Chimacum Rock and Mt. Muller

Over a week ago, on my days off from weedwhacking, I went on some adventures. Saturday was a journey to Chimacum/Big Rock, just down the road. Julia and I hiked 20 minutes and then climbed up a cliff (straight up) using a metal rope. The view up top was gorgeous after I'd shaken my nerves.

What we had to climb up, to get to...

Here! Me and Julia at the top, doesn't look as impressive as it was.

The next day I traveled with Heather and Chris (the new marine science center intern who is doing the internship I did last summer) to hike Mt. Muller in the Olympic National Forest. This monster of a hike involved 5.6 mile uphill, climbing 3700ft. Phew! I was tired. Then once at the top you'd normally think, YES!, half way done and it's all downhill. No, we still had 7.4 to go. There were some cool views but I think there are more rewarding views in the area with further to go either in overall distance or in elevation. I was a bit grumpy somewhere around mile 6, after we'd supposedly reached the top, yet we kept going up. Then it was some serious switchbacks on the downhill and my knees were screaming. At mile 10 it leveled out and reminded me of the Hoh rainforest with moss covered trees, but at this point I was ready for the thing to be over but it went on for 3 MORE MILES! Well, I survived but not without going a little insane. I made a video at the top with the best views and hummed "Take it Easy" by the Eagles as a distraction to my exhaustion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OsUuTRCjZA

Heath and Chris on top of Mt. Muller


This is pre-grump-dom

OK, this view was good but not 13miles good