Shady Firs Campground, Randle, WA, and Finding More Elk

August 3rd, we drove from the AFB at Tacoma to the very small town of Randle, WA.  Believe me, if you blink you will miss it!  It was a nice drive through mountains with lots of curves, ups and downs.  With all the curves and an average of 40 miles an hour, it took us 2 hours to go 70 miles.  Highway 7 was busy with just as many RVs and other traffic as we saw on the coast!  Probably the weekenders heading home.  The road followed a portion of Alder Lake, which is a real popular spot for boats, fishing,  swimming, and close to Mt. Rainier National Park. 

Located in Randle is the Shady Firs campground.  It is an average size with sites spread out under the fir trees.  A very pretty setting since the owners try to grow as much green grass as they can.  We have a large site with mostly pine straw and full hookups.  We were the only ones in the park when we arrived, a few campers stopped last night, and today we have the place to ourselves again.  A young buck and doe walked right by our sight.

    

We were at the park in 2008 when we wanted to explore the Windy Ridge observation area at Mt. St. Helens, but could not because, even though it was July, the road still had not been cleared of snow.   The campground is close to the road that goes up to Windy Ridge.  In 2008, we learned about the campground owner’s personal harrowing experience when Mt. St. Helens erupted.  He and some buddies were up in the woods on the north side near Yakima, WA, hunting.  What a story he told us! The campground was covered in about 4 inches of ash. Gives you goose bumps when you talk to somebody  that was there when the eruption happened.  He also informed us that he stills finds rocks and sand on his property anywhere from 6’ to 10’ below the surface from the last eruption for Mt. Rainier, 45 miles away, in 1894. 

I had posted previously how much we love huckleberries and huckleberry ice cream.  Randle is just such a small town in the middle of nowhere.  But in September and October, every year, Orientals and a few other nationalities descend on the town.  They go up into the mountains and pick the wild huckleberries.  They bring in refrigeration and packing trucks and the whole works.  The right to pick is done by bids for permits.  The whole town is full!  At the end of October, POOF, they are all gone!  Bet that would be a sight to see! 

The couple that own the campground are just super nice people.  We were asked if we had seen any Elk yet.  The owner said he can’t stand for anyone to leave without seeing Elk!  He said there were thousands of them in the area.  He said “Be ready at 7 PM.  I am going to take you to the Elk!”.  Sure enough, he and his wife took us on an hour 1/2 drive to town, through neighborhoods, near campgrounds, and down back roads looking for  Elk.  The Elk were indeed everywhere!  A whole herd was out in a farmers field by the main highway.  The rest were here and there all over the place in town.  We saw many cute calves that still had spots like deer fawns.  What a treat!  We expressed to the couple how much we appreciated their kindness.  I think they could tell what a camera nut I am!  Especially if there is wildlife!  But late afternoon shots are hard to take and be clear.   The couple seemed to have just as much fun as we did searching for the Elk!   I think maybe we need to go again before we leave!!