular for clams, oysters, swimming, kayaking, and picnics.

Camping & restrooms. Requires Discovery Pass.

Traditionally held in October at Shelton Airport, the two day festival features seafood delicacies prepared by local non-profits as well as the Northwest Oyster Shucking Championship & live music.

Up to 12”, white/gray oblong shell with irregular, wavy edges; found in intertidal zone; tumbled (farmed) Pacifics have cupped shape with fragile shells.

10

OLYMPIA OYSTER

M AT LO C K

Up to 3”, rounded shell, white to purplish black and may be striped with yellow or brown; oyster’s flesh is a light olive green with a metallic flavor. Native oyster to the area and currently protected in wild habitats.

S HELT WALKER PARK

MUSSELS

Beach access, playground, restrooms, picnic shelte basketball court. Olympic Hwy to Arcadia Rd, from Rd take Left on Walker Park Rd, Park is on right.

No shellfish harvest. No passes required.

Blue Mussel (native) up to 3”, California Mussel (native) up to 6”, Mediterranean non-native) up to 5”. Oblong shell, blueblack or brown, attaches to rocks, pilings, boats, gravel, or other hard surfaces in the intertidal zone with bissel threads.

OYSTER BAY

Easy beach access on marshy estuary. Popular for bird watching and salmon observing/fishing.

Pullout on Hwy 101 near Mile Marker 356; near KENNEDY CREEK INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL.

GEODUCK

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OYSTERFEST

PACIFIC OYSTERS (NOT NATIVE)

Up to 10”, 2.5 – 10 lbs. Gaping oblong shell with concentric rings; white shell with flaky brown skin; siphon and mantle are too large to withdraw; found at depth of 2-3’ in mud, sand, gravel in the subtidal zone (extreme low tides).

Expansive beach w property signs. Exc Warm enough for Parking across from

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explorehoodcana

CHECK. CHILL. COOK.

BEACH &

map

T RI TO N 101

EL D O N

REEK

Do not harvest in areas with pollution closures. Ask your doctor before eating raw shellfish if you have any concerns about allergies, are taking medications, or have a weakened immune system (such as cancer, liver disease, or HIV). Shellfish are a great and healthy food.

Nice beaches for walking and exploring with summer water temperatures surprisingly warm.

Restrooms, camping and picnic facilities.

DE WATTO

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MENARD’S LANDING

3

B E LFAIR

Visitor Information

Gazebo, garden, play area, pier, restrooms and beach access with boat A LLYN launch.

TA H U YA

202

302

TWANOH STATE PARK 106

UNION 106

Visitor Information

Excellent camping, swimming, kayaking, picnic sites, and shellfish harvesting.

Requires Discovery Pass.

GRAPEVIEW

UNION CITY MARKET

921 WA-106, Union | (360) 426-2222 Direct farm to market retail includes Hood Canal; oysters at the general store located on the farm.

3 101 S 1st St

Visitor Information

E Pine St

HOPE ISLAND STATE PARK

c Hwy S SE Olympi

101

CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR

KA M I LC H E

222 CAPITOL WAY N, OLYMPIA | (360) 915-7784 Eld & Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound Chelsea Farm have made a priority of farming the native Olympia oyster that was on it’s way to extinction. Visit their oyster bar fin Olympia for

local seafood experience! chelseafarms.net Visitor Information 101

al.com

Each July enjoy vendors, wine and beer garden, live music and seafood throughout the weekend. allyntown.com

Local Seafood:

Here are a few locations that serve local Hood Canal & South Puget Sound seafood. Call for hours & reservations.

Bistro at Lakeland Village

Robin Hood Restaurant

Boat House Restaurant

Smoking Mo’s

Hama Hama Oyster Saloon

Spencer Lake Bar & Grill

Hook & Fork

Squaxin Island Seafood Bar

Model T Pub & Eatery

Taylor Station

Restaurant at Alderbrook

Tides Family Restaurant

18340 E WA 3, Allyn (360) 275-2954

A 106-acre marine camping park reachable only by boat.

Covered with old-growth forests and saltwater marshes, the park features a beach oneand-a-half miles long. Access by boat only.

3

er and Arcadia

ALLYN DAYS & GEODUCK FESTIVAL | Allyn, WA

470 E Country Club Dr, Allyn (360) 277-4137

02

ON

Community park offers beach access, a picnic area and portable restroom and is very popular with kayakers, fishermen and local residents. Located on SR-3 at the south end of Allyn. The parking area is open only during the shellfish season.

5101 E State Route 106 | Union | (360) 898-3500 3 Art, gifts, seafood and grocery items and seasonal cafe DNR 24/GRAPEVIEW, DNR beach clams and oysters open within a working marina. all year. Access by boat only. |

HUNTER FARMS 101

Avoid illness by following the 3 C’s above and enjoy!

NORTH BAY

ALLYN

Expansive beach (at low tide), picnic area, and views of the Olympics.

RENDSLAND CREEK, DNR owned clams and oysters open all year.

101

COOK: Cook shellfish in summer months when Vibrio illnesses can occur. To kill Vibrio bacteria cook shellfish to 145° F for at least 15 seconds, cooking does not destroy biotoxins.

BELFAIR STATE PARK

101

tion

CHILL: Harvest shellfish on the outgoing tide and put on ice as soon as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Keep them cold until ready to eat. Cover in fridge with a wet cloth to prevent drying out.

Small beach with dramatic view of the Olympics. Lots of ripe berries in late summer.

From Belfair: take the Befair-Tahuya Road to Dewatto Rd. Continue four miles to Dewatto.

Parking limited.

when tide is out, obey cellent oyster beach. swimming in summer. m Eagle Creek Saloon.

PORT

HAMA HAMA OYSTER SALOON 35846 US-101, Lilliwaup 5th generation farm serves oysters prepared to order with an ever changing menu of seasonal local ingredients. Retail store and farm dining. hamahamaoyster.com

DEWATTO BAY

HAMMA HAMMA

L ILL I WAUP

CHECK: Health closures and advisories: doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety Harvesting closures: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulation Signs on the beach: Follow posted warnings and respect private property.

35846 US-101, Lilliwaup (360) 877-5811

5101 E State Route 106, Union (360) 898-3500 24281 N US 101, Hoodsport (360) 877-9883 10 E Alderbrook Dr, Union (360) 898-2200

6790 E State Route 106, Union (360) 490-8168 233 S. 1st St, Shelton (360) 462-0163 1180 E Pickering Rd, Shelton (360) 426-2505

91 West State Route 108, Shelton (360) 432-7120 62 SE Lynch Rd, Shelton (360) 426-8501 27061 US-101, Hoodsport (360) 877-8921

View more area dining at explorehoodcanal.comFJORD 33

Pacific Oyster

Manila Clam

Go play on the beach.

HARVEST SHELLFISH

Come prepared with licence (purchase online: fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov), shovel, gloves, buckets, boots to harvest clams and oysters on Hood Canal and South Puget Sound beaches. Regulations vary from beach to beach— ALWAYS check the rules at wdfw.wa.gov before harvesting.

Purchase your licence online: FISHHUNT.DFW.WA.GOV Toll-free: (866) 246-9453

DAILY LIMIT:

How to CATCH a bi valv e...

1.

K18 OYSTERSL Oysters consumed on beach

XCHECK TIDE

count toward a limit.

Look at a tide chart online for the bay or inlet you are harvesting.

The lower the tide the bigger the reward!

oysters

Oysters may only be harvested by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool (no hammers, etc.). Min. size 2.5” measured across longest distance of shell.

the Shellfish Emergency Rule Change Hotline (866) 880-5431, or contact the WDFW customer service desk (360) 902-2700.

Each harvester must use a separate container.

I

your Beach for clams, oysters, or 2. musselsCheck at wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches,

claim the Clams

DAILY LIMIT: K40 CLAMSL

I

Look for little sand holes/dimples called the “show.”

MANILAS (2-4” deep) & LITTLENECKS (6-10”) can be found using a rake. Use a shovel for BUTTERS (1-1.5’ below the surface) and GEODUCK (3’).

Fill Holes

To reduce clam mortality, push undersized clams into the refilled hole.

Geoduck

Mussel

I

Aw Shucks

Oysters must be shucked on the beach. Leave shells on the same tideland and tide height where they were taken.

Clam limit not to exceed 10 lbs in the shell, all species combined [excluding horse (7) & geoducks (3)].

sand purge

Manilas, litttlenecks and small butters should soak in cold seawater for at least 4 hours to purge sand and grit.

