Day 1: Press expedition all abuzz from wasps

EDITOR”S NOTE: This is the first dispatch from Roger Harnack, Peninsula Daily News local news editor, one of the members of the “Across the Olympic Mountains” expedition this week. Packing a laptop computer and a satellite telephone, he plans to file daily reports.

ELKHORN, Olympic National Park — Day 1 — Aggressive wasps harassed our band of modern-day adventurers as we began retracing the historic 1889-1890 Press Expedition.

The group set out at 8:22 a.m. Monday from the Whiskey Bend trailhead, about four miles past the Elwha entrance station south of U.S. Highway 101.

Following the aqua-green Elwha River into the mountains, we reached our first overnight campsite at Elkhorn six hours 23 minutes later.

While our expedition made good time on the trail, most of the members of our 13-person “Press Expedition — Across the Olympic Mountains 2001” ended up with wasp stings, suffered mostly in the lush Idaho Creek area.

Craig Romano, an editor for Sports Etc. magazine, got the most bites. He was stung three times.

Kristi Agren of the North Olympic Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau and Steve Beckner of Northwest Travel magazine were each stung twice.

“I have two stings and some pretty gnarly mosquito bites,” Agren said. “And I scraped my knee.”

This full serialized report is exclusive in the Peninsula Daily News, on sale throughout the North Olympic Peninsula. Or click on “Subscribe” to have your PDN delivered to your home or office.

More in News

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading

Frank Lowenstein was hired as the Dungeness River Nature Center’s executive director in September 2024. (Frank Lowenstein)
River center director dismissed

Board is looking for candidate to fill role

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of the Clallam County Courthouse on Saturday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstrators march at courthouse

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast, communicate with their friends by text while waiting for the start of the 2025 graduation parade on Friday. The parade began at Ediz Hook and culminated with a formal ceremony Friday evening at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Graduation parade

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast,… Continue reading

Suzy Ames.
College pivoting to meet deficit

School cuts more than $2 million in expenses