Since visiting Ozette Triangle as a day hike several years ago, returning to camp at one of the beachfront campsites at Cape Alava has been high on my list, and it did not disappoint!
Our group of 12 set out from the trailhead in a light but persistent morning rain. Thankfully our group were well prepared with an assortment of waterproof layers, so we stayed fairly dry during the gentle, mostly downhill hike from Ozette to Cape Alava. As the trail wound through dripping rainforest and the occasional sea of fragrant skunk cabbage, we debated how many years it might take for the more newly installed sections of boardwalk to succumb to the carpet of mosses that edged most of the wooden trail structures. That said, the boardwalks were in excellent condition with only one broken board and one short stretch of slanted turnpike where a support seemed to have rotted away. The signs we saw of recent brushing and drainage clearing along the trail were also greatly appreciated!
By the time we reached Cape Alava, the rain had relented giving us a chance to hang all our wet gear out to dry as we set up camp. Our early start paid off as only one campsite was occupied when we arrived, so we were able to snag a group of sites close together. After a chilly, overcast Friday, we woke to patchy clouds Saturday morning. After a quick breakfast in camp, we headed south along the beach to view the incredible petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks. We saw several nesting bald eagles along the way, and spotted an osprey perched on one of the sea stacks near Wedding Rocks. The clouds had burned off as we hiked north, so we spent most of the afternoon soaking in the sun. After dinner, we walked north along the beach in the golden evening light, then sat on the beach to enjoy a gorgeous sunset. Overnight, the rain returned and we had a particularly wet hike back to the trailhead. Even in the downpour, there were very few muddy stretches of trail to navigate, although as many others have reported, the boardwalks did get very slippery. We made good time on the hike out, making it back to the trailhead just before noon and leaving plenty of time for the long drive home.
Comments