Purchase Licences locally

BAYSHORE TEXACO 3841 SR# 3, Shelton | (360) 427-0709 FRED MEYER #603 Shelton | (360) 427-2979 VERLE’S LLC 741 E Golden Pheasant Rd, Shelton (360) 426-0933 | Verles.com WALMART 2121 Shelton | (360) 427-6226

mussel seasons in Puget Sound are the same as clam seasons on each beach. No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP: Hoodsport Visitor Center 150 N Lake Cushman Rd, Hoodsport | (800) 576-2021

North Mason Chamber Visitor Center 30 NE Romance Hill Rd, Belfair, WA | (360) 275-4267

Shelton Visitor Center

FJORD 34 The Red Caboose, 230 W Railroad Ave (360) 426-2021

MASON GENERAL HOSPITAL

NORTH MASON CHAMBER SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Event Cancelations

Due to COVID-19 concerns and for the safety and well-being of the Mason County community, several of Mason General Hospital Foundation’s committees, guilds and chapters have canceled fundraising events and gatherings planned for the summer and fall of 2020.

The Quality Care Open Golf Tournament normally held in June has been canceled but is scheduled to return in 2021.

“Due to COVID-19 and the health of everyone that we invite, we need to postpone the tournament until next summer,” said Committee Chair Jack Stark.

Also canceled for 2020 is Karen Hilburn Fund’s Tour de Mason Lake in June, Endowment Committee’s Donor Appreciation Reception in September, and Denim & Diamonds in October.

Mason Health has tentatively rescheduled the Bikers For Babies event from May to Sept. 19.

“The Foundation Board appreciates the community’s continued support of health care in Mason County,” said Jennifer Capps, Chief Development Officer at Mason Health. “Your generosity makes it possible for us to fund medical equipment and programs to better care for our patients and community. Although we have had to pause our social events this year, we look forward to joining together with you in 2021."

The Hospital Foundation has not yet announced plans for the Fantasy Forest event traditionally held in November to kick off the holiday season.

35

The North Mason Chamber Education Committee is excited to announce Grace Borah as the 2020 scholarship winner.

The scholarship is awarded to a student that excels in work ethic, academics, and community involvement. Grace perfectly fits the bill.

Letters of recommendation noted that Grace does a great job building relationships and sharing creative ideas, and states she is an intelligent problem solver. She gradutes with a 3.955 GPA and also with her AA from Olympic College at the same time. She will be attending Gonzaga in the fall where she is majoring in nursing. Grace enjoys soccer and snowboarding.

Congratulations, Grace!

FJORD

Are you ready for

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE? Ron Adams | Pro Staff Verle’s llc First and foremost, let me start by saluting each and every one of you for your physical, mental and spiritual tenacity in working together for the common good of your fellow man. Thank you. I have utmost faith we will get through this unprecedented global situation and be in the end better off and more prepared than ever before.

With that being said, are you going absolutely nuts to get out and enjoy all of the majestic beauty and awesome fun the Hood Canal has to offer?

I know I surely am! Being on lockdown is no fun even though my yard looks fabulous, the garage is clean, the fence is fixed, and the garden is in, well you get the picture, I got a lot done at home.

Restrictions finally started to loosen and as soon as the local lakes opened up, I hit the water at one of the many excellent trout lakes near Shelton.

Upon arrival I was greeted by many others who were eager to get out and have some of what I like to call "outdoor therapy." There were people swimming, pleasure boating and fishermen.

It was wonderful to be out and to top it all off we caught some really nice trout which made a great meal for my family.

I not only love the water I love the land as well especially the Olympic Peninsula's evergreen forest.

Part of the pleasure of that fishing trip was the fact that I took the time to go through all of my fishing gear which I have a lot of, and it was that preparation that made my trip even better. No digging through tangled fishing line, lures stuck together or any of that. It reminded me how important good preparation is to making an outing or adventure reach its full potential.

Winding trails, emerald rivers, delicious mushrooms, and other bounty await. What will I do until I can get to this wonderland of flora and fauna? I will take a lesson from my time on lockdown at home before my first fishing trip and that is, prepare. The preparation I did before I went fishing made the trip pretty much perfect and I hope I will remember that for the rest of my life.

I know everything outdoors isn't accessible yet, but it will Verle’s Sporting Goods in be soon and I encourage you Shelton is where I work and to make preparations now to we thrive on helping people not only be ready when the prepare and be successful in time comes, but be fully pretheir outdoor adventures. pared to maximize your Normally, I would get irritated adventure and enjoyment.

Now that lakes and interior by people water skiing at 8AM Recreational boating and salt water is open for boating while I was trying to fish but fishing are open so it's time to and fishing, I encourage you this time it was different. I get your boat engine tuned up, to prepare for your outing and was so glad to see everyone pick up some new fishing gear, bring your boat in for a tune enjoying themselves and being maybe purchase some new up. We have a fully staffed respectful of each other that safety gear (check your flares service department willing to nothing seemed to bother me and make sure they aren't exget you up and running as fast at all. pired), or life vests and maybe as possible or provide you with even some boat wax to put that the parts you need.

FJORD 36 illustrious shine back on.

Verle’s also has all the fishing gear suitable for local fishing.

Their knowledgeable staff is willing to help you be as prepared as possible for your fishing success. Thinking of a new boat? They can help you there also. Verle's carries Hewes Craft Marine, Alumaweld, SmokerCraft and the popular Sunchaser Pontoon Boats.

They also stock Greentrail Maps (showing the trails in the Olympics for planning hikes) and stock beginner hiking essentials.

Verle’s offers boater safety gear such as life vests, flares, rope, horns and much more. Local hunters know us as their "honey hole" for all things hunting so from ammo to camo we have you covered. I hope you will come in and say hi to us.

Verle’s is located just south of Shelton on Highway 101 and I hope we can help you prepare for your upcoming outdoor adventures no matter what they might be and make Verle’s your gateway to the Olympics and adventure.

Conveniently located in Shelton, WA, just off Highway 101 ONE STOP OUTDOOR RECREATION STORE FOR 72 YEARS!

HEWES CRAFT TOP 5 DEALER 2018 & 2019 Whether you are shopping for a new boat, that certain

Basic Trout Kit

fishing lure, necessary boat maintenance or want to get

It’s time to go fishing and we’ve got you covered!

The Verle’s Basic Trout Kit includes everythig you need to start enjoying our local lakes and streams: Shakespeare Trout Rod & Reel Combo, with line, lures, bait, trout net & more! * While supplies last.

$29.99*

the latest fishing report, stop by Verle’s LLC today.

Verle’s is your ONE STOP COMPLETE OUTDOOR RECREATION STORE, staffed with knowledgeable, local outdoor enthusiasts.

74 1 W E S T G O L D E N P H E A S A N T R O A D , S H E LT O N FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:

@VERLESLLC

(360) 426-0933

VERLES.CO M

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STRUMMING IN THE FOREST

For a decade and a half Shelton has been striking a chord with nationally recognized bluegrass bands and players at the Annual Bluegrass from the Forest Festival.

Music lovers of all ages converge on the little town for three days, immersing in great music and reveling in the natural beauty of the area.

Dust off your fiddle and head to Shelton for some fantastic scenery and a weekend of the best bluegrass music this side of the Appalachians. The 2020 festival has undergone some big changes to accommodate COVID-19 concerns – but organizers are still planning a great event!

The first dramatic change was rescheduling the three day event from May to September 11-13. This date was selected for a time when it was safer for the musicians to play music together and accommodate the bands’ schedules. Instead of starting the Bluegrass season, the non-profit organizers will be capping it with a welcome opportunity to get out and listen to some great music!

Organizers anticipate challenges with the changes but look forward to expanded opportunities. September is the ideal time in the Northwest to take this festival into the forest! The event is relocating to a outdoor venue, the Mason County Recreation Area – less than three miles from the former lo-

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New outdoor location and rescheduled dates for Bluegrass from the Forest - SEPTEMBER 11-13 @ Mason County Recreation Area

cation. This outdoor expansion will allow for plenty of space for everyone to spread out and enjoy the concerts.

The larger area will allow for more space between camp sites as well, along with additional food and music vendors and even a beer and wine garden near the stage.

The 2020 line up includes: Crying Uncle from California; Kristen Grainger and True North and Whiskey Deaf both from Oregon; as well as Salzer Creek and Runaway Train (host band), both from Washington. Volume Five canceled owing too a scheduling conflick but all the other bands are still tentatively scheduled to head to Shelton for the revised dates.

REVISED DATE: SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2020 | SHELTON, WA KRISTMAS TOWN KIWANIS PRESENTS THE 16TH ANNUAL

BLUEGRASS FOREST FROM THE

Mason County Recreation Area

2102 E. Johns Prairie Rd, Shelton True North - OR.

2020 Performers Volume Five - NC. Kristen Grainger and True North - OR. Crying Uncle - CA. Whiskey Deaf - OR. Salzer Creek Band - WA. Runaway Train, host band - WA. TBD (Friday night square dance) TBD (Saturday night country dance) FESTIVAL TICKETS & PASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE!

Crying Uncle - CA.

