The Kaleberg Journal - April 2026

04/14 - The Mules Are Back in Town

This time the mules were back. We took another hike along what was once Olympic Hot Springs Road from Madison Falls, and this time the mules were back at the mule camp doing the usual mules things like standing around and eating. One time we saw a frisky new mule trying to start a fight with every other mule and getting rejected, but not this time. That time, we got to see a lot of mules rolling their eyes and saying, in mule language, what's up with this guy.

There was no such drama this time, but there were more fawn lilies, more trilliums and orchids in bloom. Over the winter, the Elwha bit off a chunk of the shore, shoved around a lot of big logs and reshaped part of the river where the trail went down to the bank. The park service did a good job rerouting the trail inland with just an easy stepping stone crossing upstream from where there used to be a footbridge.

We've been checking off our spring list with the UW cherry blossoms, skunk cabbage, fawn lilies and trilliums. It would be nice if there were more snow on the mountains, but winter is over and spring is here.


The mules are back.






















Keywords: elwha, spring, trilliums

04/10 - Find Me A Primitive Trail

Most people going to the Dungeness Spit take the direct trail from the parking area, but we take the longer route along the Primitive Trail. It's a bit wilder and woodsier, and we are more likely to see trilliums this time of year. In fact, we did, along with some early false, or is it mock, Solomon's seal. The trees and bushes have leafed out, so it is clearly no longer winter.






False, or is it mock, Solomon's seal

The spit from the lookout

Driftwood on the beach















Keywords: dungeness spit, trillium, trilliums, spring

04/06 - Spring Along the Elwha

Spring is moving apace. We took another walk along the Elwha from Madison Falls.


More fawn lilies this time

Mushrooms



Another trillium

The river

The stream

Skunk cabbage

The road to Altair

View from the bridge

Mergansers

Another view

Currant flowers

Melting snow

A skunk cabbage ready for its closeup







A butterfly

Keywords: elwha, spring

04/03 - Another Hike Along the Elwha

Taking a hike along the Elwha from Madison Falls is a good way to track the progress of spring. The skunk cabbage was blooming on our last hike. This time we didn't get that far, but we were rewarded with trilliums, toad lilies, yellow violets and fawn lilies. Also, the trail has been rerouted a bit and an awkward to get at footbridge has been removed.


A fawn lily leaf



Trail damage


An early trillium

Another trillium


Along the trail

The river

Toad lily


A fawn lily



The rerouted trail


Violets



A snake

No mules yet

Keywords: elwha

The Kaleberg Journal - March 2026

03/26 - Cherry Blossoms at UW

We took a special trip into Seattle just to see the cherry blossoms at The Quad at the University of Washington. It's always something special. We had been watching the webcam, because that's the only way to tell when the blossoms are near their peak.

It was a quick trip with plenty of time to wander among the trees with their flowers and enjoy the energy of the crowd. Everyone was there to see the arrival of spring. People dressed up and photographers abounded. People posed in kimonos, pushed strollers full of children and had picnics on the grass. There was even a quinceañera party in formal dress.
























Keywords: flowers, seattle, spring

The Kaleberg Journal - February 2026

02/27 - Elwha to Altair with Skunk Cabbage

Spring is coming soon, so we decided to see how things were progressing along the Elwha. We didn't expect much. The mules weren't coming back for at least a month, and it's early for most spring flowers. To be honest, we were hoping for skunk cabbage and not much more.

We made it all the way up to the Altair Bridge, and we got to see and smell a lot of skunk cabbage along the road a bit south of the ranger station. We also saw that the river had had a wild winter. Huge logs had been tossed about and new channels cut. A section of the trail was under water.

It was too early for trilliums, fawn lilies or the little violets, but the trail was in good shape. We're hoping to get back soon as spring progresses.
























Keywords: elwha, spring

02/03 - Flying to Seattle

We flew to Seattle in the afternoon and had amazing views of the mountains and waters. We're off on an adventure.

The Olympic Mountains





Puget Sound


Mount Rainier - the ghost mountain

Seattle

Keywords: flying, seattle

02/02 - Dinner in Seattle

We stayed and ate dinner near the Pike Place Market. We had an early flight - this time on a big airplane - the next morning.





Keywords: seattle

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