09-06-09 Drift Creek Falls Trail

So the next weekend we headed back to the used bookstore for the 30% off sale and to check out the Drift Creek Falls trail. It was raining and windy when we left the house, no telling what it will be like over by the coast. I have seen it both ways before crappy at the house, but sunny and blue sky at the coast.



Along highway 18 we see buffalo. So we stopped to take a pic, notice the dark sky.

It's pouring rain and windy as we get close, so the plan is to hike the trail first and then hit the bookstore afterwards.



We arrive at the trail head parking lot just as the clouds open up and it really starts to pour. I open up the back of Julie's rig to get my pack and hiking boots out only to find that "Mr. Prepared" forgot his pack and hiking boots. Damn! I had them set out on the living room floor, but somehow forgot to grab them when loading up. ARGH! Well, we are here; I guess I am going as is.



The trail is listed as being 1 ½ Miles, so 3 miles round trip.



Apparently there is an alternate route, but we decide to stick to the main trail.



After about ¾ of a mile we hit a bad spot in the trail, part of it has fallen away. Not really any problem, just had to stay to one side.



Wow, this is the first time that I have seen Devil's Club with fruit/berries on it.



We spot a bridge ahead on the trail, which does not look like much of a bridge.



This can't be what all the hubbub is about.



The trail starts to rise now. Maybe we are getting close; I better stop taking pictures and catch up to Julie.



As we climb up the trail what do I see...? Is that the bridge?



WOW!



Here I am for a bit of scale. Notice the brass plaque on the bridge.



The plaque.



The bridge.

Drift Creek Falls Bridge Video, originally uploaded by Oregon Mike.

Bridge Video, sorry it's sideways. Anyone know how to fix it?



First view of the falls from the bridge.



Falls from the other end of the bridge, the tree gives it some scale.



The far end of the bridge.



Cables.



As we hike down to the bottom of the falls, I spot this bright colored tree fungus.



What a view.



...and now me, for a little more scale. The Bridge is a 240 feet long suspension bridge hovering 100 feet over the creek. The water fall is 75 feet tall.



Drift Creek Falls Video

Now a few more pics of the water fall from various angles:










Who's that bozo looking up?



This is a fairly short hike with incredible scenery, more than worth the hike. Julie and I hiked back and then went to the bookstore. I got some Oregon history and Northwest wild plant books. It was dinner time so we went back to Jack's Steak and Seafood one more time.



As the sun was going down we drove back home, tummies full and a story to tell.

A tribute to Scott Paul and Sahale bridge builders. Pics of the bridge construction.

--- Oregon Mike

August 29th Coast Trip.

On Saturday I figured instead of a forest trip we would head to the coast and walk on the beach. As we came over the hill into Newport we could not see the Pacific Ocean when normally you can. Bah, it's foggy out there. It was pretty clear in town and on Highway 101. As we drove down the coast to seal rock we could hardly see the ocean much less the beach. We pulled into Seal Rock State Park and headed down the trail to the beach. Click on the pics to view in full size.



Along the short trail I spotted a patch of large fungus.



Here is the "view",or lack of one, from the top of beach path.



Down on the beach.



Pirates! I think I see pirates! Just kidding, only rocks and fog.



Yes, strangely enough I did need the sun glasses. It was a bright white fog.



Since it was fog central at the beach we decided to drive up the coast. We went through Newport and kept on heading North on highway 101. Then Julie wanted to check out Beverly Beach State Park since her family used to go camping there when she was a kid. I told her something like "I don't think it is anything like it was when you were a kid". We pulled in and started driving through the multiple "loops" of camping spots. Julie was amazed, this place is HUGE now. Just about every camp space is jam packed right next to each other; no privacy, no listening to the wind through the trees, wall to wall people/cars/kids/and their junk.

There was one point when we had just started to drive through the camping loops Julie said something that I will always remember. After taking a deep breath she said "ahhhh.... Campfire". This is exactly what I had said while driving with Julie through a small campground before summer. I was so proud. Anyways on one of the outer loops there were a section of yurts that were close to the beach and a lot more private. We may stay in one of those sometime for a coast trip.


We continued on North on 101 when someone mentioned food. Then it was time to play the game "what place looks good". We passed place after place... We did not want anything fancy but wanted more than just fast food. Then I saw this place called Jack's Steaks & Seafood just North of Depoe Bay. The food was GREAT! I had a ribeye steak mushrooms and Julie had meatloaf. Even plain old meatloaf was the best meatloaf I ever had.

So tummies now happy we drove on to Lincoln City. Where I spotted a classic looking used bookstore along 101, Robert's Bookshop . Wow this place is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. It's got the classic used book smell with memorabilia on the walls and shelves. After being lost for in there for a few minutes, Robert asked if he could help me find something. I said where is your history section? His response was what type of history? I knew then that this was my kind of used book store! I of course said Oregon history and he showed me to not just one little shelf on the wall, but three bookcases along the wall floor to ceiling. I bought five books even though he said that next weekend was his 30% off Labor day weekend sale. We will be back for sure.

I was ready to head back home so we turned South on highway 101, when I spotted a sign that said Drift creek camp 12 miles this way. Julie said "let's go check it out". It was already 5:00 PM, but I said "okay", thinking that it might be a nice campground and that I had remembered reading something about Drift Creek Falls trail someplace. The road headed into the Siuslaw National Forest and was pretty curvy. We followed the signs as we went further and further into the forest. Many times I things like this turn out to be a big flat spot were the local kids go to party or some old hunters camp. I tried to get Julie to turn around and just head home since it was getting late, she was driving, but she kept wanting to keep going. Again, I was so proud, I think I am rubbing off on her. Finally we see a sign and cross a little bridge... WOW! This is no campground. Look at that huge "A" frame lodge and the cabins. We talked to the camp caretaker for a few minutes. He told us it was mainly a church retreat for the Mennonite Camp Association or Oregon. It was getting dark so Julie asked about the electricity. He told us they were off the grid and made their own power. He gave us a card and said the cabins or whole camp could be rented out for family reunions, events, etc... We did not expect to find anything like this. I have been to a few places like this that are "off grid", they always interest me. This place it really beautiful, I sure would like to come back here and maybe rent a cabin for the weekend. So we turned around and finally headed back home to Albany. We did see a sign for Drift Creek Falls, but it indicated that it was 10 miles in a different direction from the camp. So that's for another trip.

....and yes, I should have taken pictures of the bookstore, the camp and maybe even my steak! I'll learn... I'll learn...

--- Oregon Mike