SCUTTLEBUTT IS SUMMER arrived on the North Olympic Peninsula on Tuesday.
Surely, my dear Peninsulites, you must know better than that.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my years of Peninsula punditry, it’s that summer is a relative term out here at the edge of the earth.
The calendar may note the official start of the season as late June, but that could be only generously classified as a rough estimate on the Peninsula.
There is no definitive schedule.
All we know is that summer — at least in the broad sense that the rest of the continental U.S. thinks of it — will come some time between June and August, and that it will last roughly two to three weeks all together.
Furthermore, that fleeting dalliance may not even come all at once.
Rather, there might be three or four snippets of 70-degree days interspersed with the normal gray and gusty routine that often defines the other Peninsula seasons.
Shorts weather comes and goes rather quickly here (sometimes even in the same day.)
And for that very reason, it’s always best to have a plan when summer actually does manifest itself.
The following are a few warm-weather suggestions:
■ Sol Duc Falls — Perhaps one of the easiest hikes in Olympic National Park, this one comes with an obvious benefit on hot and muggy days.
Just walk roughly 0.8 miles, and you’ll be greeted by the cool mist of the picturesque and powerful falls at the end of the hike.
Best of all, the relatively level nature of the trek means just about anyone can complete it.
■ Freshwater Bay kayaking — Freshwater Bay is home to a diverse ecosystem of aquatic life that can only be truly appreciated on the water.
A short trip along the rocky shoreline in and around Freshwater takes kayakers past schools of candlefish and jellyfish as well as vibrant tidal zones littered with tide pools and star fish.
Olympic Raft and Kayak (360-452-1443) and Adventures through Kayaking (360-417-3015) both offer tours for those who don’t actually own a sea kayak.
■ Devil’s Punchbowl — The delicate should probably stay away from this one.
Basically, if you’re afraid of heights, a terrible swimmer or someone who suffers from stage fright, this isn’t for you.
Located on the north side of the lake off the Spruce Railroad Trail, the Punchbowl is a notable for its cliff diving, swimming and mob mentality.
If anything, this place is worth checking out just for the people-watching.
■ Alpine fishing — Unfortunately, a massive snowpack will likely keep Peninsulites off some of the better alpine hiking destinations until late July and August.
Once that snow does melt away, however, those trails provide paths to some of the best trout fishing in the area.
Summer warmth and sunshine brings bountiful bug hatches to alpine lakes, creating prime fly fishing conditions for those willing to go the extra mile.
Seven Lakes Basin, Grand Valley and Upper Lena Lake are just a few spots worth giving a visit.
■ Crab wading — Dumping a crab pot can be quite productive, but it’s also rather passive.
Instead of sitting around and doing beer curls while your pot soaks, you ought to wade out into the cold saltwater and look for them yourself.
On extreme low tides, places like Pillar Point, Freshwater Bay, Dungeness Bay and Oak Bay offer the sort of environment needed to take on crab in a hand-to-pincer battle to the death.
It’s up to you to prove once and for all who belongs at the top of the food chain.
________
Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
