WA: Olympic, N.Cascades and CAN: Pacific Rim Nat.Parks, with moderate hikes

We go to explore the diverse nature beauty of the Northwest. In Washington State we will hike the rainforest in Olympic National Park and Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. The North Cascades is noted as one of the most heavily glaciated regions in the US outside of Alaska.

Then we will drive north to Canada to Vancouver Island, cross it and explore its western part: Pacific Rim National Park, towns of Tofino and Ucluelet - places that attract avid hikers and nature lovers. We’ll ferry back to the mainland and finish the trip with quick sightseeing of Vancouver, BC.

This is rather a robust plan in which we’ll drive long stretches between locations where we hike, changing accommodation (hotels) every night.

Crossing the Canadian boarder by car requires to have a valid US passport for the American citizens and a Canadian visa for non-US citizens. Here is some info on crossing the Canadian boarder:
[https://recordsfinder.com/driving/usborder/process/inspection/documents-needed/enter-canada-from-usa/](https://www.gustavuswatertaxi.com/taxi.htm)

Early fall weather in this area is warm with day average temperatures 63 degree F and possible light winds. See updates of weather forecasts at: https://bit.ly/3rDSzBi

Trip's summary:

• 6days/5nights trip for a small group of 6 explorers.
• The starting and ending point is Seattle, WA (possible departure: Vancouver, CAN - up to participants.)
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.
• Hotel accommodations: Sequim, WA and surrounding areas, Mount Vernon, WA, Victoria, BC, Ucluelet, BC, Vancouver, BC. All locations in this event follow safety requirements by the state.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking shoes,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat.

Cost $780. What will be included:

• 6days/5nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two beds in room),
• Breakfasts at some hotels,
• Transportation by minivan (like Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand, Ford Transit or similar) covering approx. 900 mi of road-tripping total,
• US Parks entrance fees/per vehicle (per person entrance fees -typical in Canada, CAN$10 - not included),
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting and returning from to Seattle, WA/Vancouver, BC,
• Ferry to/from Vancouver Island (CAN$15, each way),
• Meals, snacks, water.

Sunrise: 6:00am. Sunset: 8:30pm. Everyday we want to start off from the hotel at 7 am or 7:30am, or 8am as the latest. If you are a nigh owl, please try to adjust yourself for an earlier getup during the trip - the purpose of it is to use more of daylight for activities.

Mt Rainier NP is not in the itinerary for this trip as we want to better explore North Cascades and generally will be moving northwards.

Photo-album from the previous trip with a similar itinerary and activities:
https://www.meetup.com/superfab/photos/33482880/ WA's National Parks
https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national.../photos/33878453/ Canadian NPs

There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to connect by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the chat.) Regular messaging will not work out for this trip, sorry.

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