Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches — Monday, Dec. 10, 2007

Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast

Dec 11, 2007: Shi-Shi Beach to Point of the Arches Additional Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani/sets/72157603434722184 Dramatic sea stacks, a pristine beach, crashing waves, foaming seas, and not a soul to be seen; a beautiful day on the Pacific coast. Last year, also in December, I made my first trip to Shi-Shi Beach. High tides had prevented me from reaching Point of the Arches, so I had compensated by heading over to Rialto Beach instead. (http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin.dev/wtaweb.pl?7+reports+displayM+2006122100) This year, I was determined that high tide or no, I was going to make it Point of the Arches. An early start from the house had me on the 5:30am ferry for Bainbridge Island. By 10:00am I was at the Shi-Shi beach trailhead and on my way. The 1st mile was pleasant walking through forest, over slick boardwalks and quaint bridges. The next mile was anything but! Similar to last year, a river of mud stretched before me, masquerading as a trail. I decided that an “brute force” approach would serve me best. The very first mud-hole had me sinking down to mid-calf, so I decided that the “blind-man” approach would serve me better: prod next mud-hole with trekking pole, take step if safe… 2mi into the hike is the way down to Shi-Shi Beach’s north end. My tide charts said that with the timing of a Tokyo Bullet train, I had made it to this point smack in the middle of high tide. I decided that rather than heading down to the beach and risk getting stymied by high tides once again, I would continue on, braving the overgrown/abandoned ‘road’ that would lead me down to the beach a mile further along. “Character building” is the phrase that best describes my little bit of madness. Sharp branches behaving like thorns, thorns…err…also behaving like thorns, mud-holes and numerous blow-downs, all added to my misery. One of the longest miles I have done. Finally, after reaching the beach, I looked back north at the route I should have taken and it was blissfully free of any ocean. I guess all high tides are not created equal. By now I was close enough to Point of the Arches that I could almost taste it. Every second further banished the past 2 miles to distant memory. Photographic diarrhea took hold of me round about this time…I spent the rest of my hike enveloped in a happy glow. Stats: • Distance: 8mi • Elevation gain: Who cares • Hiking time: 5.25hrs • Total trip time: 17hrs