The only words that can describe the panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge are majestic, breathtaking, and surreal.

As the days were getting longer and the temperatures getting warmer, it was time for us to go for a drive up to Hurricane Ridge with Skye, our Norwegian Elkhound, so that we could enjoy the view of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains, and Skye could frolic in the piles of snow before it all melted. Tuesday morning on April 16, 2024, the weather was cloudy down in the flatlands and at Dungeness Valley where we live. But the TV news meteorologist’s prediction was for partly cloudy skies with spots of sunshine in the early afternoon. So, Diane and I gathered up our winter jackets, gloves, some snacks and bottled water, loaded up Skye in our Subaru Outback and headed for Hurricane Ridge.

Hurricane Ridge is a 35mile drive from Sequim, Washington, where we now live for our early retirement. At an elevation of 5,242 feet, this yearround destination offers spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Sadly, and with no definitive cause, the twostory 12,200 square foot Visitors Center and Day Lodge, constructed in 1952, burned to the ground. The structure, which housed an information desk, giftshop, restrooms, a snack bar, and a deck with commanding mountain views was normally bustling with tourist activity during the spring and summer seasons. Hurricane Ridge also offers several picnic areas, paved walking trails and more challenging hiking trails, and a winter ski and snowboard area. A visit to Hurricane Ridge is an absolute must any season!