Mile 180 Report
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
May 18, 2017
Due to the early hour, I was mainly alone on the beaches and trails.
Report Details
Due to the early hour, I was mainly alone on the beaches and trails. In total, I eventually only saw three other people. Beaches and trails were mostly free of garbage or human debris. Dead sea lion provided a meal for a coyote, bald eagles and vultures.
Activities
Number of people: 3. Walking or running: 3.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 1.
Notable Wildlife
Coyote, vultures, bald eagles
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Dead sea lion on beach
Wrackline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces. Cellophane worms
Actions & Comments
I was the sole person for quite awhile in the early morning hours. I came across a dead sea lion on the beach which was providing a meal for a coyote, bald eagles and about a dozen vultures. I felt it was best to let nature take its course. The beach was relatively free of garbage. Cellophane worms and dead shore crabs were most notable in the wrack line, along with the regular sand dollars and shells. Hobbit Trail was looking beautiful with rhododendrons in bloom and no visible garbage or new erosion. I spent two days along this mile and was happy to find it all looking good.
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DepoeRena
CoastWatcher
All Mile 180 Reports
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
The bluff continues to fracture and slide. King tides have brought logs in and flattened the beach.
Gordon Pollock
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
Slumping of sand away from the steep bluffs
lyndell
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
Natural changes to the dune bluff continue to show cracks and slides.
Gordon Pollock
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
The sand cliffs continue to erode.
Gordon Pollock
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
When I arrived at 10:30 am,there were 5 cars, 8 people and one dog south, 3 people and 5 dogs north. **As a side note,on November 28, 2024, there was a dead sea lion south of the entrance about 300 yards.
Crystal Roy
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
I'm always happy to see healthy looking eagles on the beach. A few people and I took pictures from about 100 feet away without scaring them. There were new places along the dune where small sections were sliding down to the beach located 300 feet north of the Hobbit Trail and one slide 200 feet north of Heceta Headland. The waves were about 3-6 feet high. One person picked up a rock.
Gordon Pollock
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
Sneaker waves were predicted and the sand showed recent signs of recent flooding. There were lots of Velvella jellyfish on the beach and most of these appeared dried out. I saw cracks and unstable areas of sand in the dunes and bluffs south of the Hobbit Beach trail entrance on the shore. I counted 11 people and two dogs on mile 180 during my visit.
Gordon Pollock
Mile 180
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
High tides are sweeping sand away.
lectricriderone