123- Mount Ellinor: Olympic National Park

·59 min·5 clips

Dustin gets furious on a 70-degree snowfield, calling it one of the hardest hikes they've ever done.

The episode begins with Dustin and Mike discussing their definition of a 'light day' of hiking, which for them is 9-11 miles. They introduce Mount Ellinor, a hike in Olympic National Forest near Olympic National Park, which they describe as incredibly difficult. They explain how they learned about the trail from a ranger at the Shady Lane area of Olympic National Park. The ranger recommended the upper trailhead, which involves 2,339 feet of elevation gain over 3.7 miles. Driving to the trailhead, they encounter a steep gravel road and a large washout that blocks their path, forcing a risky K-turn. They park behind an electric vehicle and gear up, noting the rental car smells of cigarettes. Starting the hike at 4:43 PM, they immediately face a steep grade through woods. They meet other hikers, including one who mentions a 'night hike,' raising concerns about daylight. The hosts choose the winter route as recommended, which is longer but supposedly easier. The trail includes switchbacks with railings and increasing snow cover. They meet a hiker named Matthew, who joins them with minimal gear. The ascent becomes more challenging with steep snowfields where they use poles and follow footprints. Views of Mount Rainier, the Cascades, and Seattle provide motivation despite physical strain. At a saddle with flat terrain and stunning views, Dustin wants to turn back due to time and safety concerns, but Mike insists on continuing to a viewpoint near the summit. After a brief stop, they descend, meeting hikers Daryl and Heather and forming a group for the return. The descent involves sliding down snow chutes and fast hiking. They offer Daryl and Heather a ride to their car at the lower trailhead and reveal their podcast. Driving back to Port Angeles, they attempt to get fast food but find a Wendy's closed and a McDonald's without fries, leading to frustration. The episode includes breaks for promotional content about their episode finder and segments like 'Commission an Album,' where they imagine a covers album of 'The Sound of Music,' and a drag king character sketch. It concludes with trivia categories about famous Ellas and Eleanors and a word morph game related to Mount Ellinor. The hosts rate the hike 12 out of 10 on their 'Karen stone' scale, comparing it to other difficult hikes like Yosemite Falls.

As heard by us

A light hiking day turns into a snowy climb carried by poles, footprints, and matching-shirt jokes.

A supposedly light hiking day starts with the easy comedy of matching shirts, then settles into a tougher trail story. The hosts remember light days that still ran long, plus a marathon day in the past, so the joke quickly gives way to a familiar PlayNext standard: casual plans…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If your ideal light hike involves matching shirts, 9 to 11 miles, snowfields, and a carved groove that looks like a sled track, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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