Show Section Sunday August H 2002 Pagel The Herald Journal in approximately six hour rotations so you must plan accordingly If you take too long in a section you may have to sit and wait for the six hours then hike again That is if you wantto walk at three in this morning otherwise you are ying warm in your bag nature sings you a lullaby with its Crashing waves and the sounds of whales offshore Such are the nights on the southern beaches of Olympic National Park While most national parks are getting more crowed each year those seeking solace can still find it in remote Washington state The park has many different regions from the rain forests around the Hoh River to the glacier covered peaks of Hurricane it Ridge The ocean is still the main draw Many people crowd the beaches near the parking lot but hike a few hundred yards away and you will find yourself alone One great hike is along the southern section of the park Starting near Oil City you are able to walk for 17 - miles to Second Beach a course that will take three days Mileage-wis- e the trail is not long but sections of it can only be passed at low (fee When hiking die beach you must have a good map and a tide table High and low tides change ft 1- : ' 360-565-- ‘ & ’ f - A f stuck waiting 18 hours Five sections of the beach are impassable at all times In these spots you will find trails that lead inland or time will be rope ladders on the cliffs for you to climb Be mindful that this is not a race — every turn reveals a new place to explore Half of the fun is wading in the tide pools looking at starfish and sea anemones 3 Make sure to stop early to set up camp and watch foe sunset while cooking over a fire Burning driftwood on the beach is not only permitted but encouraged The only requirement is that you cannot use a chainsaw and you must burn the wood completely to ash If you decide to go wilderness permits can be 3 100 reserved in advance by calling or by stopping at any of the ranger stations Bear cans are required and they sometimes can be borrowed from the rangers 'VM - ? ’VT‘ I y ' "i " it MV i : rv ’ ' i " ’ Clockwise from top: '" i V i A sea stack la sitouetted against foe setting sun at Second Beach When that trail move inland to go around impassable sections of the beach foe landscape T C ' j dramatically from sand and rock to old growth forests with vegetatkxv Akxig the trail there are no designated campsites so campers Just pitch their tents where the high tide won’t reach them ' Starfish cover 4 rock sd low tide ptovidbig a colorful dsplay Don’t touch fish though Vs Hagai to dtetufo any plartf or animal life in tkto pools A sea anemone let In shallow pool of water When the water level lowers the anemone " retracts i : mi 4 V'' y : v v ' C - T" v- 'S1 Story and photos by Eli Lucero ' ' I' r T -- fiorr iirsvir-utiT r-- V 2MMM'Sseseae Msawsaaeas esiiiesew Msar mi eeii m e s rmAarLSAM m i s jtj f ' |