OMT "having fun"
The Nature Conservancy Trail up to the Upper Viewpoint on Cascade Head was a wonderfully maintained trail with outstanding views of the Pacific Ocean and the Salmon River estuary as the reward for a 1,200' climb to ever increasing panoramic views. Here we pass through a small valley lined with alder trees.
Winter weather forecast looked good for the Oregon Coast so off we went. We used Lincoln City as our "base camp". Monday (2.6.12) it was 60 degrees on the coast with bright blue skies and sunshine. What joy to walk the beach. I hiked the beach at Road End. I saw several people searching the gravels and sands of the beach. Later I found out that with the low tides, they were taking the opportunity to search for agates, especially the local "Newport blue/blacks".
I took a few "surf photos" on the beach hike Monday, and later stopped by a local rock shop to ask about the agates and sought after rocks of the area. For pocket change I bought two small unpolished, un tumbled (except by sea) of the Newport Blue/Black agates. I also bought some pretty polished versions for good luck talisman for my wife.
Tuesday morning (2.7.12) the clouds came in, but not rain in the morning hours. My wife and I took a wonderful day hike from the Salmon River estuary, north of Lincoln City, Oregon to the "Upper Viewpoint" of the Nature Conservancy Trail. It was a short hike, gaining 1,200 feet, but oh my the views! We really enjoyed the hike. I was wanting to hike the Harts Cove trail, but the access road is closed six month of the year to protect the habitat of the Oregon Silverspot butterfly.
The Cascade Head hike takes you through some quite unique biospheres. Aside from the spectacular views south across the Salmon River estuary (you can see the headlands of the Roads End beach, which I had hiked the day before and Devils' Lake) - - there are two wildflowers that grow on Cascade Head in the Spring (a good reason to return for us for another hike then):
1. Cascade Head catchfly [Silene douglassi var. oraria]. Sound like the name of a bird but it is a wildflower found in few other places in the world. 99% grow on Cascade Head.
2. Hairy stemmed checkermallow [Sidalcea hirtipis]. More common than the catchfly but nonetheless, rare.
As mentioned the Oregon Silverspot butterfly makes its home on Cascade Head. This butterfly is found in only five other places in the world. The host plant for these butterflies is the Blue Violet [Viola adunca]. It is the only plant the Silverspot caterpillar will feed on, so like milkweed for the Monarch butterfly, they butterfly and plant are tied together closely. No blue violets, then no Oregon Silverspots.
The adult butterfly retreat to the edging forest in the area to avoid the high winds and predation. But they return to the Blue Violet in the meadows to lay their eggs and this is where their caterpillar must make their way in life.
I hope to return to take the same hike in late April or early May and photograph some of the wildflowers, as well as take more landscape photographs of the stunning views from the trail and the Upper Viewpoint.
Not many Flickr worthy photographs, but I hope you enjoy the ones I have posted. FYI: RAIN returned to the Oregon Coast on Wednesday morning, so we headed on home.
Comments and faves
Janice L (4 months ago | reply)
Good morning OMT. and you are wrong, there are many Flickr worthy photos here.
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Aw shucks Janice. Thanks, but I know full well that I'm a hiker not a photographer, so it is the fun of being on a trail that I like sharing. OMT
Janice L (4 months ago | reply)
And it shows in your photography, Steve.
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Thanks Janice. PS I think you can can the realtor gig and go pro photographer. Much more rewarding eh? OMT
Janice L (4 months ago | reply)
LOL, I canned the Realtor Gig for something with a semi-regular paycheck. I'm flattered that you think I could go pro, but alas when I look at many of Flickr friends I don't stand a chance. I'f be happy just to pay my gas and a few pieces of gear for my photography.
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
JL - - Why don't you take a "realtor" trip to the coast and see about displaying and selling some of your Oregon based photos there. Don't know till you try. OMT