Ape Cave

A Five mile hike That covered
Ape Cave and Trail of Two Forests

Thursday, July 29, 2014

Click Here to See Pictures of Prior Hikes

Getting into the tunnel involved walking down a long flight of steps
(unfortunately I only have a picture of us going up the steps, but it gives you the idea).

After completing the first hike, we drove half a mile to the "Trail of Two Forests"
This trail tell the story of an ancient forest captured in stone by lava from a volcano.
The trail was covered with wood to protect the fragile ecology.

There were lots of tree hole, where the lava formed a cast around trees that later rotted leaving a hole in the shape of a tree.

There were also tunnels left by fallen trees. The lava formed a cast around them and then the tree rotted leaving a tunnel

Directions to the trailhead:
1) Drive I5 north to Woodland (exit 21)
2) Take Hwy 503 for 28 miles to Cougar.
3) See sign to Ape cave 6.5 miles
4) Take 503 Spur
5) Go left on FR 83 for 1.7 miles
6) Go left on FR 8303 for 0.9 miles
7) Park at the Ape Cave Info Center

A personal note that I hope will give you a chuckle.
This hike was on Thursday the 31th,
My 80th birthday was on Friday, August 1.

About a half hour after we arrived home from this hike,
a persistent salesman came to our door.
He was so persistent I was just about ready to call the police
(seriously I was going to call the police).
When this salesman realized I was serious,
he pulled off a wig, mustache and dark glasses and
low and behold it was our son
who lives in Texas who came for a surprise visit.
It was a great birthday.
Click Here to see some pictures of this salesman

Do offer some comments: Message will go to Joan and Elmer
Type your message in the box below and include your name

Put your name here.................

If you care to see more images
Click on a thumbnail below to enlarge the image

2nd_group_sssembles _369	2nd_p_Liz and Jeanene_411	2nd_sign_399	2nd_sign_400	2nd_sign_401
2nd_signs_370	2nd_signs_371	2nd_signs_394	2nd_signs_395	2nd_signs_396
2nd_signs_408	2nd_signs_409	2nd_steps_to_tunnel_391	2nd_steps_to_tunnel_392	2nd_steps_to_tunnel_393
2nd_trail_372	2nd_trail_373	2nd_trail_374	2nd_tree_hole_375	2nd_tree_hole_376
2nd_tree_hole_377	2nd_tree_hole_378	2nd_tree_hole_379	2nd_tree_hole_380	2nd_tree_hole_381
2nd_tree_Hole_397	2nd_tree_Hole_398	2nd_tree_hole_402	2nd_tree_hole_403	2nd_tunnel_386
2nd_tunnel_387	2nd_tunnel_404	2nd_tunnel_405	2nd_tunnel_406	2nd_tunnel_407
2nd_tunnel_entrance_388	2nd_tunnel_entrance_389	2nd_tunnel_entrance_390	Blueberries _361	Blueberries _362
Blueberries _363	Group_arrive_292	Group_arrive_293	Group_arrive_294	Group_arrive_295
p_Joan_in_tunnel_305	p_joan_Kelvin_in_Tunnel_good_324	p_kelvin_345	p_liz_410	p_phyllis_kelvin_344
sign_412	sign_413	sign_414	Trail_group _359	Trail_Joan_360
trail_upper_entrance _364	trail_VIew_Stl_Helens _365	trail_VIew_Stl_Helens _366	trail_VIew_Stl_Helens _367	trail_VIew_Stl_Helens _368
tunnel_304	tunnel_306	tunnel_346	tunnel_348	tunnel_Becky_316
tunnel_dark_297	tunnel_dark_308	tunnel_dark_309	tunnel_dark_312	tunnel_dark_313
tunnel_dark_315	tunnel_dark_317	tunnel_dark_318	tunnel_dark_319	tunnel_dark_320
tunnel_dark_329	tunnel_end_330	tunnel_end_331	tunnel_end_337	tunnel_end_grafeti_333
tunnel_end_grafetti_341	tunnel_end_Joan_336	tunnel_end_Joan_343	tunnel_end_Joan_good_335	tunnel_end_Phyllis_342
tunnel_good_298	Tunnel_good_321	Tunnel_good_323	Tunnel_good_325	tunnel_good_347
tunnel_good_349	tunnel_good_350	tunnel_group_311	tunnel_group_338	tunnel_group_339
Tunnel_meat_ball_goodTunnel_good_326	tunnel_meatball_327	tunnel_meatball_328	tunnel_Phyhillis_303	tunnel_Phyllis_Joan_334
Tunnel_roff_314	Tunnel_roof_good_307	tunnel_steps_351	tunnel_steps_352	tunnel_steps_Elmer _353
tunnel_steps_Elmer _354	tunnel_wall_301	Tunnel_wall_310	tunnel_wall_340	tunnel_walls_300
tunnel_walls_302

A Five mile hike That covered
Ape Cave and Trail of Two Forests

Thursday, July 29, 2014

Click Here to See Pictures of Prior Hikes

Our leaders who made this an absolutely wonderful hike

At the trailhead our leader assembles the group

Getting into the tunnel involved walking down a long flight of steps
(unfortunately I only have a picture of us going up the steps, but it gives you the idea).

