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examples of native trees that have survived and thrived in these virgin forests for hundreds (even thousands) of years are often noted on the park maps and trail guides. Outside of the coastal redwoods and giant sequoias, ONP protects some of the biggest trees on the continent. In fact, ONP’s rainforest sections contain the largest known examples of at least a half-dozen species of spruce and fir trees in the U.S. and, in some cases, the world. Many stand in the 200-foot-tall range, while one 13-foot diameter Douglas fir towers over 300 feet.
If your time is limited and you’ve flown into the northern peninsula, the Hoh Rain Forest is closest and will not disappoint. However, if your flight itinerary has you going to Bowerman Field (KHQM), near Hoquiam, on the peninsula’s southwest coast, you’ll be nicely situated for a day trip to the Quinault Rain Forest area. There are also a number of airports on the south and east sides of ONP, but they are poorly situated for terrestrial tourism. There are few roads into the park’s south and east sides and those areas are mostly the domain of hardy hikers doing full-day or even multiday thorough-hikes.
Circle to Land
Seattle is relatively centrally located between NCNP and ONP, with Puget Sound bisecting the area. Much has been written about the wide variety of airports on and around the San Juan Islands. Indeed, there are many
and flying into them all is an adventure unto itself. But many are unlikely destinations for a King Air. The larger airports mentioned earlier, however, could all attract King Air traffic for business, charter or personal reasons. From those places, day trips or multiday explorations into those NPS areas are both feasible and rewarding.
In the next issue, we’ll continue the circular tour around Seattle, with tips for visiting Mount Saint Helen’s National Volcanic Monument, Mount Rainier National Park and the airports near them. KA
Copyright 2024, Matthew McDaniel
First publication rights granted to The Village Press for King Air magazine
All other rights reserved by copyright holder
Matthew McDaniel is a Master & Gold Seal CFII, ATP, MEI, AGI, & IGI and Platinum CSIP. In 34 years of flying, he has logged over 21,000 hours total, over 5,800 hours of instruction-given, and over 2,500 hours in various King Airs and the BE-1900D. As owner of Progressive Aviation Services, LLC (www.progaviation.com), he has specialized in Technically Advanced Aircraft and Glass Cockpit instruction since 2001. Currently, he is also a Boeing 737-series Captain for an international airline, holds eight turbine aircraft type ratings, and has flown over
130 aircraft types. Matt is one of less than 15 instructors in the world
to have earned the Master CFI designation for 11 consecutive two-year terms. He can be reached at: matt@progaviation.com or 414-339-4990.
14 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2024