Kathleen Hart, visiting from San Diego for a camping trip with a friend, told local media that she and her companion were trying to leave the park around 5 p.m. Saturday when a massive fallen tree cut off their route. They joined about six other cars near Hoh Road, where roughly 12 people waited out the storm.

"We were just trying to find a place to not get hit by a tree that was falling, and with the thunder and lightning, it made it even more scary," Hart said. "We were worried that we would've gotten hit in the middle of the night."

Most of the stranded travelers were day hikers who had set out for short walks and suddenly found themselves in a dangerous predicament, Hart said. Despite the ordeal, the group stayed calm, sharing limited food and water and looking out for one another.

"Everyone has been such good sports and looking out for each other," she said. "I'm really grateful."

Hart and her mother, Michele, said they called 911 and local police repeatedly over several hours and were told to contact park rangers. The first ranger arrived around noon Sunday, according to Hart.

The National Park Service had posted an alert Saturday reporting that Sol Duc and Hoh Roads were blocked by downed trees and branches. The agency also temporarily closed the Kalaloch, Mora, Hoh and Sol Duc campgrounds, along with Sol Duc Road, Hoh Road and Mora Road, due to the weather.

In a statement Sunday evening, park representatives said strong winds and heavy precipitation swept across the Olympic Peninsula on Saturday, Nov. 7, causing power outages and road closures in several areas, including the Hoh Rain Forest, Sol Duc, Lake Crescent and Kalaloch. Along Upper Hoh Road, four fallen trees completely blocked the road while several others partially blocked access, leaving five vehicles trapped between the downed trees.

Park crews worked through power outages and fallen trees to restore access, reopening one lane of Upper Hoh Road by 1:30 p.m. Sunday. By 2 p.m., Hart said she and the other stranded campers were finally leaving the park. All affected roads and areas have since reopened, according to park officials.

The storm also knocked out power to thousands of customers in the Seattle area, where crews worked overnight to restore electricity. The incident highlights the growing challenge of extreme weather in the region's wild places, where a single storm can quickly turn a day hike into a survival situation and strain emergency response resources.

Park officials did not immediately provide further details on the rescue operation.