Whiskey Deaf - OR.

Runaway Train - WA.

Salzer Creek Band - WA.

Workshops, Chick Rose School of Bluegrass, mandolin tasting, vendors, camping & jamming,

BLUEGRASSFROMTHEFOREST.COM | FOR DETAILS CALL: (360) 490-8981

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2020 BFTFF

WHERE: Mason County Recreation Area 2102 E. Johns Prairie Road, Shelton WA Reserve online: bluegrassfromtheforest.com

PASSES: ADULT Weekend Pass includes all events – FRI/SAT/ SUN - $45.00 | FAMILY Weekend Pass includes 3 days; up to 4 children – $90.00

Get tied into

SHELTON'S BLUEGRASS ROOTS

PERFORMANCE ONLY:

FRI & SAT AFTERNOON or EVENING $15/person SAT All Day $25 | Sunday All Day $15 KIDS 12 – 17 half price, under 12 FREE Photo: Shawna Whelan

Hosted and produced by Kristmas Town Kiwanis volunteers, Bluegrass from the Forest Festival is more than just great musicians coming together for a musical celebration. A long with raising funds for local projects, over the last fifteen years the festival also supported a vital children's music program for ages 8-18 and hosts daily music familiarity workshops and contests for all ages.

Local musicians, Duane Wilson and Greg Linder founded the festival as a local fundraiser nearly two decades ago. Since then the event has sponsored many more community projects. Today families annually plan their schedules to enjoy full scheduled weekend of workshops and nationally recognized bands at this volunteer driven festival. “Though the bands are paid, and there are many expenses, it’s a labor of love for us who put it together

- the payment is seeing the enjoyment on people’s faces.“ remarks Linder, Union based musician with Runaway Train.

As if the music isn’t enough, the festival includes camping for an experience you won’t soon forget. Pack up the whole family and make a weekend out of it. The kids will enjoy the Chick Rose School of Bluegrass designed just for them. Otherwise known as “Chick’s Kids,” this is a

VOLUME FIVE free all inclusive music education program dedicated to sharing bluegrass with youth.

Kids are grouped by musical experience to receive coaching by advanced musicians culminating with a stage performance.

BAND LINE-UP September 11-13

KRISTEN GRAINGER AND TRUE NORTH

feature the multi-instrumentalist and singer-song writer Dan Wetzel, Martin Stevens adds the mandolin, fiddle, and supporting vocal. Josh Adkins mixes in the upright bass and vocals (Martin and Josh were both formerly with the acclaimed Bluegrass Regulators). Kristen Grainger’s unique vocals and song writing chops have garnered awards at national song writing contests.

CRYING UNCLE'S BLUEGRASS BAND

was founded in 2016 as a duo band with invited guest artists. The band has played at venues such as IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Festival, CBA’s Father's Day Bluegrass Festival and Strawberry Music Festival.

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In 2018, the band was featured on a TEDxTalk with Phoebe Hunt. In 2019, the band traveled through Finland. Crying Uncle is based in California.

WHISKEY DEAF from

Portland, OR is made up of bluegrass musicians who share a passion for playing lesser known first generation bluegrass and early country.

There enjoyment in playing this music comes through in every show.

SALZER CREEK features classics specializing in a bluegrass-gospel sound with a dash of fiddle. The talented siblings harmonize and play multiple instruments making up a real six-piece band. The six siblings are bluegrass’s best answer to the Von Trapp family since the Carter Sisters.

RUNAWAY TRAIN, the host band, consistently delivers tight harmonies and energetic sets. Formed in 2000, Runaway Train is local to Mason County. Lead, Greg Linder has co-hosted the last fifteen Bluegrass from the Forest Festivals.

New this year there will also be a Friday night square dance led by the Mountain Williams Band. On Saturday evening The Bar K Buckaroos leads a country dance.

Tickets/schedules available at bluegrassfromthforest.com.

JOHNSTON REALTY

Johnston Realty is an independent 2nd Generation firm assisting clients search for homes and land along beautiful Hood Canal since 1975.

Visit us in Brinnon to begin your journey!

Wade Johnston

Owner/Designated Broker brinnon@johnston-realty.com

Jeri Jacobsen

Broker jeri.jacobson@ymail.com

(360) 796-4603 • (800) 552-9763 • Fax: (360) 796-4999 40 Brinnon Lane, Brinnon, Washington 98320

www.Johnston-Realty.com

WA STATE PARKS TEAMS WITH

ARRIVE OUTDOORS

In June Washington State Parks announced a partnership with Arrive Outdoors, an outdoor travel company that provides equipment for hiking, backpacking, camping, winter recreation and other outdoor activities.

Arrive offers high-quality equipment for rent. A two-person tent rents for as low as $4 per day. Camping sets that include a tent, sleeping pad and bag rent for $8 per day. Customers reserve gear online and the gear is shipped directly to their home for free. Other items for rent include cots, hammocks, packs, camp stoves, apparel, footwear, trekking poles, binoculars and even bear safety gear.

State Parks. “By renting gear, people now have a sustainable, economical and practical option for making sure they’re ready for the outdoors.”

When a park visitor rents gear from Arrive Outdoors by linking from the State Parks’ Gear Rental web page, a portion of the revenue goes to Washington State Parks.

Arrive Outdoors ships gear to your home, “We’re excited to partner with WA State Parks to make it easier than ever for FedEx offices, participating Walgreens, hoeveryone to access the state parks with tels, or vacation rentals. They do not ship the gear they need,” said Rachelle Snyder, directly to state parks. To return, simply Arrive Outdoors. “Families can now easily use the packaging the gear arrived in, adprepare for their upcoming camping trip, here the free return label and tape provided and drop off at any FedEx or Walgreens “This partnership with Arrive Outdoors is and individuals no longer need to spend thousands of dollars on backpacking gear location. For details visit recreation.gov. a natural fit for many of our Washington state parks visitors,” said Sarah Yearout, that they’ll only use once this year.”

41 FJORD

COVER STORY A PROJECT OF

BUNYAN SIZE While 200 Paul Bunyan statues exist in the United States, in Shelton he is "larger than life", with two giant representations to celebrate the annual Forest Festival.

In April, a new face appeared in Shelton -well, two new faces– a Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox mural were installed at Outlook Park overlooking Shelton. The plywood mural stands 32 feet tall and 16 feet wide. requiring a total of 24 sheets of plywood to complete.

The mural is attached to the permanent poles erected in 2019 for the Beauchamp Santa Claus. Coordinators hope that alternating giant murals celebrating Shelton and Mason County's heritage can be continually seen at this spot.

The Santa Claus received a great deal of attention in 2018 when it appeared on the yard at Toziers Hardware. Visitors drove from all over the state to get their photo taken in the doll's head 16' up the mural.

Paul and Babe were designed from a compilation of histori-

cal Bunyans pageant and float designs as well as Shelton High School's iconic high-climber images. Engineered drawings were created by architect, Wayne Wenstob.

Although Mason County's Forest Festival is canceled this year, this is a reminder on how integral the event is to our heritage – both with the timber tradition and the celebration of youth and community.

Left: Paul smiles benevolently as John Hansen honors logger tradition and grooms his shoulder with a STIHL; Right: Queen Grace Renecker stands in front of the new mural.

Thank you to project sponsors, City of Shelton and Mason County. Plywood and hardware were generously donated by Builders First Choice. Shopper's Weekly contributed sign decals.

Paul will be removed in August when he will stored until he marks the return of Forest Festival in 2021.

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Timberland's Virtual

SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAM CULTURE

ULTURE C I R

RI

y rsle e m Ham

y sle r e Hamm

AVAILABLE NOW: MANILA CLAMS $6/LB • OYSTERS $10/DOZ

t, Sh elton WA Inle

OUND MA HS

R

The library will also have free online events for the whole family including Storytimes and STEM activities. Special virtual performers: Heidi Larsen of Idea Hatch, Magician Jeff Evans, and Mr. Lizard. For a schedule of events, check out their online virtual calendar at TRL.org.

Shelton Timberland Library's curbside pickup hours are: Tuesday through Saturday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Only books on the shelf at the Shelton library will be available. Place holds at www.TRL.org or give them a call so they can help get items together for you. 360-426-1362

Inle

OUND MA S H

ers ley I nlet

m Ham ICULTURE

Users can also download Activity Logs in English or Spanish, full color or as coloring sheets. Complete the first ten activities and then head to the library to claim a free book once they are open again.

m Ham

ULTURE C I R

S OU T

SO

CULTURE

S OU T

m Ham

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To register and download a list of activities go to trl.beanstack.org. It’s free to sign up, track books you read, submit book reviews, and complete other fun challenges that encourage reading, learning, creativity, and curiosity: read books, share your artwork, review books or movies, discover songs & rhymes, take a nature walk, plant a garden, cook something new, or just have some fun at home! Participating in the program is for all ages. The Summer Library Program web page has a link to register on the Beanstack online app for challenges and earn badges.

t, Sh elton WA

ers ley I nlet

OUND MA HS

The Timberland Library's Summer Library Program is online this year June through August. The program offers many ways everyone can participate in the fun. It's easy to sign up and have fun with library activities all summer.

