Moonlit Olympic

It's a rainy evening here at Olympic National Park. This vast landscape within Washington State is uniquely diverse in its offerings, stretching from Rocky Coast lines to wide open valleys, lush rainforests and stunningly high mountain peaks. Along the Olympic coast, waves crash against large rocky islands that jet out from the ocean's surface. In the grassy valleys, families of marmots gnaw on reeds and exposed roots enjoying the bounty of their natural habitat. In the mountains high above, thick sheets of white fog are draped across the rocky peaks. The air is still, quiet and welcoming. An invitation to pause, relax, and unwind. So as we settle in for the evening, let's deepen our state of relaxation with a short wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now, just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin, in for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great, now returning the breath to normal. The sun is starting to set on the southwest coast of the Olympic peninsula. On foggy days, the haze engulfs this rocky seaside, but as the afternoon wanes, the view comes steadily into focus. From the smooth pebbles of the ruby beach shoreline, the yellow orange rays of light reach through the clouds to illuminate the rolling waves. One after the other, the crests of blue green water break into foam and roll over each other. In some places, the waves splash against vertical columns of rock that interrupt the pattern of the tide. (no audio) Born in the ocean, like the Olympic Mountains, these sea stacks have been shaped by a long geological history of saltwater and wind. The stacks here are in various states. Some arches and caves, small islands of wind-sheared trees and oddly shaped vertical formations of rock where tufted puffins nest and protect their young. Regardless of their current state, the Pacific Ocean's sediment sculptures become shadows in the horizon as the sun lowers itself into the sea. (no audio) In an open meadow near Hurricane Ridge, a brown, bushy-tailed Olympic marmot holds stems of yellow glacier lilies and violet lupine in his tiny claws. Nearby, his burrow-mate rests on a rock, her furry belly flat on the cool...