ScenicBoys

Olympic Hot Springs

The weather was getting colder and wetter as the Northwest's winter season set in, back in late September. Our buddy Micah suggested we head to the Peninsula and take advantage of the Olympic Mountain rain shadow. So sure enough, after a ferry ride out of Seattle and a few miles drive north of the mountains we found clear skies.

Micah is a Marine Biologist who has done a lot of backpacking through this area of Olympic National Park, so it was great to hear him tell stories and rattle off plant names as we drove to our trail head. There was quite a few cars in the parking lot when we arrived, but after we started the hike we realized that most of them were Day Trippers enjoying the leisurely hike.

The trail to the hot springs and camp area was paved most of the way, which make this hike extremely easy. The Park maintained the road and camp area until the mid 60s when they decided to restrict the area to hikers only. When we reached the camp area we wandered around the many camp spots, trying to find that wasn't so close to the other campers. We were lucky to find a nice big spot on a ridge of a large Elowha River Valley

The hot springs themselves are about a quarter mile from the camp area. The three of us had a great time exploring the woods for the hidden springs. After a half hour of searching we found seven very inviting pools, ranging in temperatures. We then sat in one for a bit and discussed the microbes and other creatures that depend on the sulfuric water to survive.

Dinner that night was all vegetables. We cooked potatoes, carrots, celery and onions in our own makeshift stews (I cooked mine with some Whiskey from my flask, which was quite delectable). The next morning Garet and I got up early and went back to the hot springs and enjoyed a nice dip all to ourselves.

ScenicBoys: Olympic Hot Springs from scenicboys on Vimeo.

We have a few ideas to keep the site going through the next couple months. Our next project will be our own biographies. So if there is anything you'd like to know about us, send an email with your questions. We're thinking we'll have one up in a week or so. But until then keep up the adventures, whether they're on a forest trail or city park. Bundle up and get outside.

Proposition 8 Protest

Greetings Adventure People!

Sorry it's been awhile since we've posted. The past few weeks have had us busy with political issues, things we normally don't post about. I'm sure must of you have been keeping up with the elections and the passing of Proposition 8 in California. This was a huge step back for our nation and the LGBT community. We have several friends who were recently married down there, my brother and his partner had plans to do the same, and one day Garet and I would also like the option to do so.

The week after the elections we were reading news articles about the protests happening all over California. Thats when something sparked in us, we both felt the need to get involved. The next day I got an email about a gathering happening here in Seattle, part of a nationwide protest against "Prop H8."

We stayed up the night before making positive political protest signs and the next morning got up bright and early, excited to rally with others who feel the same way as us. We would have never guessed we would be part of a group of 6,000 Seattlites marching through the gay district and into the heart of downtown Seattle. The energy was incredible and extremely inspiring. When we got home and saw the turnout in other cities and towns I immediately channeled that energy into art, and created something that I hope will continue to inspire until everyone is equal.

ScenicBoys: Join the Impact from scenicboys on Vimeo.

Rachel Lake

It's been over a month since we slept outside and we are both feeling the withdrawals. This trip into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness happened the weekend after our American West Road Trip, and this time we were lucky to have some friends join us.
Heading east out of Seattle we drove to the middle of the Cascade Range to find a high mountain lake we've heard about. At about noon, on a Saturday, the 5 of us started a 4 mile hike up to the top of Rampart Ridge. The beautiful day, trail side berries, and silly banter made the up hill hike rather enjoyable. All the way to the middle of the last mile, where we had a 1300ft gain to the top.

By the time we got to the top we were dripping wet and panting like a pack of dogs. But when we saw the view out across the forested mountains we quickly forgot about the difficult journey up. Rachel Lake is at 4650ft and cupped by jagged mountain spires, that make the shape of a wide open set of sharp teeth. The icy blue lake was beautifully still, until a Brook Trout, Cascade Frog or a shirtless boy make a splash.

After the sun set we sat around the fire, ate dinner and played a few 20 question type games. It's always so fun with a group of fellow adventure people. There's always more jokes, new games, and longer laughs.
 
ScenicBoys: Rachel Lake from scenicboys on Vimeo.

This Autumn has been exceptionally beautiful, though we haven't had time to venture far from the city recently. There's one more adventure left to post and then I guess we'll have to post about life in the city. We've decided we want to start raising money for a cause that's much bigger than ourselves, so we've been cooking up some ideas for a pledge drive. We'll be giving away copies of our photo book and prints of some of the best ScenicBoy pictures. Details to come!