FRESH MATTERS.

S OU T

Clean water and excellent harvesting & handling are the hallmarks of safe shellfish that's fresh and flavorful.

South Sound is now offering direct pick-up from our family farm.

We harvest when you order. Clams are purged on our deep water dock and oysters are filtered with a temperature-controlled depuration system. We pack clams and oysters in shaved ice to keep them cool for your journey home in your persoinal ice chests.

Enjoy local, fresh and healthy clams and oysters. Call John today to order.

(360) 427-5599 | southsoundoysters.com Follow the tides and harvests @southsoundoysters

on Facebook 43

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S

QUILCENE FAIR AND PARADE

Tentatively still planned for September 12

Cross your fingers and save the date - at least for now. As of June 21, the Quilcene Fair and Parade has not been canceled. This may change and for up to date information, visit quilcenefair.org, contact the Fair at quilcenefair@gmail.com or contact Fair president Sharon Redmon at 360-434-6182.

Now is the time to SAVE THE DATE (and make lodging reservations if needed).

The Quilcene Fair and Parade is still tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at the Quilcene School, 294715 Hi-way 101.

If the Washington State Phased opening allows the 2020 event will be a much welcomed event for residents and visitors.

At the fair there will be food, a parade, a motorcycle and car show, live music

by Kalen Wolfe and the Shift, vendors, a raffle, activities for young children, an

arts and crafts show, the much anticipated Quilscenery Photo contest, Quilcene Brinnon Garden Club activities, and an excitement filled high school football game, and much more. Proceeds from the Fair and Parade go to local charitable organizations.

The theme this year is "Over the Bridges and Through the Woods." Organizers invite you to cross over the Hood Canal Floating Bridge, travel up the Canal and across the Hamma Hamma, Duckabush, Dosewallips and Quilcene bridges, ‘round Discovery

Bay or down Center Road to join Brinnon and Quilcene folks at this annual Fair.

The parade starts at 11 AM. Sign in and staging is on Rodgers Street (behind the Post Office) between 9 and 10:30 AM. There is no parade entry fee, but entry forms are required and can be found on the website. Vendor fees are modest and more information and forms are available at quilcenefair.org, as are motorcycle and car show registrations. A good time is always had and all are welcome.

Great fair food – Heather Jahns serving Chris Llewellyn, Serendipity Farm, all dressed up for the FJORD 44 Bruce Munn. parade.

2019 1st Place, Weirdest Vegetable Contest – Kristin and Tim Deverin.

THINGS TO DO

FALLS TO FISHING

43 MAP/LODGING

SHELTON & KAMILCHE

46 Situated between the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains in Mason County is Hood Canal.

A place filled with world-class activities, wild-caught fare, lively events, and plenty of places to hide away from it all when you just want the world to yourself.

Everyday, people come to Hood Canal to disconnect from their day-to-day, and reconnect with themselves, families, and with nature. Most will leave wishing they had just a little more time to stay.

MAP/LODGING HOOD CANAL AREA

47-51

HOOD CANAL IS WASHINGTON’S #WILD SIDE. Choose your next best adventure.

KAYAKING

Whether you seek tide-ripped saltwater passages, challenging whitewater, or lakes big and small, Hood Canal is a kayaker, canoer, or paddleboarder’s ideal destination.

A rich paddling community supports any adventurer’s vision; rental packages and lesson opportunities for the budding kayaker or paddleboarder are not in short supply.

Get out on the water and enjoy a fresh perspective of the

45 canal with colossal peaks towering overhead.

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EXPERIENCE THE

WILD SIDE OF WASHINGTON Like a giant fish hook weaving beneath the Olympics with a web of inlets, Hood Canal is poised to catch your imagination and reel in memories for years to come.This majestic saltwater fjord hosts unparalleled shellfish, shrimp, crab, and salmon and is renown as a diving mecca with its glacial formation causing underwater biomes that appear nowhere else.Venture away from the canal to Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest for hiking and thrilling vistas. Choose from hundreds of easy access freshwater lakes or revel in waterfall views including the iconic High Steel Bridge. Ablaze with wildflowers in the spring, hidden swimming holes in the summer, a chance to see spawning salmon in the fall, and snow-capped peaks in the winter, there is never an inopportune time to visit Hood Canal.

MOTORSPORTS

T he Ridge Motorsports Park racing course near Shelton includes a fantastic road course that's geared towards club racers and competitors. Head to the DNR forests for some unmatched off-road trail rides.

CLEAR YOUR MIND AND

FALL FOR WATERFALLS Hamma Hamma & Lake Kokanee are just two of the many falls waiting to be explored. The best time to view area waterfalls is in the spring while the weather is warmer but there is still plenty of run off from the mountains.

TRAILS & WALKS

World-class hiking trails lace the Olympic Mountain wilderness, leading from mountain stream beds through old growth forest to high-altitude ridge lines with breathtaking views of Hood Canal and beyond.

HIGH STEEL BRIDGE

Soaring 420' above the Skokomish River, the High Steel Bridge (1929), is the highest steel truss arch bridge in Washington. You won’t even need to leave the car for this breathtaking view.

Follow Skokomish Valley Rd 11 miles from Hwy 101 to reach the bridge.

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TAKE A LEAP

PICK A PEAK

We love the folks at SKYDIVE KAPOWSIN! Feel the

Mason County is shadowed by amazing heights!

adrenaline pumping rush of free-fall and experience

From easy day hikes with the family to overnights

the freedom of the air with highly trained professional

or “experience needed” excursions – you don’t

instructors. Views of the fjord and the Olympics and

have to go far for spectacular memories!

a seven minute free fall adrenaline rush from 13,000 feet will definitely change your outlook.

TASTING YOUR WAY AROUND THE

CANAL & SOUND You can do the loop tasting farm-to-table PHOTO: TOBY TAHJA-SYRETT

dining experiences pairing with stops at the best tasting rooms in the Northwest.

FISHING

From open water trolling on the sound to throwing dry flies on small lowland lakes, there are plenty of fishing opportunities in the area.

Seek colossal coho in the fall and hungry trout in the spring to see why every season is fishing season in Hood Canal.

BIKING

Don the helmet and clip into your pedals, for there is no shortage of road or trail from which to experience the beauty and thrill of this landscape.

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SIX DESTINATION GOLF COURSES

Meticulously nestled in the forests and hillsides of Hood Canal, these highly rated courses will showcase the best of your golf game. Enjoy incredible views of the Olympic Mountains as you drive down lush fairways and putt on pristine greens. With a different course to play every day of the week and dining nearby to celebrate the 19th hole, Hood Canal is an ideal destination for the golfing enthusiast in all of us.

ALDERBROOK

(360) 898-2560 | Union, WA alderbrookgolf.com Rated as one of the top 25 courses in the Northwest for spectacular scenery and playability, this par 72 course follows the natural contours of the land.

Restaurant, lounge & pro shop.

LAKE CUSHMAN

(360) 877-5505 | Hoodsport, WA lakecushmangolfcourse.com Nestled in the forest of the Olympic Mountains above Hoodsport & Hood Canal is this 9-hole course with dual tees which plays an 18 holes. Open driving range, putting green, and practice bunker.

SALISH CLIFFS

LAKE LIMERICK GOLF CLUB

(360) 462-3673 | Kamilche, WA salish-cliffs.com Salmon-safe 18 hole par 72 championship golf course created by architect Gene Bates. Clubhouse serves lunch and dinner. Adjacent to the Little Creek Casino Resort, a full service luxury resort & casino.

(360) 426-6290 | Shelton, WA www.lakelimerickgolf.com A quiet and picturesque tree lined course. Gentle hills make this a challenging Par 72 and a fun round of golf. Facilities include Pro Shop, Cafe, and Cart Rentals. Social Memberships Available.

SHELTON SPRINGS DISC

masoncountydiscgolf.com Looking for a different type of golf?

This 18 hole disc golf course is located at the intersection of Wallace Kneeland Blvd & Shelton Springs Rd.

LAKELAND VILLAGE

(360) 275-6100 | Allyn, WA lakelandliving.com Majestic views of the Olympics and Rainier, 27 holes with driving ranges, putting greens, practice chipping, and bunker areas. Dining clubhouse.

ITINERARY 1:

UNION AND THE WATERS OF SOUTH HOOD CANAL TAKE A DIP

Famous for its warm waters, Twanoh State Park is a 182 acre park with 3,167 feet of saltwater shoreline. Campground is open yearround. parks.wa.gov

DEEP RUN THE WATERS

Hood Canal is the only saltwater fjord in the lower United States.

