Not the Quietest Place on Earth Today
By Kelley Spencer
A Snowy Surprise in the Hoh Rain Forest
On March 24, 2023, I woke at 4 a.m., excited for a solo adventure in the Hoh Rain Forest. It had been raining since my arrival the day before, and in the dense, magical forest, I had no idea what awaited me outside. After a hearty breakfast, I layered up and stepped out of the Manitou Lodge with my pack.
To my surprise, the rain had turned to snow—heavy, wet, and clinging to everything. Even as a newcomer, I knew this was unusual for the Hoh Rain Forest. The massive, plentiful snowflakes made me smile, filling my soul with an unexpected joy. As I drove toward the trailhead, the rising sun painted the sky in shades of gray, casting an ethereal glow over the surreal, snow-covered landscape.
A Ranger’s Warning
At the ranger’s gate, a kind young man greeted me through the window...