On Saturday, 10 DEC 2011, 19 Friends
of the Umpqua Hike Club and guests traveled to the Oregon
Coast. This was to be a loop hike of about 6 miles. First we
stopped at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area and was able to
approach within several yards of two large bull elk. That
was as close as one can ever get to such magnificent
animals.
The hike started in a coastal forest of
fir, spruce, fern, salal, Rhododendron, mosses and many
others. The area may be part of one of the largest temperate
rainforests in the world. Viewing the large Sitka Spruce and
Douglas Fir, one would think they were in an old growth
stand of timber. Actually the area was logged in the 1920's
and has regrown to become a homeland of abundant wildlife.
Jim said he saw a huge bear in the area at one time.
We proceeded about 3 miles from the
Tahkenitch CG to Threemile Lake where the sand dunes
started. Threemile Lake is long and narrow and is said to
have been a salt water lagoon at one time. Views were
magnificent of the lake and the ocean beyond the dunes. From
there we hiked over the dunes thru grasses, coast pine, and
fore dune to the beach. Weather was overcast but pleasant
with no wind – perfect hiking weather. It was a pleasant
hike north to find a lunch spot along the sea wall. We
watched a group of 6 - 8 seals cruising down the surf line
as we ate.
Some hikers turned inland at the return
trail sign and others proceeded a short distance to the
outlet of Tahkenitch Creek which was flowing fast and with
volume. At this point the creek is littered with uprooted
coastal pine from a high water storm event several years ago
which changed the location of the creek outlet. The trail
back to the cars entailed going up one very, very large dune
and back through some forest thick with Rhododendron, red
cedar, pines, etc.
On the ride home some got a great view of
a herd of buffalo (bison) being raised on a farm near
Kellogg. Others had some good Mexican food in Reedsport.
