Trip Report:
Group Leader: Mark Hougardy | Organization: Eugene-based hiking group | Date: mid-June 2022 | Duration: 3 days | Hiking Distance: 7 miles | Participants: 8 | Type: Hiking & Tent Camping
The low tide zone is always covered, except for a few times a year during the lowest tides. It was during one such minus low tide that 8 of us ventured to an area along Oregon’s central coast to explore tide pools during an impressive -2.4 feet (-73 cm) low tide!
Day 1: Our group arrived on their schedule at one of the nearby Oregon State Park group camps. That afternoon and evening were open for beach walking, exploring on your own, or watching the sunset. In the evening, everyone enjoyed a campfire and discussed plans for the next day. It was interesting that one topic of conversation that arose was the book, “Braiding Sweetgrass.” Of the 8 participants, more than half had read the book, one was in the process of reading, and the others were interested. At 10 pm a gentle rain started and continued through to the morning.
Day 2: At 7 am, we carpooled to an unnamed parking area expecting a filling parking lot, but to the trip leader’s surprise were only 3 cars. The rain, cool temperatures, and overcast skies likely contributed to the low turnout. We arrived about 2 hours before low tide to follow the tide out. This particular tide pool area is special because we can walk on sand and open rocky surfaces to visit ‘islands’ of marine life. After 2.5 hours, and a returning tide, we started back and met several rangers who helped to provide some more context to the area. One ranger said the rain had chased most away that morning. We saw numerous anemones, various seaweeds, chitons, crabs, limpets, mussels, and some small fish believed to be skulpins. Also observed were a pacific harbor seal, seagulls, and great blue heron. Later that morning, we drove to a coffee shop in Nye Beach to warm up. Then half of the group ventured back to the campground, and the other half visited the Hatfield Marine Science Center. That afternoon, we met up at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and saw at least 4 bald eagles in addition to the common murres, surf scoters, and pigeon guillemots. One participant said that in 30 years of visiting Yaquina Head she had not seen that many eagles there as that day. That evening we enjoyed dinner around a campfire. Several of the group visited the beach at sunset to see up to 8 large birds visiting what appeared to be the body of a deer on the beach (the deer had not been there 24 hours earlier). The deer had been possibly struck by a vehicle on the nearby highway and made it to the beach before dying. Near the body were 8 birds; 3 were vultures, 2 were adult bald eagles, and 3 were juvenile bald eagles. The interactions between the birds were raucous at times. Just at sunset, the eagles departed and the vultures returned. That evening the rain returned.
Day 3: We awoke to a wet campsite and decided to meet in Depoe Bay at 9 am. Some broke camp early to grab some breakfast in town. In Depot Bay the group met up again, and we looked briefly for whales, but saw no signs, then drove north to Fogarty Creek to enjoy a -1.5 foot low tide. After an hour and a half, everyone departed for home.
Car camping is a fun way to experience the outdoors and spend time with family and friends; for some, it can be the catalyst into a larger world of exploration.
The modern world is a busy place; it is full of technological distractions, work commitments, and family duties. …It is easy for a year or more to swiftly zip by. If going camping is a family goal – you need to have a plan.
Sharing stories around a campfire is as old as humanity. For millennia it was the time-honored way for the elders to share their wisdom and help the next generation prosper. In modern times the old tribal fire has been replaced by the glow of a TV, and the elders are considered relics …something profound has been lost.
The campfire is a preeminent symbol of camping; it is the focal point for interacting with family, sharing stories, preparing food, and just enjoying a peaceful evening. While campfires are wonderful gifts to enjoy, they are unforgiving of mistakes and can cause great harm if not respected. Thinking about fire safety should be at the heart of every camping experience. Remember, fire safety begins with you; that said, here are suggestions for having a safer campfire during your next camping trip.
Big fires use a great deal of wood, burn hot, and burn fast. While there are occasions for large campfires they can be expensive to provision with wood and difficult to control. A smaller fire can still provide needed warmth and the enjoyment expected during a camping trip. Keep fires small to save money and keep those around you safe.
Car camping is an exciting way to introduce young children to new experiences, but balancing safety with a child’s curiosity can be challenging. Most parents reach for a book or surf the internet for information, but many of these resources only focus on fun activities and omit the basic point: before a family can have a meaningful camping trip, the parents must feel secure.
What is your campsite number? If there is one thing a young child (and parent) should remember, it is the family’s campsite number. To a young child, this is not just a number; it is the place where they can find comfort and safety. It will be one of the questions a Park Ranger will ask a child who is lost.
Etiquette is about being courteous and having good manners, so how does this translate to camping?
After a few days of family camping, it becomes apparent that everyone is in serious need of a bath; your sweetheart has hair that resembles a shrub, you wonder just how clean your kids’ hands really are, and you are starting to smell like Bigfoot.
Finally, being mindful about scents can keep animals away from your campsite. Many of the soaps (even Castile) can be scented with Fruits, Peppermint, Sage, and Lavender. While these scents are pleasant to humans, they can attract hungry animals. When buying any soap, for camping purposes, make sure it is unscented.
Meals cooked in the great outdoors are truly a delight; however, washing the dishes are often considered a chore. Washing dishes does not have to hard or time-consuming. Below are some quick and easy time-tested methods to help with washing dishes at the campsite.
The thought of cooking can be intimidating. Where does a person start?
Now comes the difficult question, what to cook? Families who are camping for a night to two generally default to old favorites like hot dogs or hamburgers, but what if you are staying for multiple days? Here are several ideas:
Did you know that setting up camp is when most problems occur and tempers flare? Some simple steps can help.
Most showers and toilets at campgrounds are well maintained and allow for privacy. Rarely, if ever, will you encounter a 100-year old outhouse. That said, a little planning goes a long way when using campground bathrooms and showers. Here is a quick overview of the facilities you might encounter at a typical national/state park campground, and some suggestions on how to stay clean and maintain your modesty.