The Pacific Coast: Another reason to live in Washington State June 19, 2007
I just spent a long weekend backpacking up the coast in the company of friends, seals, sea otters, and bald eagles. It was one of the lowest tides of the year, so we could walk out and look at critters that spend most of their lives underwater. We could also check out seals and otters basking in the sun or floating in the inlets created by exposed rock.
(see the little brown objects in the middle? Those are all sea otters floating in a group.)
If you’re backpacking the coast, the hiking can be strenuous, and can include climbs up rope ladders that are often in disrepair and a lot of tromping through muddy trails to get around the rocky cliffs that are impassable on the beach.
There is also the near guarantee of clouds and a continuous drizzle of rain, which can have a certain charm if you’re from the area. The sunny days are absolutely spectacular though.
- Posted in : General Real Estate
- Author : Galen
Comments»
Beautiful stuff! It looks like it was an awesome trip!
That was cool that you went during the time of such low tides…it really must have been amazing!
Exactly where on the WA coast is this? It reminds me more of the Oregon Coast. It’s beautiful!
It’s south of La Push. It’s very beautiful!
Not that I needed much reminding, but we are so spoiled living in the PacNW.
Did you hike from Oil City North or From 3rd Beach South? I used to work for the National Park there about a decade ago. There are some great “secret” beaches near Oil City that can only be accessed during extreme low tides. If you go earlier in the Spring (April or so) you can still find glass floats that come in with the kelp rafts as the currents change their seasonal direction.
Geordie, I went from Oil City north. The ’secret’ beaches were there and we circumnavigated an island that is normally inaccessible on foot - neato!
Shhhh…. You don’t want to attract the Californians to Washington state and have them raise our property values do you? On the plus side, if enough of them move up here, California might become affordable again…
We spent our vacation last summer in the Olympic National forest. It was absolutely spectacular! We traveled from Ocean Beaches all the way to Sequim (pronounced Squim for any non-Washington residents). One of my favorite spots was a rocky beach up by the Macaw Reservation. You turn over the rocks and there are hundreds and hundres of small crabs. Although, if you turn over too many rocks it starts to sound like the icky scarab beetles in the move The Mummy! Fabulous pics, by the way!
Wow! Those are some awesome photos. The top photo looks very much like an area in Quebec, Canada called Tadoussac where I’ve gone whale watching.
Robbie- I challange as many Californians as possible to move to the West Side of the Olympic Penninsula. One winter of 100+ inches of rain and all the “cultural delights” of the area will have them packing bags for the OC in no time.
Good point Geordie. Calling Kurt Cobain as your claim to fame isn’t really a great advertisement for an area is it?
Forks real estate is cheap though!
We stayed in Forks on our vacation, and there is a reason it is Cheap! Although it is sort of centrally located, the amenities are.. well… lacking. : )
Great pics! I heart Washington too.