This was a hike with many changes of plan. It was
scheduled to be to Crater Peak in the Crater Lake National
Park with Richard as Coordinator. The Rattle Fire and assorted
fires in the Park smoked the view and closed highway 138.
Influenza did its toll on Richard. The hike was switched to
Cape Blanco and Lois volunteered to be coordinator in place of
the ailing Richard. The group gathered at the courthouse and
made the trip to the Sixes River boat ramp by Cape Blanco.
The Sixes River was behaving very strangely with very high
water, which led to another change. The group, led by Jane and
Diane, veered off the usual route and followed the river to
the ocean slushing through the marsh. Some hikers got to see
river otter in the river. The explanation for the river’s
behavior was made apparent when the group reached the ocean,
the Sixes river was cut off from the ocean by a bank of sand
damming the river and forcing it into the marsh and up its
banks. Because the river was dammed, some members of the group
were able to hike clear up to Blacklock Point, others turned
back part way. The group then hiked up to the lighthouse which
was open and the members climbed the winding tower steps to
the top.
Descending from the lighthouse, the hikers then trudged
along the cliffs back to the Sixes River Boat Ramp where Geoff
and Alan and the cars were parked. It was about a seven mile
hike but not the expected seven miles. The spotting of the
otters and the unusual river formation made it a very
interesting hike which was worth the wet feet suffered in the
marsh. The weather was perfect.
Pictures by Diane Rannow
