Trail report week of July 29: Snow, Olympic Mountain goats with kids, and more...

Olympic Mountain Goats on Bogachiel Peak in the Olympic Mountains, July 29, 2012, Photo by Barking Sasquatch

I was up at elevation over the weekend, spending a lot of time contemplating the beauty of creation and taking in expansive views of Mount Olympus and her minions and the snow-clogged waters in Seven Lakes Basin.

Mount Olympus and Lupine, Olympic National Park High Divide Trail. Photo by Barking Sasquatch.

This trip to the Olympic Mountains - somewhat physically challenging - was appropriately timed, considering the start of the Summer Olympics last week.

Upcoming event on the Port Gamble trails to be aware of:

• Sun. Aug. 5: Roots Rock Trail Race, “Port Gamble Half-Marathon”

Port Gamble and other north Kitsap trails are drying out. Will the sun stay out and will the trails stay dry? Trail encounters this week:

• Tue. Port Gamble trails hike: 60 min. with my family and Tia, from PG gate 2.
• Wed. Port Gample trails hike: 60 min. with Denise and Tia, from PG gate 2.
• Thur. Port Gamble trails hike: 60 min. with Ian, Koen, Sascha, and Tia, PG gate 2.

Trail report week of July 15

In honor of the height of the summer hiking season, I'm sharing some "eye candy" from past trips. I look forward to getting onto the trails this summer!

The Needles reflected in Imperial Tarn, Royal Basin, Olympic National Park, August 2010 trip with my family. Washington Trails Association used this picture in one of their printed publications.

Mountain Goat on Buckhorn Mountain, Olympic National Forest, July 2011 trip with Ian and our dogs.

The Good Life on Buckhorn Mountain, Olympic National Forest, July 2011 trip with Ian and our dogs.

Upper Silver Lake, Olympic National Forest, October 2010 trip with Tim and Don.

Thundershowers have added some dampness back into the North Kitsap trails, but, hey, what's a little mud?! It washes off, right? North Kitsap trail encounters this week:

• Sunday Port Gamble trails hike with family and Tia, 55 minutes from PG gate 2.
• Tuesday Port Gamble trails hike with Jason and Tia, 80 minutes from PG gate 2.
• Thursday Port Gamble trails hike with Tia, 90 minutes from PG gate 1.

Trail report week of July 8

Sunshine in the sky means drier trails. Let's get out and enjoy these great conditions and fine weather. It must be time for vacations, because there's a lull in organized, supported events on the Port Gamble trails. North Kitsap hiking trail encounters this week:

• Port Gamble hike Monday with Denise and Tia, 70 minutes, from PG gate 2.
• Port Gamble hike Wednesday with Denise and Tia, 75 minutes, from PG gate 2.
• Port Gamble hike Thursday with Tim, Jessica, and Tia, 135 minutes, from PG gate 1, see route below.
• Port Gamble hike Sunday with Matthew and Tia, 75 minutes, from PG gate 2.

Trail report week of July 1

We continue to see a lot of mud on the singletrack out on the Port Gamble trails. This Sunday, Port Gamble will host one of the Roots Rock series of events. Good luck to all the trail runners, and Happy Independence Day!

• July 8: Roots Rock Trail Race Timber Town 10K

Kitsap hiking trail encounters this week on Port Gamble trails:

• Sunday Hike with Matthew and Tia, 70 minutes from PG gate 2.
• Tuesday Hike with Tia, 75 minutes from PG gate 2.
• Thursday Hike with Tia, 70 minutes from PG gate 2.