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Kalaloch on the Pacific Ocean

© Jerri Brooker

Is there a special place you go to where the world escapes you and you can be alone in nature? I don't mean in your head. I mean a place in the world where you can disappear(figuratively) off the face of the earth while you are there? Know what I mean?

I have two.

As Suite 101 celebrates its third birthday today (WAY TO GO, Suite 101!) I take you to a special place in Washington State.

Escape to Kalaloch Beach in the Olympic National Park in Washington (pronounced "clay-lock"). Kalaloch is on the Pacific Ocean on the West Coast of Washington. Pick up a map. See it? It's right on Highway 101, 25 miles south of Forks, Washington. It's not like Ocean Shores or Long Beach areas, as there's not much commercial activity - only one lodge, one small store, one campground, the beach - that's it. No cars on the beach, just you and the beach as far as you can see. (If you go during the week when it's not clam season, being alone on the beach is a real possibility!) Weekends are busy - come early to get a campsite. If you want to stay at Kalaloch Lodge, then book at least six months early.

Kalaloch Lodge is located a mile south of Kalaloch Campground in the Olympic National Park. It has quite a history. It was used by the Coast Guard in 1942 as a beach patrol station during World War II. Read about it at the above link. It was in existence long before we started visiting it in the 1950's.

We started going to Kalaloch as kids, camping in tents with big families in the 177-site campground. We felt lucky when we could get a site backing up to the ocean. I remember a six-person tent, cooking and washing dishes outside (and resenting the time away from the fire or the beach). I remember campfires, and s'mores. I remember waking in the night because my brother would call for the neighbor's horse in his sleep (we used to ride them). I remember soggy trips where the rain poured in big, huge buckets soaking bedding and all; and sunny trips where tans were gathered in the welcome blinding rays of a comfortable, cozy, private natural tanning booth in the austere outdoors.

Most of all, I just remember the extended sandy beach, and walking on logs while listening to the soothing tide, hearing the seagulls, listening to rangers telling stories around a big campfire. I recollect enjoying the sunrise and sunset peacefulness every day, and digging razor clams in the night with lanterns for guidance. It's a pretty neat experience to view all the folks with lanterns in the night busy digging clams. (When the low tide is in the daytime, of course, then this event doesn't happen.)

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