FJORD Depths exceed 600’ in Dabob Bay, averaging 500’ in the channel.

BRUNCH ON THE DOCK

The Union City Market now offers 'Appy Hour and weekend brunch at their Hook and Fork location in Union.

HUNT FOR TREASURES

Pick through a treasure trove of antiques or a curated boutique of keepsakes when you shop on the wild side of Washington. 48

48

BIRDING

With a majestic and varied landscape as a background, Hood Canal is a gorgeous place to come search for the over 250 species that call the Olympic Peninsula home. Chock full of life-birds like bald eagles, rhinoceros aucklets and more on premiere birding trails with helpful self-guided trail maps, this is a birder's paradise!

SCUBA DIVING

MUSIC & FESTIVALS

Hood Canal is known among scuba divers worldwide for its gentle currents and curious rock formations. Lessons and equipment are available at various locations in Hood Canal.

There is endless entertainment to be enjoyed in Hood Canal.

With a packed event calendar, there is never an inopportune time to come, stay, and play.

ON THE WATER Hood Canal occupies 150 square miles of the Olympic Peninsula and bellies up to the Olympic National Park. It's home to thousands of species of fish and marine mammals and invertebrates like orcas, oysters, and wild octopi while providing habitat to an array of seabirds.There's hardly a better way to take it all in than on the water.

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Shelton is the westernmost city on Puget Sound, practically with one foot in Olympic National Park. Featuring a bustling heritage core, Shelton’s landscape is dominated by colossal cedar, spruce, and fir trees which lend naturally to its self-proclaimed title of “Christmas Tree Capital.”

ITINERARY 2: SHELTON AREA

CELEBRATING A RICH TIMBER HISTORY

The Captain's Retreat Vacation Rental | 111 E Shoreline Ln, Shelton | 206-817-8490

N

Harstine Island Beach Cabin | 21 E Dana Dr, Shelton | (253) 943-5264 | harstinerental.com

N

Little Creek Casino Resort | W 91 State Route 108, Shelton | (800) 667-7711 | little-creek.com

O

Pirates Cove Caboose | 202 E Pirates Creek Rd, Shelton | 569-2799 | greatgetaways.com

N

Shelton Inn | 628 W Railroad Ave, Shelton | 426-4468 | sheltoninn.com

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Shelton Casita | Harstine Island | 360-927-6404 allynhouseinn.com

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Shelton Loft | Harstine Island | 360-927-6404 allynhouseinn.com

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Shelton Lodge | Harstine Island | 360-927-6404 allynhouseinn.com

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Shore Lane Beach House | E Shoreline, Shelton | (206) 999-1720

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Super 8 Motel | 2943 Northview Circle, Shelton | 426-1654 | super8.com

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*Phone number area code 360, unless otherwise specified.

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SHELTON AREA LODGING*

Lake (L)Beach (B)

GET YOUR GAME ON Roll the dice for exciting nightlife at LITTLE CREEK CASINO RESORT & LUCKY DOG CASINO (open soon)

Pool (P) Spa (S)

Take a rde on modified group rail bikes with Vance Creek Railriders.

SHELTON Pets OK

RIDE THE RAILS

DO A DRIVE-IN Celebrate nostalgia at the SKYLINE DRIVE-IN theatre; now open..

Telephone

GET YOUR RACE ON The RIDGE MOTORSPORTS PARK hosts events and karting, car, and motorcycle events.

TV/Cable

A lively Saturday Market and boutique & antique shops add diversity.

FIRST SETTLERS SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBE MUSEUM depicts the People of the Water’s relationship with Puget Sound.

Wi/Fi

MARKET WATCH

WINERY TOUR Visit the highly awarded WALTER DACON WINERY for tours and tastings

Dining: Onsite (O) Nearby (N)

FOREST ROOTS Explore SHELTON HISTORICAL MUSEUM, early life on Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and working in the woods.

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Totten Inlet

OYSTER BAY Beach,marshy estuary, for birding, salmon observing or fishing.

TO GO: Parking pullout on Hwy 101, marker 356 /Old Olympic Hwy. NO FEE/PASS

SCHAFER STATE PARK TRAIL THE KENNEDY CREEK SALMON TRAIL Trails, interpretive center, swimming, fishing.

Chum salmon are on view as they make their way up river TO GO: 12 miles north of Elma on the East Fork TOPOGRAPHY: flat, viewing platforms, interpretive signs of the Satsop River. The park is also accessible TO GO: Hwy 101, Old Olympic Hwy; weekends, seasonally. via the Brady exit from Hwy 12.

51 NO FEE/ PASS DISCOVER PASS REQUIRED

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sa HOPE ISLAND STATE Pas PARK Donly by water.

106 acre park Pugetreachable Sound Old-growth forests, saltwater marshes, fruit trees, beaches, historical buildings, friendly deer. Destination for kayakers and boaters!

TO GO: access by boat, mooring available, beach landing, boats and kayaks can launch at Arcadia Point (0.5 miles).

CAMPING FEES

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WALKER PARK Beach access, playground, restrooms, picnic shelter, kayak access.

NO FEE/PASS Fa

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S 10th St

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SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBE MUSEUM Stories, photos, art, artifacts dating back over 500 years. TO GO: Hwy 101 to Kamilche exit , follow signs. ADMISSION CHARGE

Squaxin Island

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TAYLOR SHELLFISH STORE Fresh seafood, tours available; open to public.

Hwy 101 to Taylor Towne Exit.

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HARSTINE ISLAND TRAIL 300 acres to explore McMicken EASY 1.5 mile, beach Island NO FEE/PASS

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ISABELLA LAKE TRAILS Dayton Peak EASY 2.5 mile loop, rolling meadows TO GO: Hwy 101 exit at SR#3 to Golden Pheasant Rd, right on Delight Park Rd. NO FEE/PASS

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POTLATCH STATE PARK Longest stretch of PUBLIC BEACH in Mason County with shellfish, kayaking, and Hood Canal water access.

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LOWER LENA LAKE TRAIL Well maintained popular trail leads to a small lake MODERATE TO DIFFICULT 3 mile climb,switchbacks TO GO: Hwy 101 at Hamma Hamma Recreation Area

STAIRCASE | OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

Ranger Station is open in summer with information, exhibits, wilderness permits, map sales and wheelchair available. Road open year-round weather permitting. Call (360) 565-3131 NATIONAL PARK PASS TO GO: HWY 101 to SR#119, follow FS#24 to Staircase Entrance.

RAPIDS LOOP: EASY family friendly 2 mile trail through old growth forest to a bridge over the North Fork Skokomish River; only 200-foot elevation gain. BIG CEDAR, a 0.6 mile spur trail, leads to a fallen cedar while a 0.5 mile section leads to a river viewpoint.

UPPER LENA LAKE TRAIL Steep with unstable bed; camping.

MODERATE TO DIFFICULT 4.3 mile climb TOPOGRAPHY: 3,800 foot gain to sub-alpine lake TO GO: Same as Lower Lena Lake Trail above.

WILDERNESS PERMIT FOR CAMPING NW FOREST PASS FOR PARKING

FOUR STREAM: EASY 1.2 mile to Beaver Flat, swampy section of alder/cedar forest. Elevation loss 100 ft.

BIG CREEK Great pack-in picnic destination with pools and footbridges.

MODERATE 4 miles TO GO: Trailhead at FS#24 and SR#119 junction.

NW FOREST PASS Tri t o n Triton Head

WAGONWHEEL LAKE: MODERATE TO DIFFICULT climbing 2.9 miles (elevation gain of 3,365 ft).

FLAPJACK LAKES: DIFFICULT climbing 7.8 mile one-way hike (3,115 ft elevation gain). k Cr

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HAMA HAMA STORE Beach access & parking, seasonal outdoor Oyster Saloon and fresh seafood market.

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vehicle/vessel/fishing/hunting northmasonchamber.com

Potlatch State Park

Potlatch State Park Campground

Lake West

Kirkl

rth

TAH UYA

PASSES FOR PURCHASE

h Va

Belfair State Park

VISITOR CENTER/ BELFAIR LICENSING anal On Hwy 3 in Belfair TOCGO: o H od PASSES FOR PURCHASE Park/

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N

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POT LATCH

– information, handouts, maps

Co ult

Rd

N Lake Cus hm an

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MENARD’S LANDING

C Expansive beach with panoramic views of Maggie Lake Olympics.

