Olympic Coast Backpack

My sister pulled me into yet another checkoff hike in her attempt to complete all hikes in the 100 Classic Hikes in Washington book. This time it was a backpack trip along the Olympic coast to Toleak Point. Rachel also joined us and it was her first backpacking trip on her own. We started the trip with a long drive around the Olympic Peninsula to get to the Third Beach trailhead near La Push. We did some questionable parking at the full parking lot and started our hike in the dark along a short trail to Third Beach. We set up camp on the beach and I stayed up past midnight to ensure the rising tide didn’t reach our tent.

We started early the next morning to ensure high tide wouldn’t block off our route. After a short walk along Third Beach we reached the first of two rope climbs required to get around the protruding coastal cliffs. It was a bit of a challenge climbing with our heavy backpacks, but we made it up and over without issue. We continued a few more miles along the beach to Strawberry Point and eventually to Toleak Point where we set up camp. We had arrived before noon so we had most of the day to relax and enjoy the beach. It may have been too much time as the sun beared down us the whole time and the ocean was too cold to swim in. Rachel learned an important lesson on the need to apply sunblock everywhere.

The next morning we got up at a reasonable time and was able to return at leisurely pace. As with all hikes along the Olympic coast it was a very beautiful hike through the untouched coastal wilderness. Rachel did very good on her first backpack trip and looks forward to doing more. Julie finished the last of the coastal hikes from the Classic Hikes book and now has mostly long and remote hikes remain to be checked off, some of which I’m sure to be dragged into joining.