The tunnel was spectacular, but dark.

This is a rock in the tunnel ceiling called the "meat ball".

At the end the tunnel ceiling was quite low.
Only Joan and Phyllis ventured into the low part of the tunnel

This tunnel attracts people from all over.

Look what some vandals from out of the Northwest did.

After we left the tunnel, we took a nice hike to the exit of a different tunnel

We hiked to the exit of the upper tunnel

From the trail we could see Mt. St. Helens partially covered by clouds.

After completing the first hike, we drove half a mile to the "Trail of Two Forests"
This trail tell the story of an ancient forest captured in stone by lava from a volcano.
The trail was covered with wood to protect the fragile ecology.

There were lots of tree hole, where the lava formed a cast around trees that later rotted leaving a hole in the shape of a tree.

There were also tunnels left by fallen trees. The lava formed a cast around them and then the tree rotted leaving a tunnel

One had to climb down a ladder to get to the entrance of this tunnel

There were wonderful signs explaining everything

It was a wonderful day of adventure.

But, finally back at the trailhead, everyone was ready for the drive home.

Directions to the trailhead:
1) Drive I5 north to Woodland (exit 21)
2) Take Hwy 503 for 28 miles to Cougar.
3) See sign to Ape cave 6.5 miles
4) Take 503 Spur
5) Go left on FR 83 for 1.7 miles
6) Go left on FR 8303 for 0.9 miles
7) Park at the Ape Cave Info Center

Click Here to see some pictures of this salesman

Do offer some comments: Message will go to Joan and Elmer
Type your message in the box below and include your name

If you care to see more images
Click on a thumbnail below to enlarge the image

A Five mile hike That covered Ape Cave and Trail of Two Forests Thursday, July 29, 2014

Click Here to See Pictures of Prior Hikes

Our leaders who made this an absolutely wonderful hike

At the trailhead our leader assembles the group

Getting into the tunnel involved walking down a long flight of steps (unfortunately I only have a picture of us going up the steps, but it gives you the idea).

The tunnel was spectacular, but dark.

This is a rock in the tunnel ceiling called the "meat ball".

At the end the tunnel ceiling was quite low. Only Joan and Phyllis ventured into the low part of the tunnel

This tunnel attracts people from all over. Look what some vandals from out of the Northwest did.

After we left the tunnel, we took a nice hike to the exit of a different tunnel

We hiked to the exit of the upper tunnel

From the trail we could see Mt. St. Helens partially covered by clouds.

After completing the first hike, we drove half a mile to the "Trail of Two Forests" This trail tell the story of an ancient forest captured in stone by lava from a volcano. The trail was covered with wood to protect the fragile ecology.

There were lots of tree hole, where the lava formed a cast around trees that later rotted leaving a hole in the shape of a tree.

There were also tunnels left by fallen trees. The lava formed a cast around them and then the tree rotted leaving a tunnel

One had to climb down a ladder to get to the entrance of this tunnel

There were wonderful signs explaining everything

It was a wonderful day of adventure. But, finally back at the trailhead, everyone was ready for the drive home.

Directions to the trailhead: 1) Drive I5 north to Woodland (exit 21) 2) Take Hwy 503 for 28 miles to Cougar. 3) See sign to Ape cave 6.5 miles 4) Take 503 Spur 5) Go left on FR 83 for 1.7 miles 6) Go left on FR 8303 for 0.9 miles 7) Park at the Ape Cave Info Center

Click Here to see some pictures of this salesman

Do offer some comments: Message will go to Joan and Elmer Type your message in the box below and include your name

If you care to see more images Click on a thumbnail below to enlarge the image

A Five mile hike That covered
Ape Cave and Trail of Two Forests

Thursday, July 29, 2014

Getting into the tunnel involved walking down a long flight of steps
(unfortunately I only have a picture of us going up the steps, but it gives you the idea).

At the end the tunnel ceiling was quite low.
Only Joan and Phyllis ventured into the low part of the tunnel

This tunnel attracts people from all over.

Look what some vandals from out of the Northwest did.

After completing the first hike, we drove half a mile to the "Trail of Two Forests"
This trail tell the story of an ancient forest captured in stone by lava from a volcano.
The trail was covered with wood to protect the fragile ecology.

It was a wonderful day of adventure.

But, finally back at the trailhead, everyone was ready for the drive home.

Directions to the trailhead:
1) Drive I5 north to Woodland (exit 21)
2) Take Hwy 503 for 28 miles to Cougar.
3) See sign to Ape cave 6.5 miles
4) Take 503 Spur
5) Go left on FR 83 for 1.7 miles
6) Go left on FR 8303 for 0.9 miles
7) Park at the Ape Cave Info Center

Do offer some comments: Message will go to Joan and Elmer
Type your message in the box below and include your name

If you care to see more images
Click on a thumbnail below to enlarge the image