6/1. Saturday. Cloudy - partly sunny. Ecola State Park, from Seaside to Ecola Point, with RT to Crescent Beach. ~10 miles.
We started ~10:30 into forest, gaining elevation, without view to the ocean. Even at rear clearing, it's too misty to see the bottom. Some big sitka spruce, wet, but not very mossy. Forest floor is covered with Siberia Spring Beauty right now: pink dancing dots everywhere. MUDDY! Lot of runners today.~12:30, arrived at Hiker's Camp for lunch. Well constructed bunks, with a sheltered picnic table, an outhouse. Dan lit up his pipe and sat far away from everyone reading. Not a bad idea.
A short walk to an abandoned military post with underground quarters. One gun mount.~2pm, arrived at Indian Point. Beautiful flat beach. A creek runs through. Sea Stacks. Passed all the people and packed parking lot, continued south. By now, the fog has lifted. Some grassy slopes with purple irises.
~3pm, drizzle. After some clean up at the bathroom next to Ecola Point parking lot, where we left one car, 6 of us continued south to Crescent Beach. It's an absolute joy. Almost no people. Only 1.25 miles. Many gulls and pelicans. Fine cream colored sand. A small waterfall cascade onto the beach.Arrived at the parking lot
The Ecola Point view deck is closed due to mud slides. I did walk over when no one was watching. Okay for adults, just be careful. Paved (cracked at parts), closer to the sea stacks of bird refuges, filled with faint fragrance of wild roses. The picnic table next to the "Closed" sign offers great view south to Cannon Beach. Shana happily waited for 2 hours here.
9 people in 3 cars, so we can do a car shuttle for a one way hike. Excellent plan. Matt is a very good organizer, well prepared, and sent out update before hike. He's takes good photos. The problem with meeetup hikes is the chitchat. Too much of it, and too loud, especially Abby, who never stopped talking. She doesn't even have anything useful or interesting to say. Good that she talked all the way to Keith, the driver, in the car, and I could take a nap. After lunch, I decided to listen to my podcast, and after the podcast finished, I left the earbuds in my ears to deter friendly questions. Yes, again, they decided to stop for food before heading back and more chitchat (I don't mind talking when not hiking). Sadly a seafood cafeteria was chosen in Cannon Beach. Pricy, no view, loud, busy. Not much beer to choose from.
Direction: north end parking: west end of Sunset Blvd (1st left on Ave U off Hwy 101) south of Seaside (next to a gated condo complex; south end parking: west end of Ecola Park rd (many picnic tables and decent bathroom).
