Round-Trip Distance: ~16 miles.
This was our first multi-day backpacking trip.
Day 1: Hoh River Trail, 2.9 Miles
We arrived late (like 5:30pm), but still decided we should hike in. This was the first time we had to don our entire rain gear setup including garbage bags over the packs. It was raining pretty heavy. The kids didn’t complain a bit. There was a lot of mud on the trail and by 8:30pm when we arrived in our camp. Mt Tom Creek we were wet and famished. I did a bit of research earlier in the day before we left about cottonballs soaked or coated in petroleum jelly, so after I started the food rehydrating (pasta with pesto), I pulled one of the fire starter balls out and tried. Attempt 1 failed, but attempt 2 worked like a charm and in a wet soggy evening we had a really nice fire using wet wood! When Will went to get water from the river, he saw the sand bar and almost made us move our camp. I was wet and tired and we decided we would make that decision tomorrow.
Day 2: Mt Tom Creek to 5-Mile Campground (attempt).
After breakfast Will showed me the sand bar and we were both impressed enough to move the camp. It was awesome, we were surrounded by mountains and we could see all of them around us. Also, it wasn’t raining and blue skies were trying to peak through. The sun was out and after our camp move we packed some day hiking stuff and started on our way. It was awesome, other than the mosquitos were out in droves. Our Lemon Eucalyptus Bug Repellent only kept them off for so long. Fortunately we didn’t have many bites. In reality 5-mile campground is more like 5.5 mile campground.We made it only to 5 miles and then we turned around to go back. On the way back the kids played hide-and-seek on the trail, which entails running ahead far enough we can’t see them (they think) so they can hide behind a fern or tree and then yell surprise as we walk by. This happened the entire 2.5 miles back from the turn around point. They LOVED it. We would have probably made it to 5 mile, but it was getting later than anticipated and we wanted to give the kids plenty of rock throwing time and fishing in the good weather. It was a bit windy, but everything was wonderful. Again, great fire with our great fire starter balls.
Day 3: Hole-In-The-Wall
We packed up and hiked out the approx 3 miles, to the ranger station, checked out and traveled to Forks, WA. Here we checked out a bear canister and made our way to Rialto Beach. Our plan was to hike to Hole-In-The-Wall and camp overnight. Again another 2.5 mile trek. The kids loved it. We were hiking right on the beach with the waves at our feet. The kids are terrified of the ocean, but love the sand, so the trip was perfect as long as the waves didn’t touch the kids. 🙂
We found a campsite just after hole-in-the-wall the we set our tent high out of the waves and had our kitchen and fire on the beach. It was a special super moon that night, but we couldn’t see it because it was overcast. We went to bed when the waves encroached on our campfire and put it out.
Day 4: Coming Home
We packed up for good and walked the beach home. Isabel recently has gotten this fascination that she wants to be the first one to reach the car, so in the last mile or so of the last three hikes she has been in the lead setting a pretty daunting pace to make it before everyone else. It makes the hike back way easier to actually walk at adult speed.
5 hours later we arrived at home. Can’t wait to get to Glacier Meadow maybe next year.
