Balance Point – Washington

Balance Point – Olympic National Park, Washington

An ethereal evening cloud seems to balance on the emphatic point of a steadfast sea stack. The relentlessly rocking ocean and hardened pinnacles of stone collide, like an unstoppable force against an immovable object. Of course, given enough time, objects always relent. These sea stacks were once part of a solid headland, and are now whittled down to a scattering of fine points. This archipelago of sea stacks adorns Rialto beach, within Olympic National Park’s coastal strip. In a world where coastal land is prime real estate, this preserved 73 mile long strip of wilderness is a sanctuary for both fauna and people. The coastal strip of the park, along with the inland forests, mountains and glaciers, receive more than 3 million annual visitors. The prolific visitation to Olympic National Park and other preserved lands, is a testament to the human need for nature and renewal.