Olympic NP beaches advice

[Khurram]

I made my first trip to Ranier and Olympic NP last year at the end of July/start of August and had a pretty good time and am eager to return to both.

Even with ending up with car issues - being stuck in Ranier and needing one of my run flat tires replaced, when the closest place having the tire I needed was near Seattle, it was a pretty good trip. The only disappointment was not getting ANY sort of light at the beaches at Olympic NP and getting to MUCh sun at the Hoh rainforests .  It's a pretty strange area weather wise - last year even when it was sunny in Forks, the Hoh Rain forest and surrounding area, the coast was just completely overcast during the entire 5 days we had in Olympic NP.

I'd really like to goto Olympic again this year, but would appreciate some advice on what time of the year is usually best to get good lighting for sunrise/sunsets at the beaches there (i.e. Ruby, Second Beach, etc).  I understand it is overcast a lot in that area, but is there anytime of the year that is better then others weatherwise, so that if you aim for 4-5 day trip, there's a good chance of getting at least 1 or 2 days of decent light

[bradleygibson]

I live in the Seattle area and even here, the weather is very unpredictable ("if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes").  On the coast, weather prediction is even more difficult.

I've been there in all seasons; getting 1 or 2 sunsets out of 4 or 5 days is easy, the catch is provided you pick the right 4 or 5 days.  In a good year. 

It's been said that beautiful women travel in groups--beautiful weather seems to follow this same pattern.  Best chance of sunset may be in late summer when the air is driest, but Hoh is at it's brownest at this time as well.

I've found the most spectacular light to be in the early fall and late spring seasons, as the weather systems transitioning from summer to winter/winter to summer patterns.  The unstable air creates the most spectacular cloudscapes for the setting sun, giving all the sky interest you could wish for.  The drawback is its easy to go 4 or 5 days without seeing a sunset!

Simple answer, it's a crapshoot.  If we have a good, warm, dry summer, you'll be able to come the same time as you did last year or later and do very well.  If we have a cool, wet summer, (like last year's) it will be up to the photography gods whether you'll catch the magic rays.

HTH,

[neile]

What Brad said. I went, uh, four times in the last year and it pretty much rained on every trip. And yet I still came away with good shots: http://www.danecreekphotography.com/wacoast.html.

The best thing you can do is use a sunrise/sunset program and get some tide tables and look for when low tide is roughly around sunset. This can be brutal during the summer months as sunrise is so early and many of the beaches are 30+ minutes away from where you'll stay (even if you stay in La Push, since it's a 20 minute walk in the dark to Second Beach).

And bring rain gear and celebrate rather than fight the weather

Neil

[Khurram]

I live in the Seattle area and even here, the weather is very unpredictable ("if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes").  On the coast, weather prediction is even more difficult.

I've been there in all seasons; getting 1 or 2 sunsets out of 4 or 5 days is easy, the catch is provided you pick the right 4 or 5 days.  In a good year. 

It's been said that beautiful women travel in groups--beautiful weather seems to follow this same pattern.  Best chance of sunset may be in late summer when the air is driest, but Hoh is at it's brownest at this time as well.

I've found the most spectacular light to be in the early fall and late spring seasons, as the weather systems transitioning from summer to winter/winter to summer patterns.  The unstable air creates the most spectacular cloudscapes for the setting sun, giving all the sky interest you could wish for.  The drawback is its easy to go 4 or 5 days without seeing a sunset!

Simple answer, it's a crapshoot.  If we have a good, warm, dry summer, you'll be able to come the same time as you did last year or later and do very well.  If we have a cool, wet summer, (like last year's) it will be up to the photography gods whether you'll catch the magic rays.

HTH,
[/quote

Thanks for the info Bradley!  I wasn't sure if i just picked a real lousy time of the year to go, or just didn't get lucky on the days I was there.

[Khurram]

What Brad said. I went, uh, four times in the last year and it pretty much rained on every trip. And yet I still came away with good shots: http://www.danecreekphotography.com/wacoast.html.

The best thing you can do is use a sunrise/sunset program and get some tide tables and look for when low tide is roughly around sunset. This can be brutal during the summer months as sunrise is so early and many of the beaches are 30+ minutes away from where you'll stay (even if you stay in La Push, since it's a 20 minute walk in the dark to Second Beach).

And bring rain gear and celebrate rather than fight the weather

Neil

I appreciate the reply Neil and thanks for sharing your take aways - looks like you still came away with a pretty good set of shots!  I found the weather there very frustrating for figuring out where to shoot.  I was there with my family (which included a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 month old), so we really had to plan when and where to go and prepare the kids accordingly - for the most part it seemed like we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The beaches were totally fogged out without a hint of light at sunrise/sunset and a couple of nights we got caught in heavy rain.  On the other hand, I picked to go to the Hoh Rainforest on the one day it was overcast in the morning at Forks, but we ended up with harsh sunlight at Forks.  So it just seemed I was getting the wrong light at the wrong place! 

We did get in some good hikes though and here are some of the my shots from the Olympic area:
http://www.pbase.com/kssphotography/olympic_np

[skjeflo]

I've been out to the coast at least twice a year for 20 plus years and can say that the weather is its own thing out there.

As you noted, it can be scorching hot inland but cloudy and cool on the coast.  However, the reverse can also be true.  I've spent a week out there and never seen a drop of rain while its been pouring at home (Seattle area).  I've been in 55 degree rain while Forks is basking at 80+, its all a bit of luck.

If I'm trying for good (sunny, that is) weather I'll normally go anywhere from late July through late August.  Spring time can have some great partly cloudy sky's, Fall and Winter some wonderful storms.  Just go out prepared for all of the possible weather and run with what comes your way

As for sunsets, the most dramatic I've seen have come at the end of many bland cloudy days, its just a waiting game sometimes.

Mark