The rain forest of the Olympic National Park in Washington State is without doubt one of the more magical places on the planet. The ecosystem there is dependent on rain and fog for its health. Unfortunately, clearcut logging practices between the Park and the coast have reduced the amount of fog to certain parts (especially the Ho River area) of the forest, and mosses that used to hang down several feet from the tree limbs on which they grew just a few decades ago are just a memory. Still, much of the park is very much as it must have been a century and more ago. It is not uncommon in hiking the trails to come within a few yards of Roosevelt Elk, either individually or in herds, and other wildlife abound as well.
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