Picnic tables. NO FEE/PASS R

Mc l Crk Hil

BE L FA IR

s Stin

Crk

Grisdale Hill

Skok omis

DISCOVER PASS

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ya R d

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Lake Kokanee

HOODSPORT VISITOR CENTER TO GO: Located just off Hwy 101 in Hoodsport

Crk

NE B elf air Tah u

Rd atto NE Dew

rk

HOODSPORT Finch

Frigid Crk

DEWATTO

Clark Crk

Hoodsport Trail State Park

k

Dennie Ahl Hill

Lake Haven

Dewatto Bay

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Gibbon s C r

ion

Sund Crk

Miller

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Crk

Wooten Lake

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on ni

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Dow Mtn

Dow Crk

Kok Lk

Creek ground

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LI LLI WAU P

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Brown Crk

23,100 acre forest provides open spaces for sightseeing, camping, nature study, fishing, hiking,horse, ATV, ORV, and biking.

State Forest ATahuya “working forest” trail may be closed due to forest management activities.

TOPOGRAPHY deep woods TO GO: Hwy 300/Belfair 300 Tahuya Rd, 1.1 mile.

y Rd

M

Lilliwaup Falls

Price Lake

TAHUYA STATE FOREST

Big

Cushman Hill

a

tto wa

De wa

Saddle Mtn

Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman

Ha rp

Ri v

Lake Melbourne

Big Crk

Lake Cushman

Blacksmith Lake

De

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Ayock

p Crk wau Lilli

Big Creek Campground

Hw y U

Lilliwaup Creek Campground Tenas Lake

od Skinwork C

Crk

North Br

Mt Rose

Be lfa ir

Big

h ulc r G Be a

Fl at Cr k

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NE O ld

te rs Jo

Mt Ellinor

n La

Copper Mtn

Cr k

Mt Washington

Cr k

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Ho o

Cr

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Wa sh i ngt

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Jeffe r Crkson

Crk te la

DEWATTO BAY Beach with dramatic view of the Olympics; excellent photography destination. Lots of ripe berries in late summer.

TO GO: Befair-Tahuya Rd to Dewatto Rd, 4 miles.

SERVICES AT PORT OF DEWATTO CAMPGROUND

H AMMA H AMMA

EAGLE CREEK Beach access & parking across from Eagle Creek Saloon. NO FEE/PASS

Ca

k Cr

n

ELDO N

Maso

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k Cr efferson

ar C rk

Big Missi

Mount Skokomish Wilderness Mt Pershing

Ced

Ta hu ya Riv

Jefferson Peak

Crk

Cruiser

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k Cr

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C rk

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Hamma Hamma River

ion Cr k

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LIVING LEGACY TRAIL Spectacular views of the Mt. Skokomish and the Brothers ranges; interpretive signage.

Trail passes Hamma Hamma Cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (1930s).

EASY TO MODERATE 1.5 mile loop.

TOPOGRAPHY: First 0.25 mile is barrier free along the river; ascends bluff to creek.

TO GO: Hwy 101 to FS#25, 5.5 miles.

WILDERNESS PERMIT REQUIRED FOR CAMPING

on

Boulder Crk

Cr

e ors

Henderson

Lena Creek Campground

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eh

Mt Skokomish

p le Ma

Wh it

Le Crke

Mt Stone

HAMMA HAMMA

HIKING & BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

Clamber up the rugged trails, tiptoe through the quiet old growth forest, or careen through the pristine meadows of Olympic National Forest & National Park. Shoulder your pack and experience the sights and sounds of the vast wilderness home to some of the most beautiful flora & fauna in the world. Ablaze with wildflowers in the spring, cool hidden swimming holes in the summer, a chance to see spawning salmon in the fall, and snow capped peaks in the winter, there is never an inopportune time to hike Hood Canal.

ITINERARY 3: HOODSPORT & NORTH HOOD CANAL

DIVE DEEPER

•

L

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Waterview

•

Boat Rentals

B

RV Sites

Kitchen

•

Pool (P) Spa (S)

•

Pets OK

B

Telephone

CUSHMAN, ELDON, HOODSPORT, POTLATCH & LILLIWAUP

TV/Cable

WEST HOOD CANAL LODGING

Lake (L)Beach (B)

Giant octopi, wolf eels and swarms of ancient rock cod add to the wonder of this special place. SNORKEL GEAR & SCUBA LESSONS, RENTALS AND CHARTERS available.

Wi/Fi

CANAL SPIRIT

HOODSPORT WINERY, STOTTLE WINERY, and HARDWARE DISTILLERY offer tastings amongst shopping, dining and the famous Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.

FORAGE DINNER

Come prepared with buckets and boots. Check regs at wdfw.wa.gov before digging – or stop by HAMA HAMA STORE & OYSTER SALOON for freshly prepared seafood.

Dining: Onsite (O) Nearby (N)

HUG THE CURVES

As Hwy 101 navigates the bays of HOOD CANAL, imagine relaxing dockside of a beachside cabin, watching the seals roll off the rocks.

Alice’s Little Beach House | Eldon | 877-9226

N

Blue Ox Beachfront Home | Hoodsport | 253-279-0837

N

•

Charnell House at Lake Cushman | Hoodsport | 360-893-6144

N

•

Creekside Inn | 27131 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport | 877-9686 | creeksideinn-wa.com

N

Kokanee Ridge Vacation Rental | 542 NE Kokanee Ridge, Hoodsport | 360-731-6378

N

Glen Ayr Waterfront Resort | 25381 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport | 877-9522 | glenayr.com

N

•

•

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Mike’s Beach Resort | 38470 N Hwy 101, Lilliwaup | 877-5324 | mikesbeachresort.com

N

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S B

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The Moose House at Lake Cushman | Lake Cushman, Hoodsport | (503) 393-6397

N

•

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Oliver's Waterfront Potlatch House | Lilliwaup | 360-796-3450

N

•

•

Pali-Kai Canal House | 327000 N Hwy 101, Lilliwaup | 426-2224

N

•

•

Sunrise Motel & Dive Resort | 24520 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport | 877-5301

N

Little Red Beach House | Hoodsport | 360-796-3450

N

The Waterfront Beach House | Hoodsport | 206-321-8700

N

The Waterfront at Potlatch | 21660 N Hwy 101 | 877-9422 | thewaterfrontatpotlatch.com

N

•

•

The Yellow House | 23891 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport | 877-6818 | hoodsportndive.com

N

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•

•

• B

•

•

B

•

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B

•

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B

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B

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•

B

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S B

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Waterview

•

Boat Rentals

B

RV Sites

Kitchen

Pool & Spa (S)

Pets OK

Telephone

N • • • •

Beach (B)

Allyn House Inn | 18350 State Route 3, Allyn | 535-2198 | allynhouseinn.com

TV/Cable

ALLYN

Wi/Fi

Dining: Onsite (O) Nearby (N)

ALLYN/BELFAIR/UNION*

• • •

BELFAIR Belfair Motel | 23322 NE State Route 3, Belfair | 275-4485 | belfairmotel.net

N • • • •

Cabin on Hood Canal | 121 NE Wagon Wheel Road, Belfair | 277-0257 | cabinonhoodcanal.com

N • • •

B

•

•

Gladwin Beach House | 391 Gladwin Beach Rd, Belfair | 337-2960 | gladwinbeach.com

N • • •

B

•

•

Luxury Waterfront Rental | Belfair | 360-271-2186 explorehoodcanal.com

N

B

•

•

Oyster Beach House | 170 NE Dulalip Landing, Belfair | 205-341-2937

N • • •

B

•

• •

Sisters Point Waterfront Cabin | 12121 NE North Shore Road | 360-275-6816

N

B

•

• •

Alderbrook Resort & Spa | 7101 E State Highway 106, Union | 898-2200 | alderbrookresort.com

O • • • • • B

•

• • •

Anderson's Landing Waterfront Rental | Union | 360-271-2186

N

•

•

The Bend on Hood Canal | 253 E Great Bend Drive, Union | 490-5545 | thebend.us

N • •

•

• •

Cameo Boutique Cottage & Suite | 6871 E State Route 106, Union | 490-7006 | cameoboutique.com

N • • •

B

•

•

Harmony Hill Retreat Center | 7362 E State Route 106, Union | 898-2363 | harmonyhill.org

O •

B

•

•

Michelle Circle Home | 200 E Michelle Drive, Union | explorehoodcanal.com

N • •

Pebble Beach Place | 10230 WA 106, Union | 206-550-5962 | pebblebrachplace.com

N

Robin Hood Village Resort | 6780 E State Route 106, Union | 898-2163 | robinhoodvillageresort.com

•

• •

•

UNION •

B S

• S

•

•

O • • •

S B

•

•

St Andrews Lodge | 7550 WA 106, Union | 360-898-2362 | standrewshouse.org

O • • •

S

•

•

South Shore Vacation Rental | Union | 360-271-2186

N

B

•

•

Union City Beach House | Union | 206-949-9090

N • •

B

•

•

ITINERARY 4: ALLYN/GRAPEVIEW LOOP A CUT ABOVE

The largest chainsaw carving outlet, BEAR IN A is a great place to explore this unique art.

They also teach chainsaw carving.

