Third Beach — Saturday, May. 26, 2001

Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast

Lots of people! That was the most people that I've seen on any trail anywhere. Weather like that and a long weekend, how can you blame them' I even saw baby strollers on the beach! Overland trail to third beach was in fantastic shape. Some muddy spots, but not bad at all, and easily negotiable. The beach was beautiful! The ladders/ropes up the next head to the next overland trail were in good shape. Once again the trail was a bit muddy in spots, but not bad at all. The next beach doesn't have sand as nice as third beach. Like fine pea gravel. Kind of hard walking, for a beach. The next overland trail was like the first ones, and the next beach was like the first one, hard packed sand. Giant's graveyard was magnificent. Found a nice spot right off the beach. Lots of wildlife. In the morning a bald eagle was hunting the beach about 50 feet away, 5-10 feet off the sand. He stood there by a creek for awhile, caught something, and took off. A juvenile eagle flew off one of the islands and into the jungle right over my head! I just laid over backwards and watched him/her go. That bird wasn't more than 15 feet up! I could see individual feathers, and hear the wind on it's wings! I love it when the locals put on a show. Beautiful hike out the next morning. Saw a pretty fresh bear print in one of the mudholes (little guy). Raindrops were hitting the windshield of my truck as we were pulling away from the trailhead. Hit the Southworth ferry dock right before it was ready to load, didn't have to wait at all for the short jaunt back to the rock. Just a glorious weekend!