Park Newsletter for May 18, 2007

bridge next to washed out road
A temporary one-lane bridge crosses West Twin Creek just upstream of the wash out, visible to the right of the bridge in the picture above.  The road has been paved since this photo was taken.
 

Visitors Return to the Hoh

After a nearly six-month closure, the road to the Hoh Rain Forest reopened on May 1. Heavy rain during a November storm swelled creeks to many times their normal size, washing out the Hoh Road in three places.

Over the winter, park crews, contractors and other partners cleared the road, installed a temporary one-lane bridge over one creek and placed new culverts at two others.

The Hoh Visitor Center is open 10 am – 4 pm Friday through Sunday through May 20. Beginning May 25, the Visitor Center will be open daily for summer.

The Hoh campground is open. Hikers should check for current trail conditions, as park trails also received heavy damage from winter storms.

 
girl wearing a ranger hat and yellow shirt with three junior ranger badges
A multi-park Junior Ranger proudly displays her badges at Olympic's celebration of National Junior Ranger Day.

NPS photo by Betsy Carlson

Junior Ranger Day

Seventy-five new Junior Rangers were sworn in during Olympic's celebration of National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 28.

The day was filled with activities including guided ranger walks, microscope examinations of insects and plants and exploration and play in the Children’s Discovery Room.

Know someone who'd like to become a Junior Ranger? Junior Ranger booklets and information are available throughout the year at any Olympic National Park visitor center.

More on Junior Rangers.

 
people, one in National Park Service uniform, serving themselves food from buffet line
Park employees join Rotarians for a cookout and picnic lunch.

NPS Photo by Nancy Hendricks

Port Angeles Rotary Club Honors ONP Employees

Olympic National Park employees were honored this week at a picnic hosted by the Port Angeles Rotary Club. Rotarians welcomed park staff, thanking them for their work on behalf of the park and visitors.

City of Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers also attended the picnic and expressed her thanks to park employees, remarking on the several important projects shared by City and park staff, including elements of the Elwha Restoration Project.

Park Superintendent Bill Laitner noted that both Rotarians and national park employees are committed to public service. The cookout was held at Lincoln Park, where the Port Angeles Rotary Club has completed several site restoration and community service projects.

 
fallen tree and debris in clearing
Fallen trees and debris obscure a campsite at Heart O'the Hills campground.

NPS Photo by Jack Galloway

Heart O'the Hills Campground Update

Park crews continue to remove debris and make repairs to the Heart O'the Hills campground, which was severely damaged by the windstorm of December 15, 2006.

Considerable work remains, but part of the campground will reopen in time for Fourth of July travelers. Loops B & D will open on Friday, June 29, as will the campground amphitheater. No timeline has been set for the remaining loops, where damage is more extreme.

More on camping in Olympic National Park.

Last updated: October 27, 2022

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