WATERFRONT WANDERINGS

•

• •

ALLYN & GRAPEVIEW enjoy gorgeous views of the protected harbor waters of Case Inlet. The area features quaint shops, waterfront lodging, restaurants, and beach parks. Annually, the Grapeview area hosts the Water and Art Festival, a day-long event featuring entertainment and juried artists (canceled in 2020).

GRAPE VIEWS

Waterfront Grapeview is the location of first winery and vineyards of the Pacific Northwest.

BEACH WALK

There are plenty of great public beaches to explore and launch points The area features quaint shops, a variety of FJORD 54 for your kayaks. restaurants, and beach parks.

ALLYN

ITINERARY 5: BELFAIR AREA TAKE A WALK ON BOARDWALK

Hood Canal’s wild 139 acre THELER WETLANDS hosts two miles of trails. 1,700+ feet of floating boardwalk, native plants, and interpretive kiosks to experience wetland wildlife. thelercenter.org

SALMON STRONG

THE SALMON CENTER provides education and recreation opportunities through a series of collaborative activities at their certified organic farm. They also host seasonal events. pnwsalmoncenter.org

GET DIRTY

TAHUYA STATE FOREST hosts off road

vehicles, bike, and horseback riding, as well as fishing, hunting; RVs or tent camping. dnr.wa.gov

Situated on the southernmost point of the isthmus connecting the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, Belfair is the perfect place to begin an adventure.

Whether you're headed north to explore Dewatto and Tahuya or plan to follow the Canal through Union, and Hoodsport, the journey begins here.

VISITOR INFORMATION & RESOURCES HOODSPORT VISITOR CENTER

SHELTON VISITOR CENTER

KAMILCHE VISITOR CENTER

NORTH MASON CHAMBER VISITOR CENTER

UNION VISITOR INFORMATION

RIDE FREE IN MASON COUNTY

150 N Lake Cushman Rd, Hoodsport, WA (360) 877-2021 | (800) 576-2021

30 NE Romance Hill Rd, Belfair, WA (360) 275-4267 | northmasonchamber.com

The Red Caboose at 230 Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA (360) 426-2021 Located at Hunter Farms, E 1921 SR 106, Union, WA

31 West State Route 108, Kamilche, WA (360) 432-0921

From ferries in Seattle to trailheads in Hood Canal, Mason Transit offers free rides – masontransit.org

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WA State Parks Collections Program

PRESERVING THE PAST

Museologist Alicia Wood is a keeper of Washington's History. As curator of Collections for Washington State Parks, Woods spends most of her time in a warren of rooms beneath a worn but stately historic mansion. Her job is documenting and caring for artifacts found around state parks. Some are fascinating. Others are mundane. Many are downright perplexing.

Washington State Parks manages nearly 800 historical structures, more than any other state agency in Washington.

Most are located in parks and are accessible to the public.

But what happens to objects discovered in state parks?

Room after room behind Woods’ office holds artifacts.

Some have been cataloged and boxed, but Woods isn’t joking when she says her backlog is 102 years, the age of Washington’s first state park.

Many of the letters, furniture pieces, tools, signs, textiles and ceramics in Parks’ collection have cultural or historical significance. Others may have a “cool factor” but don’t add much to the researcher’s knowledge of Washington’s heritage. The head-scratcher artifacts have no “provenience,” meaning Woods and her colleagues don’t know which park they came from, let alone their vintage or their importance.

Washington State Parks has been a region-wide leader in the preservation of both artifacts and historic buildings.

Woods helped open the first central State Parks collections facility (along with a curator) in the Pacific Northwest. In her position, she has to know what the agency has, catalog the artifacts, house them to state and federal standards, load their information into the agency database and have them ready to travel.

Kathleen Blanchette

Quality Services at Affordable Prices Three Generations of Family Funeral Service Experience 313 West Railroad Ave. Shelton, WA 98584

And, yes, the artifacts do see the light of day. Scholars and students can examine them via public request. They are also loaned to museums and historical societies. They are used at parks, in interpretive exhibits and in ranger-led programming.

Located next to Treasures

forest-funeralhome.com

(360) 427-8044 Pre-arranged Cremation & Funeral Plans FJORD

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The Collections repository must meet federal and state standards for collections care. When an artifact comes through the facility door, Woods takes it to a special decontamination room. She places it in a freezer for days to arrest mold and kill insects.

“We then warm it up, hoping any eggs will start to hatch.

After that, we refreeze it to kill the second generation,” she said. After the second freeze, she wraps the object in plastic and looks for signs of activity inside the wrapping. Any activity would indicate that a few pests or mold spores survived, and the object would go back to the freezer.

Woods lauds State Parks for its commitment to storing and showcasing Washington’s cultural resources, and she hopes people will study them for generations to come.

“We have to take care of these objects,” she said. “If we’ve done our job right, they should be here long after we’re gone.”

For this profile and more, visit Park Stories online at parks.state.wa.us.

Craig Romano |

STORY & PHOTOS

Mildred

LAKES

"The hardest, NASTIEST, trail in the Olympics."

Serious hikers only need apply

It’s the hardest, nastiest, meanest trail in the Olympics!

And that declaration should not be taken lightly, as I have hiked thousands of miles (and written about hundreds of hikes) throughout the Olympic Peninsula. With perhaps only the trail to Lake Constance ranking as just as nasty — you won’t find a more curse-inducing trail than this one. The first time I ever hiked to the Mildred Lakes, I swore to myself that I would never ever do this trail again. I hated it. But alas, I was back on that wretched trail again a few years afterward. And my conclusion was that it’s still the hardest, nastiest, you-have-to-be-crazyfor hiking-this trail in the Olympics! So are you interested in hiking it?

FEATURED COLUMNIST:

CRAIG ROMANO is an author of more than 20 hiking guidebooks including the bestselling Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd Edition (Mountaineers Books), which includes detailed descriptions for 136 hikes throughout the Olympic Peninsula.

MILDRED LAKES

DISTANCE: 9.0 miles roundtrip ELEVATION GAIN: 2900 feet HIGH POINT: 4100 feet DIFFICULTY LOOP: difficult SNOW FREE: July to October TRAILHEAD PASS NEEDED: Northwest Forest Pass or Inter-agency Pass GPS WAYPOINTS: Trailhead: N47 34.517, W123 15.672 Upper Lake: N47 33.461 W123 18.021 Features: Trio of backcountry lakes in a rugged wilderness setting; excellent views of Sawtooth Ridge and Mount Pershing; challenging trail requiring use of hands in places.

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Mildred Lakes are among the largest backcountry lakes the Olympics.

Their setting is quite sublime in a rugged basin surrounded by serrated peaks, and in this age of social distancing, their brutal approach helps make that directive easier to comply.

Mildred Lakes

Wilderness rules apply; Land Agency Contact: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District, Quilcene, (360) 765-2200; http://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic RECOMMENDED MAP: Green Trails Olympic Mountains East 168S RECOMMENDED GUIDEBOOKS: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd edition (Romano, Mountaineers Books) TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS: From Hoodsport travel north on US 101 north for 13.7 miles turning left at milepost 318 onto FR 25 (Hamma Hamma River Road). Continue for 13.3 miles (the last five miles are gravel and can be rough) to the trailhead.

FJORD 58 Trailhead facilities: privy, picnic area

Hit the Trail Okay, before hitting this trail, let’s have a chat. No sugar coating — this is what you’re in for. This trail was never officially built. The trailhead was however.

It’s fancy with a picnic table, privy and a view of a stunning waterfall. But don’t let those amenities fool you into thinking the trail is anything special. The trail is only 4.5 miles to the lakes, yet it will take you nearly that many hours to reach them.

Why? The actual evaluation difference between the trailhead and the lakes is a mere 1,900 feet. But the real elevation gain is more than 3200 feet with copious ups and downs.

There’s one section of trail that climbs more than 1,000 feet in about a half mile.

It is a nasty clamber up roots, rocks and loose gravel. But don’t curse the root—for they’ll be your handholds. There’s another trail section where you have to vertically drop about 25 feet into a tight ravine. And you’ll be using a veggie belay to climb out of it. You will skirt mud, go through mud, and probably be covered in mud upon reaching the lakes.

And if you don’t let out a scream, your knees and toes most certainly will! So why then unless you’re a sheer masochist would anyone want to hike this trail? For one thing, the Mildred Lakes are among the largest backcountry lakes in the Olympics. Their setting is quite sublime in a rugged basin surrounded by serrated peaks. You will definitely earn these lakes; as many hikers just aren’t cut out for this grueling journey.

The Mildred Lakes Trail leaves the roar of the cascading Hamma Hamma River behind and enters the 13,000-acre Mount Skokomish Wilderness. Starting out fairly easy, the path winds through an old cut that has been growing back in pretty nicely. The way then passes a large avalanche chute and enters gorgeous old growth forest. Here what once a decent path now deteriorates into an obstacle course.

