We were so proud of ourselves for booking a camping site months ago for the 4th of July weekend, which we usually fail to do so. Blake island was our destination. We did little to no research on the island and the campground before reserving it. Don't get me wrong, we are not extremely adventurous couple. We just did not want to do our homework. Instead, we made assumptions.
The first assumption was that we could go to Blake Island with our car. There must be a ferry, we thought. Two days before the trip, we learn that there is a passenger only ferry and what you carry on must fit on our lap! First of all, we do not have any backpacking gears as we always camped near our car before. We mentally went through our camping gear to see if we can lighten our load (weight and volume wise). If we brought snacks and nothing to cook, then it looked manageable to a degree. We were a little bit relieved.
The night before the camp, we realized that the ferry now only works on weekends because of Covid-19, and our reservation is for one day and it is on on Friday! We were devastated. It was already hard to find a campsite for the 4th of July weekend even months ago, and now it would be impossible to come across an available campsite. We spent hours on the internet to find an activity for the weekend.
Hours later, I've found a place and it was at the historical Lake Crescent Lodge near Olympic National Park. It was the last room, so I quickly booked it before someone grabs it. We were over the moon. We got on the road early morning the next day.
Lake Crescent is a magnificent clean body of water. The reason why it is so clear is because it lacks nitrogen, which inhibits the growth of algea. There are couple of trails within the walking distance of Lake Crescent. I'd highly recommend doing: Moments in time Trail, Marymere Falls Trail, and Mount Storm Trail. Mount Storm is a strenuous uphill trail with stunning views at the top.
Just walking around Lake Crescent is also rewarding. I'd recommend going to the place where Lake Crescent meets the river. Also, jump into the water! It is sooo cold but it wakes you up for forever.
We stayed at the historical lodge, and it does not have a bathroom in the room! Of course, I did not spend any time reading the details of the room, because I was busy booking the room before losing it to someone else. Apart from the bathroom, the room was outdated with a twin size bed for two, and you can absolutely hear the people in adjacent rooms. So, I cannot say that I slept well. The freezing cold water I jumped into might also contribute to that :)
On our way back to Seattle, we decided to do one more hike, Hurricane Ridge Trail in Olympic National Park. One of the best trails I've ever did. You can see wild flowers, wild life, and terrific mountain views. We saw a Marmot for the first time! He came so close to me, I was stunned. I love the smell of high mountains, which was abundant on this trail.
We may have failed to camp at Blake Island, failed to find a hotel room with toilet in it, but we got to hike around 10 miles in two days, jump into Lake Crescent, and walk on a ridge among the vast range of mountains. Overall, it turned into a great weekend!
Cheers,
Gokce
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