Hurricane Ridge

My first hike in Olympic National Park was along Hurricane Ridge.  There is a 13 mile road which starts at the "Heart o' the Hills" entrance station and climbs to an elevation of 5,230 feet (1,594 meters).  It is a beautiful drive through the forest with grand views of the area.

There is a 1.5 mile trail that will lead you to the top of Hurricane ridge, summiting at 5,757 feet (1,755 meters). From the summit you can see Port Angeles below.  You can also see Mount Olympus (7,980 feet or 2,432 meters) and the Blue Glacier, which is the largest glacier in the park.  

Pictured above is a White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura, which is the smallest member of the grouse family. Ptarmigan do not migrate and live on the tundra through all the seasons.  The word "tundra" is Russian for "land above the trees".  As mountains rise to the sky, the conditions become too harsh for large plants to survive and grow.  Here only the small will survive and trees become shrubs and eventually can't grow  at all. 

Already by late October the peaks have snow.  Winter is the rainy season and at high elevations in Olympic National Park some mountain tops might receive as much as 200 feet (61 meters) of snow!

Most of the storms roll in from the Pacific.  The Port Angeles side of the mountains is in the rain shadow.  The Olympic mountains are so tall that the peaks will block the storms from getting to the east side of the peninsula.  Port Angeles receives only 26 inches (66 centimeters) of rain and 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow.  

Pictured above is a Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, which is a medium sized grouse.  Ruffed Grouse live in forested areas at lower elevations. They do not migrate.  In the winter they grow comb like projections on their toes, which helps the birds walk on top on the snow.  Ruffed Grouse will burrow into snow drifts to roost for the night.  The snow acts as insulation and keeps them warm. 

Along Hurricane Ridge there are numerous short and easy trails to view the alpine plant life and see a few birds as well.  The views of the mountains from this area are spectacular. In the winter, Hurricane Ridge is one of the best places to go snowshoeing and skiing.