1. Coastline — ONP's coastal strip is a rugged, often fog-enshrouded stretch of sandy beach and a small area of adjacent forest. There are thick groves of trees that march right up to the sand, which results in chunks of timber from fallen trees that litter the beach. Interestingly, the small coastal portion of ONP isn't even connected to the much larger, main portion of the park. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had intended for them to be connected via a continuous strip of park land, but political forces decided otherwise.
2. Glaciated mountains — Within the center of ONP rise a series of mountains whose sides and ridgelines are topped with massive, ancient glaciers.
3. Temperate rainforest — The western side of ONP sports a temperate rain forest, the wettest place in the coterminous United States (the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii gets more). Because this is a temperate rainforest, as opposed to a tropical one like the Amazon Rainforest in South America, it isn't dominated by tropical ferns, but rather contains dense timber, including spruce and fir, and mosses that coat the bark of these trees and even drip down from their branches in green, moist tendrils.

Table of contents 1 Natural History
2 Human History
3 Recreation

Natural History

Because ONP sits on an isolated peninsula, with a high mountain range dividing it from the land to the south, it developed many unique plant and animal species (like the Olympic marmot and Roosevelt elk) that can't be found anywhere else in the world. Because of this uniqueness, scientists have declared it to be a Biological Reserve, and study its unique species to better understand how plants and animals evolve. A good book about the natural history of the region is Olympic National Park: A Natural History Guide by Tim McNulty.

Human History

Prior to the influx of European settlers, ONP's human population consisted of Native Americans, whose use of the peninsula consisted mainly of fishing and hunting. When settlers began to appear, the use of the peninsula (as with much of the Pacific Northwest) shifted toward harvesting of timber, which began heavily in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There wasn't much dissent against the logging until the 1920s, when people got their first glimpses of the clear-cut hillsides where trees had been logged. (The 1920s saw an explosion of people's interest in the outdoors; this occurred because the automobile allowed people to tour previously-remote places like the Olympic Peninsula.) Public desire for preservation of some of the area grew until President Roosevelt declared ONP a national park in 1938. Even after ONP was declared a park, though, illegal logging continued in the park, and political battles continue to this day (including President George W. Bush's declaration that logging restrictions must be eased) over the incredibly valuable timber contained within its boundaries. A good book detailing the history of the fight for ONP's timber is Olympic Battleground: The Power Politics of Timber Preservation by Carsten Lien.

Recreation

There are several roads in the park, but none penetrate far into the interior. The park features a network of hiking trails, although the size and remoteness means that it will usually take more than a weekend to get to the high country in the interior. The sights of the rain forest, with plants run riot and dozens of hues of green, are well worth the certainty of heavy rain sometime during the trip.

A nearly unique feature of ONP is the opportunity for backpacking along the beach. The length of the coastline in the park is sufficient for multi-day trips, with the entire day spent walking along the beach. Although idyllic compared to toiling up a mountainside, one must be aware of the tide; at the narrowest parts of the beaches, high tide washes up to the cliffs behind, blocking passage. There are also several promontories that must be struggled over, using a combination of muddy steep trail and fixed ropes.

Table of contents 1 Nomenclature
2 Advantages of hiking
3 Hiking code
4 Hiking safety issues and unforeseen circumstances
4.1 The importance of the mind
4.2 Hiking in groups
5 How to hike
6 See also

Nomenclature

Advantages of hiking

Hiking code

• Many hikers adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace, which require that everything brought on a hike, biodegradable or otherwise, be carried back out to leave the area pristine.
• It is also important to adhere to safety principles, discussed below
• Unless on formal hiking trails, hikers must always be careful not to trespass on private land

Another simple safety precaution is to give the itinerary and expected time of return to someone not on the hike. If the hiking party fails to return reasonably close to the projected time, this person will notify authorities and search parties will be summoned.

Cellular or satellite phones can be a valuable aid. While a call to authorities may not bring rescue helicopters, a phone can be used to get up-to-date weather forecasts, and first-aid instructions. Additionally, it allows closer communication between the hikers and friends at home with regard to search parties, pickup, and other issues that may arise.

Extra clothing can be critically important, in cases such as unexpectedly low temperatures, or falling into bodies of water (wet clothes cause hypothermia).

The importance of the mind

An equal danger is misplaced priorities. Hikers who consider reaching the destination to be of the greatest importance risk placing themselves needlessly in hazardous situations. Successful mountaineers take safety to be the first priority, enjoyment to be the second, and the summit to be third.

Hiking in groups

Within a large group of hikers, there will usually be disparities in pace. In addition to making the hike less enjoyable, these disparities may create hazardous situations. A large party will often split into a "fast group" and a "slow group". If one of the two groups takes a wrong turn, it might be difficult for them to be reunited.

If the party does not split, some members may hike at a faster pace than they should, which will increase their risk of injury. For these reasons, it may be safest to hike in a group of people with similar paces. However, considerations of pace should not deprive the group of a skilled hiker who would be of use in any survival situations that might arise.

How to hike

• When hiking in a group, always keep your distance from the person in front of you: at least 20 feet (7 meters), but never so much distance that you can't see the other person. If you follow too closely, you will be able to see little other than the other hiker's back. If you keep a good distance, you will be able to see the scenery and spot any hazardous objects in the trail (i.e. holes, tree roots, large rockss, poisonous plants). This rule may be difficult to follow under some circumstances, but it is very important to an enjoyable hike.
• Keep an appropriate pace. An excessively slow pace will limit the distance you can walk, but an excessively fast pace also has disadvantages. You will become fatigued quickly, increase your risk of injury, and be forced to think primarily about maintaining your speed, rather than about the scenery. Over flat ground or on a moderate downhill, a reasonably fast hiker may travel at almost 4 mi/h (6 km/h) unladen, or 3 mi/h (5 km/h) with a full backpack, though many prefer somewhat lower speeds to enjoy the scenery. A steep uphill will slow that pace by about half. A moderate downhill will also slow the pace, particularly for people of middle age and older, and others with reduced agility.
• Avoid dehydration. On short hikes in good weather, this is not an issue. On moderate-length hikes, it may be possible to fulfill your water needs by drinking plenty of water before setting out. On long hikes, especially those in hot weather or low humidity, it will be necessary to carry an extra supply of water.
• When hiking in a group, place the slowest hiker in the lead. This will prevent the faster hikers from leaving the slow hiker behind, thus making sure that the group stays together. It is easier and safer for the faster hikers to adjust to the slow hiker's pace than vice versa.