August 10, 2012 Ecola State Park, Clatsop Loop Trail

Ecola State Park is so lovely! Hiking the Clatsop Loop was... ah... interesting! (Clatsop is the name of an Indian tribe) Especially the part where we climbed UP UP UP for 1.5 miles! The trail goes thru a spectacular Sitka spruce forest (think BIG) to a high Pacific Ocean overlook. Then it winds down along the coast back to Indian Beach. We panted our way up, with many stops to admire gigantic trees, and at the top was the "Hikers Camp". After a look at the ocean and the now-decommissioned Tillamook Rock lighthouse (think seabirds) we ambled back down to the beach. So many fascinating things to see! This forest is waaaaay different from what we know down yonder in Loozyanna. Although it made for a long day, we both agree that it was a very splendid day!
















Starting out (late afternoon). There are beautiful ferns everywhere!





















Big daddy slug! Bubba beneath the enormous Sitka spruce trees.




















Nice of them to provide a resting spot on the uphill climb! Bubba admiring a giant.
















Beautiful wild foxglove. One of 3 hiker cabins.
















Interior of a hiker cabin. Nannie standing by a fallen giant.
















Overlook at the top of the trail; the distant object is the Tillamook lighthouse. Closeup of the lighthouse - notice the quantity of bird guano. . .






















They got some moss here, you betcha!

















We didn't count the rings, but there were LOTS of 'em! Two happy campers at the end of our hike...