Tillamook Head!

5 miles, more or less, walking w/ Nordic poles. Probably longer since I took a wrong turn and got headed back on the Tillamook Head Loop when I thought I was headed out to see the lighthouse.

Interesting here . . . This was more "recreation" than "training." I felt like it was "fun" rather than a workout task.


Photo on the ascent from the Tillamook Head camp toward Seaside. This is "Terrible Tilly" lighthouse, now a columbarium for funerary urns.

Tired and stiff after, but flexing out the kinks and feel fine the next day.

For hikers -- This trail from Indian Beach to the Tillamook Head Camp is well paved (compacted gravel), wide enough to drive a truck, cleared, drained, well maintained.

Trail marking at the campsite is less than perfectly clear -- the park display sign "map" is poorly drawn. The western "Loop" trail is boggy footpath, less cleared, narrower, more like a hiking trail

"Loop" trail heads back to Indian beach.

Wide gravel paved trail heads out to the lighthouse view (and radar bunker).

Seaside Trail picks up BEHIND the camp cabins . . . facing the three cabins, the trail is to the right, behind the rightmost cabin, and heads out ill-defined, poorly marked until you get out of the cleared area where hikers have scouted for firewood.

Once on the trail to Seaside, it's clearly a trail

BOGGY! Trail is wet, fairly well maintained, clearly evident, with a lot of "boardwalk" stretches. It's a boggy trail! Even in the summer. Well traveled, well marked. Moderately arduous -- some long climbs, descents, hilly terrain. It has every potential to get stormy, nasty, windy, and very wet.

STAY AWAY FROM THE CLIFF EDGE! THESE ARE OFTEN UNDERCUT, AND UNSTABLE! THERE ARE EXCELLENT VIEWS WITHOUT RISKING YOUR LIFE TO CATCH YOUR LAST GLIMPSE OF THE WILD!



The Nordic poles proved useful in balance and puddle jumping around the boggy sopped areas.

GPS got my waypoints, but there's a learning curve on the "route management" -- I estimated distance from waypoints and the tracking/path ruler on Google Earth.

I packed in REI daypack:

extra polar fleece shirt in waterproof bag
storm coat
leather gloves
Nordic ski light wool hat
heavier polar fleece "goat roper" hat with ear flaps.
extra socks in waterproof bag
first aid -- w/ blister moleskin, tape
compass (GPS can crap out)
lighters in waterproof bag
whistle
camera
GPS -- I should rig this w/ the supplied carabiner so I can access off the pack.
toilet paper
extra ziplock plastic bags
water -- I need to find my Platypus Bag.

I wore New Balance Gortex hiking boot (mid weight), nylon storm pants, polar fleece shirt, long-johns. Started with a coat, but was soon warm enough without. Nordic wool ski cap which is readily adjustable for coverage.

Food:
apple slices, 2 cans sardines, 48 oz smoothie, almonds, 2 bagels.

For the planned March 21, round trip hike I should pare this down to some food and a lighter pack. It's not "wilderness." I'm not going to get lost or stuck. I can find my way out in the dark. (But a light would be smart.) I want to find a lighter bag, maybe the CampKing cheapo I already own? And a Platypus Hydration bag.