Surf swept sandy beach
I would like to paddle across the Salmon River estuary in a one man packraft, pull up on the warm sandy beach, that you see here in the photograph.....and walk barefoot, taking in the sounds of the surf and gulls, smelling the salt air, and enjoying the moment. Perhaps one day I will. Meanwhile, this was a wonderful first hike up the Nature Conservancy trail, for both my wife and me.
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
Gypsy Mom on the road (4 months ago | reply)
Beautiful! One of my favorite places is at the coast.
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Trudi - - I will take secluded mountain and Southwest slickrock canyon routes BUT when not crowded, I too enjoy the ocean beaches. Good place to visit in winter (for me). OMT
Mono Andes (4 months ago | reply)
Bella vista!!
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Tienes razon Mono Andes y gracias. Ten un buen dia. Esteban
blue foot (4 months ago | reply)
Great view, love the line of trees in the foreground.
Wayne Weber (4 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous view! The Oregon coast is spectacular, isn't it? I can't stay away for very long. (I've made 4 brief visits in the last year.)
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Jenni - - it was our first hike to Cascade Head, but I can assure you it won't be our last. Figure that the scenery will change with the seasons and I relish the thought of hiking here at dawn some summer's day. Thanks OMT
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
Wayne - - My wife and I keep returning over and over again as well. I think I am a bit partial to the Southern Oregon Coast, but in winter, it is beautiful the entire legnth (and fewer people. Thanks for stopping by my photos and leaving your comment. OMT
ABQ1995 [deleted] (4 months ago | reply)
You are to be commended for hiking this area in the winter time... stay dry...
oldmantravels (4 months ago | reply)
ABQ - - I'm doing my best, as always, to get through another Pacific Northwest Winter. Will be heading to Keet Seel in June with my wife and enjoy the wide open spaces of Dine' country. OMT