Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge - Dungeness Spit — Saturday, May. 28, 2016

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

First off, the rating as an easy hike must be based on elevation alone. This was a moderately difficult hike for a few environmental reasons. 1.) You have to constantly probe the path of least resistance between loose sand, loose beach gravel, wet compact sand or stone strewn sand fields. That isn't too difficult for short distances, but for 11 miles, the cumulative effect takes its toll. 2.) the slope of the beach has you walking on an angled surface alternating the tilt of your hike going and then coming. 3.) We made killer time getting to the lighthouse and then realized why on the return trip as we hiked into a constant headwind of 25 to 30 miles an hours. Now that I'm done whining, it was a very beautiful hike and well worth it! Many give up before they reach the lighthouse so once you get out a ways it's pretty quiet and peaceful. The lighthouse is absolutely breathtaking and I think that the photo I'm posting is probably the best photo I've ever takien all due to the subject matter and not the photographer. So much gorgeous to take in as you see the Sound and The Olympics. The uneven hiking made me sore in places that I don't usually get sore in from hiking...hips and groin.... but I'm happy to have done it. The tip of going at low tide is a great tip as you can often get a respite from the terrain by walking down on the damp compacted sand.