|Wanderung| HIKE CALL OUT May 19, 20, 21, Olympic Hot Spring

INTRO and DESCRIPTION: Want to soak in lush green rocky hot springs for the long weekend? Join me on a 3-days outing to the Olympic Hot Springs on the Washington Peninsula.

Saturday:

Getting there via Anacortes and Whidbey Islands to Keystone, take the ferry (30 min) to Port Townsend, continue driving to Port Angeles, signing in at the Ranger Station, hike to the Olympic Hot Springs (campground) and set up tents. The hike is an easy 4 km hike from the parking lot, negligible elevation gain. Spend the night cooking dinner, exploring the area and taking a bath in the hot springs. Please read http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/wic/dolyhot.htm for further information on conditions and safety.

Sunday:

On Sunday, I would like to attempt the Happy Lake Ridge Loop which provides stunning views to Mt. Olympia and towards Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The loop is 25 km long and has an elevation gain of about 1000 m. It gently climbs on a well-trodden path towards a ridge walk. In higher elevations, the trails is snow-covered, so bring your snowshoes/crampons and hiking poles.

Monday:

Get back to Vancouver.

We'll be crossing the border, so please don't forget your passports. Bring US-dollars, as we have to pay ferry (ca. US $ 30 per vehicle), National Park fees (US $15 per vehicle) and campground fees (US $ 2 per person/night).

Please note: If the weather forecast turns very bad, I will cancel and postpone the hike to another weekend.

Further information on request.

DISTANCE: Hot Springs: 4 km, Happy Lake Ridge Loop: 25 km
ELEVATION GAIN: Hot Springs: ca. 50m, Happy Lake Ridge Loop: 1000 m
TIME NEEDED: 3 days
BOOK RATING: hike to Hot Springs: easy, Happy Lake Ridge: strenuous
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION: TBD
LATEST RETURN TIME: Monday, May 21, ca. 9pm
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HIKERS: 2 cars (7/8 people depending on car size)
STRICT SIGN-UP DEADLINE: noon Friday
PLEASE INDICATE: If you are bringing a car, what kind of camping gear you have, what gear you want to share.
ORGANIZER: susannehempel@web.de
ORGANIZER CONTACT SCHEDULE IF OPTING OUT: Cell phone
BRING: $$$ (US and CND), Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, thermarest), cooking gear (stove, lighter, pots), snowshoes/crampons, bathing suits, food (3x lunch, 2x dinner, 2x breakfast), snacks, water – Please let me know what you have and we can see if we can share.

See below for the 10 essentials (always bring at least these plus enough warm layers)
1. Flashlight, spare batteries and bulb
2. Fire-making kit – waterproof matches/lighter, firestarter/candle
3. Signaling device – whistle or mirror to signal searchers if you become lost
4. Extra food and water – 1 litre/person
5. Extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection and toque)
6. Navigational/ Communication Aids (maps, compass, GPS, charts, cellular phone, satellite phone, hand held radio – fully charged battery) – know how to use them
7. First Aid kit – know how to use it
8. Emergency shelter – orange tarp or large orange garbage bag. These can also be used as signaling devices
9. Pocket knife.
10. Sun protection (glasses, sunscreen, hat)

WANDERUNG PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER:
-Organizers are not in any way responsible for you on the hike
-Non-members are NOT invited, all attendees must have signed up through the website with a valid e-mail address and be actively receiving Wanderung updates
-Do NOT show up to the meeting spot unannounced
-Carpool leaves at latest 10 minutes after meet time
-Pls do not impose any time ceiling on a hike, if you need to be somewhere after the hike, please be patient, nature knows no schedules and rushing a hike can defeat the purpose