Day 6: Oswald West State Park, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Astoria, and Sunset Beach
Early morning on Wednesday, October 1 we packed up the vans and headed North to Oswald West State Park. On the way we stopped at a few site seeing spots to take some pictures overlooking Manzanita Beach, the beach we stayed at the previous night. At Oswald West we met up with Pat Corcoran, a coastal hazards outreach specialist and former graduate from the UW Eau Claire Geography Program to learn about the natural hazards in Oregon. We hiked through the temperate rainforest down to the Pacific Ocean. Along the trail Pat told us a lot about the area including the fact that most of the biomass was in the canopy and other facts about the forest. When we got to the Ocean, Pat wanted to take us along another path on our way back but to do this we had to cross a small river that divided the beach. We all had to get creative on how to cross without getting too wet but we all made it safely.
After Oswald West, we headed towards Cannon Beach. Before we got there we stopped to see where people around the area kept their emergency tsunami supplies. They keep them in two green storage containers that are pad locked closed. Pat shared with us that he didn’t like this set up because he thought that people should be focused on leaving the area rather than on getting their supplies and then heading to safety. In addition, if everyone came to get their supplies it could create a choke point because the containers are kept in a small area off of the main road. At Cannon Beach Pat described more about the tsunami evacuation plan. As he was talking, a test for the tsunami siren went off. Instead of it being a normal siren like we would hear for a tornado warning, their test signal is a cow mooing. Pat explained that this was to get peoples’ attention better so they would listen to it. When the real siren sounded for an actual tsunami it would sound like a normal siren. After that, we went on to the beach and Alyssa gave her presentation on tourism at Cannon Beach and Seaside in front of Haystack Rock. After her presentation, we were able to walk across the beach to Haystack Rock and see the tide pools around it. There, we were able to see different types of sea life including muscles, sea stars, sea anemones, and even some puffins.
After looking at all of the sea life we hopped back in the vans and drove fifteen minutes to Seaside. At Seaside we walked along the promenade a little ways to the Lewis and Clark turn around. The turnaround signifies the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail. We went down the street to Dundee’s for a delicious lunch. There, Pat had us all try steamer clams, which you can find yourself on the shores of Oregon. All you need is a bucket and a clam gun.
Next on our agenda was the Astoria Column. At the column Emily M. gave her presentation on Astoria and Lewis and Clark. Pat then informed us that most people, as a fun activity, buy a balsam wood glider for a dollar and throw it off of the top of the tower. Most of us went and bought one and climbed the long spiral staircase to the top. The view overlooking the town was amazing. We each threw our gliders and watched them fly down the hill.
Before we checked into our hotel we decided to check out the house that the 1985 movie, The Goonies was filmed at. Those of us that were interested were able to walk a few blocks and up to the house for a fun photo op. After our pit stop at The Goonies house we checked into the Norblad Hotel and Hostel. After settling in, we split into two groups to get supplies for the night and next day. We then met up at Sunset beach for a game of ultimate Frisbee, picnic dinner of pizza from Fort George Brewery and to watch another beautiful sunset on the beach. We completed the day with a campfire and our daily debriefing. It was another great day in Oregon.
Special thanks to Pat Corcoran!
Early morning on Wednesday, October 1 we packed up the vans and headed North to Oswald West State Park. On the way we stopped at a few site seeing spots to take some pictures overlooking Manzanita Beach, the beach we stayed at the previous night. At Oswald West we met up with Pat Corcoran, a coastal hazards outreach specialist and former graduate from the UW Eau Claire Geography Program to learn about the natural hazards in Oregon. We hiked through the temperate rainforest down to the Pacific Ocean. Along the trail Pat told us a lot about the area including the fact that most of the biomass was in the canopy and other facts about the forest. When we got to the Ocean, Pat wanted to take us along another path on our way back but to do this we had to cross a small river that divided the beach. We all had to get creative on how to cross without getting too wet but we all made it safely.
After Oswald West, we headed towards Cannon Beach. Before we got there we stopped to see where people around the area kept their emergency tsunami supplies. They keep them in two green storage containers that are pad locked closed. Pat shared with us that he didn’t like this set up because he thought that people should be focused on leaving the area rather than on getting their supplies and then heading to safety. In addition, if everyone came to get their supplies it could create a choke point because the containers are kept in a small area off of the main road. At Cannon Beach Pat described more about the tsunami evacuation plan. As he was talking, a test for the tsunami siren went off. Instead of it being a normal siren like we would hear for a tornado warning, their test signal is a cow mooing. Pat explained that this was to get peoples’ attention better so they would listen to it. When the real siren sounded for an actual tsunami it would sound like a normal siren. After that, we went on to the beach and Alyssa gave her presentation on tourism at Cannon Beach and Seaside in front of Haystack Rock. After her presentation, we were able to walk across the beach to Haystack Rock and see the tide pools around it. There, we were able to see different types of sea life including muscles, sea stars, sea anemones, and even some puffins.
After looking at all of the sea life we hopped back in the vans and drove fifteen minutes to Seaside. At Seaside we walked along the promenade a little ways to the Lewis and Clark turn around. The turnaround signifies the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail. We went down the street to Dundee’s for a delicious lunch. There, Pat had us all try steamer clams, which you can find yourself on the shores of Oregon. All you need is a bucket and a clam gun.
Next on our agenda was the Astoria Column. At the column Emily M. gave her presentation on Astoria and Lewis and Clark. Pat then informed us that most people, as a fun activity, buy a balsam wood glider for a dollar and throw it off of the top of the tower. Most of us went and bought one and climbed the long spiral staircase to the top. The view overlooking the town was amazing. We each threw our gliders and watched them fly down the hill.
Before we checked into our hotel we decided to check out the house that the 1985 movie, The Goonies was filmed at. Those of us that were interested were able to walk a few blocks and up to the house for a fun photo op. After our pit stop at The Goonies house we checked into the Norblad Hotel and Hostel. After settling in, we split into two groups to get supplies for the night and next day. We then met up at Sunset beach for a game of ultimate Frisbee, picnic dinner of pizza from Fort George Brewery and to watch another beautiful sunset on the beach. We completed the day with a campfire and our daily debriefing. It was another great day in Oregon.
Special thanks to Pat Corcoran!