Snow: Different Places, Different Times
One trip in particular stands out in my mind. My mother was on her yearly vacation without the family and my Dad took a cousin, siblings and I to visit this breathtaking place. It was one of those great moments of life. The snow was piled high and it was every kid's dream. We played to our hearts' content.
We also visited Deer Park, but not as frequently. It was a another beautiful alpine destination - a great place to picnic and see wildflowers and deer in the spring, summer and fall. There's a rustic campground there, but don't try to camp in the winter; the gates to the area close 2.5 miles below the campground.
If you'd like to travel to these areas south of Port Angeles, see maps at http://www.nps.gov/olym/hurr.htm and check out what's available at each site. Both areas provide hiking trails. You can hike from Deer Park to Obstruction Point in the summer.
Now I live closer to Mt. Spokane ski area, where I still like to be in the snow. Snow also frequents my doorstep at home and I can experience it right outside. However, it's more fun to go to Mt. Spokane.
I gave up skiing due to injuries, but I still love to get out and play in the snow. Skiers, there's some great powder on this mountain. Not like the "Cascade cement" we lovingly call it on the west side of the Cascades.
Here are a couple of shots near the main lodge. The building on the right is home to the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol. The next picture is one of two lodges at the bottom of the mountain.
Vista House is up the lift to the left of the run you can see in the last picture. Take a ride up to visit a building that reminds my husband of a scene from Dr. Zhivago, the movie. There are closeup pictures at Mt. Spokane's website: http://www.spokane.com/ .
I live closer to the east side small town of Deer Park now. It's nothing like the Deer Park in Olympic National Park, but the familiar name brings back memories. It's on the way to Loon Lake, off Highway 395.
Deer Park, the town, is small, but business is springing up on the outskirts. They even have a McDonald's. It's a far cry from the Deer Park in Olympic National Park, but it's Deer Park just
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