Olympic National Park, Washington

B. Hippo among the ferns in the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park

Observing the ancient trees and moss in the Hoh Rain Forest

The Temperate Rain Forest of Washington's Olympic National Park is one of the most unique and enchanting places on the journey to date. They get over 140 inches of rain each year! Everything is dark under the canopy of the huge trees, and mosses cover their branches and trunks. On the floor there are fallen logs and many ferns and Banana Slugs. The Olympic mountains form a sort of ecological island, water to the west (the Pacific), the north (the Strait of Juan de Fuca), and the East (the Puget Sound), as well as lowlands to the south have left many of the species found here on their own for some time. B. Hippo particularly enjoyed learning about the Olympic Marmot, though wasn't able to spot one while hiking.