Around fallen logs, over fallen logs, and straight-up rocky and rooty slopes the trail steeply climbs a 3200-foot ridge. Catch your breath, wipe the sweat from your brow and enjoy a good view of nearby Mount Pershing looming above.

The trail then descends from the ridge into a cool forested glen graced by rushing Huckleberry Creek. And yes, there are huckleberries here—lots of ‘em to sweeten this hike a tad come late summer. At the creek come to a questionable log crossing.

You can teeter on it to cross the creek.

That means you’ll see a fraction of the amount of people you’d see at nearby Lena Lake. And in this age of social distancing, the Mildred Lakes’ brutal approach helps make that directive easier to comply.

The trail now get tougher and a tad bit tricky. It ascends a steep ridge and comes to a tight ravine. Using roots as handholds, drop 25 steep feet into the dank draw before resuming a taxing climb. After clambering over rock, root, and ledge—and gaining 1000 feet in elevation in a little more than a half mile—the insanity ends on a 4100-foot ridge. Now wander along open ledges, enjoying excellent views of Mount Cruiser and the Sawtooth Range.

You might be a little dismayed however as there are no lakes in sight. Your punishment isn’t over yet.

The trail continues. Drop 250 feet and trudge through marshy mosquito breeding grounds. Make haste through it and finally reach the first of the Mildred Lakes. It’s set in deep old timber with a backdrop of rugged summits. The scene is serene. Scramble over more roots and rocks to the far side of the lake for good fishing spotd, resting spots and campsites. Watch resident osprey dive bomb the placid lake.

The other lakes are prettier, so carry on by crossing lower Mildred’s inlet stream and following a rough path through heather meadows for about 0.3 mile to a junction.

Here a rudimentary path leads right to middle Mildred Lake.

So if you’re ready to bust your rump, read on!

But it’s probably far safer to wade across.

Don’t bother drying your feet, because another creek crossing awaits shortly afterward.

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HAPPY CENTENNIAL! Quilcence celebrates Lura Mae Schafer – 100th Birthday Story courtesy of Brian Cullin; information sources: Quilcene Historical Museum (Larry McKeehan, Secretary) and Vivian Kuehl interview Admire its rocky islands. Upper Mildred, one of the largest backcountry lakes in the Olympics can be reached by continuing on the more defined path for just a couple hundred yards forward. Located in a bowl between Mount Lincoln and Mount Cruiser, the setting is as rugged as the terrain you just hiked across. Quite beautiful too, and hopefully justification for all of the bruises, scratches, and aches and pains you’ll bring back with you to the trailhead.

Tips for safe and healthy hiking during the Covid-19 Pandemic It’s imperative that we do all we can to prohibit a second devastating outbreak of this disease. We can do that by adhering to the following while we enjoy our trails: • Avoid crowded hiking destinations. If you arrive and the parking lot is already full, head to another location • Avoid hiking in large groups outside of your family • Practice Social Distancing while on the trail, giving other hikers lots of room to pass and keeping your distance from them at lakes, summits, etc.

• Wear a mask when encountering others on the trail. A buff or bandanna works well.

• Pack hand sanitizer • Pack it in pack it out • Don’t be a surface pooper. Learn how to properly poop in the woods by always using privies first if available-or by heading at least 200 feet away from all trails, campsites and water sources and digging a cat hole for your business. Bury your waste and toilet paper • Pack out all pet waste.

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Lura Mae Schafer has been around for 100 years, all but four of them in Quilcene. Born on April 18, 1920, Lura Mae has been entwined with the community her whole life.

As a teen-ager she worked at the local telephone office; and it is there she met her future husband Clifford Schafer. He came in every day from his work at the US Forest Service to send a telegram, recalled Lura Mae. “He was really a city boy, but he loved it here, and so we stayed,” she related to Vivian Kuehl in an earlier birthday interview. They were married in 1939, and spent a 3-month summer honeymoon on fire watch at Mount Jupiter. The lookout tower had no water or electricity.

Cliff would go out to get snow to melt for water, said Lura Mae. One day later in the season, she decided to descend a steep hillside to a small lake to wash clothes and take a bath. Cliff made her a backboard for the clothes, and she went down with no problem. Coming back, there was rope hanging by the trail for people to use to get up the slope, but the dirt slipped under her feet all the way, and she struggled.

“By the time I got back, with all the wet clothes in the backboard, I needed a bath worse than when I went down,” she said, laughing.

The couple raised two sons, Mike and Jeff, who produced four grand-children, and many great-grandchildren for their parents.

Lura Mae earned honors for her PTA, Church and other community work and kept watch over her growing clan. She was chosen both Citizen of the Year, and Pioneer Citizen for the Quilcene Fair & Parade.

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Photo: courtesy of Lynn Schafer; Lura Mae’s daughter-in-law

Lura Mae sticks close to home these days, but she enjoys visits from friends and relatives. “I tell about the old times, the way it used to be, and then people say, ‘I love your stories’”, said Lura Mae. As long time member of the Quilcene Historical Museum, and with early connections to the Worthington family, Lura Mae keeps a watchful eye on the restoration of the historic 1892 Hamilton-Worthington house across the street from her house.

“I knew the Worthingtons real well, and got along with all of them,” she recalled.

“I can still remember Grandma Worthington. She had snow white hair, and she gave out apples on Halloween.”

“The Museum is proud to honor this living legacy, and oldest living Quilcene born resident,” says Mari Phillips, Quilcene Museum Chair. “And we are also thankful to have a recorded oral history of our community treasure, Lura Mae Schafer.”

The town came out to celebrate her on her birthday, April 20 with ballons, cards and songs.

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Graphic Design by Alexan Ehrich

Summer at the

SALMON CENTER Summer is the season of outdoor education and adventure with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCESG). Even though necessary changes have been made to our original programs, we are confident that we’ve developed both safe and engaging outdoor experiences for families and students this summer - and we’re excited to get started!

Explore the Fjord program is for grades 6-12 and gets together Fridays, July through August. Each week participants head to a new location around the Canal and have the opportunity to hike, explore the beaches, and learn about ecosystems that make up this unique watershed from knowledgeable HCSEG staff.

Explore the Fjord supports an essential part of HCSEG’s mission to connect the community with the natural world, and to help students develop a lifelong relationship with the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

This year participants will be required to meet camp leaders at that day’s location.

Sign-ups will be limited to 8 participants per day.

includes a flock of poultry, and is home to a mixed herd of llamas, alpacas, and goats. You will also have the opportunity to learn about gardening and nutrition, pollinators, wild and domestic animals, water systems, environmental science and restoration, salmon, and the ways that these topics connect to sustainable agriculture and the environment.

Register for Explore the Fjord and Farm Stewards at pnwsalmoncenter.org.

HCSEG currently need help with a variety of projects on the Farm at Water’s Edge, an organic farm located at the Salmon Center. This farm provides produce on a donation-only basis, as well as serves as an example of sustainable agriculture near vital, estuarine salmon habitat. And starting in August, they will need help with HCSEG’s Adult Summer Chum Program.

HCSEG’s Farm Stewards Family Days is for the youngsters, ages 6-11, and their family, (all kids must be accompanied by an adult family member). Farm Stewards Family Days are on Mondays, Thursdays August through October, volunteers mainand Saturdays from 9 AM -12 PM at the tain a 24/hour fish trap on the Union RivSalmon Center. Farm Stewards also starts er. They collect data critical to the work in June and ends in August. This year restoring Hood Canal Summer Chum, a participation is limited to one family per species that has been listed as threatened day, and HCSEG staff will tailor the day’s by the ESA since 1999. Volunteers are activities to whatever topics you find most provided with all equipment - including interesting! You will be able to specify waders - and learn how to professionally what you would like to do on your Farm handle salmon and other species making Stewards Family Day upon registration. their way upriver. This is a great volunteer Each day your family has the option to opportunity for friends and family. Reginteract with all aspects of maintaining a ister on their website to be notified when fully functioning, organic farm and garden the Summer Chum Program volunteer that produces fresh fruits and vegetables,

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sign-up goes live - it’s a favorite in the local community, and volunteer slots fill up fast. You can also stay tuned by following the Salmon Center on Facebook and Instagram @the.salmoncenter.

As always when running education programs, the safety of participants and staff is a top priority, and this summer brings new threats to that priority with COVID-19. They have diligently reviewed guidelines from the CDC, Washington State Department of Health, Mason County Public Health and the American Camp Association when creating our safety policies and camp schedules for the season. For full details on new camp guidelines and to stay up-to-date as safety policies continue to change throughout the summer, visit pnwsalmoncenter.org.

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dive into your next ADVENTURE.

oysters | waterfalls | mountains We’re not even mentioning all the things to do.

Discover what we can’t stop talking about. Book a stay on the #wildsideWA.

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