Brookings

Photographer's Note

"A Precipitous Descent on the Oregon Coast Trail"

There are a couple of good choices for the starting point on the trek north to Whale's Head Beach near Brookings in Oregon's Boardman State Park. Both are along the Coast Trail, a mixture of ocean-view vistas and dense forest.

You can start north at Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint for a 3.9 mile one-way walk or House Rock Viewpoint (2.5 miles). Both feature ample parking spots and easy access off U.S. Highway 101, and the Coast Trail is well marked.

From Cape Ferrelo, it's a mile and a half through woods and vistas up to House Rock, the view of which is so good you might be tempted to stop right there. Continuing north is like entering a tunnel forged of foliage. The Sitka Spruce-shaded forest floor seems to spread out for miles on either side. However, that's impossible; sense the ocean isn't far off to the left. The cushy trail climbs and descends through stunning visual delights of spruces, ferns and moss.

This goes on for more than a mile before you emerge from nature's darkroom and catch glimpses of Whale's Head Beach far below. Two short spur trails to the left dead-end at ocean viewpoints. Then comes a sign reading "Beach" and "Trail", accompanied by two arrows. If you're game, follow the beach route for a precipitous descent that will garner your wholehearted, survival-conscious attention, step by step, switchback by switchback. Otherwise, stay on the main Coast Trail until you reach an easier access route known as Whale's Head Trail.

The steeper descent lands you on Whale's Head Beach at its southern edge, with almost a mile of sand still to walk on toward the big rock that is home to a seabird breeding colony.

Whale’s Head Beach is one of the most gorgeous locations along the Oregon Coast. Offshore there is a sea stack that looks like the head of a Whale. The sea stack is cut with a rock channel and when a wave hits it, it spurts a spray that actually looks like a whale spouting, hence the name Whale’s Head Beach.

Along the shaded trail you will pass a lot of mushrooms and a low rock face that is covered with moss at least five hundred years old. Be careful of a few patches of poison oak growing close to the trail. When you get to the first sunny patch, stop and breathe deeply and look at the wild roses. A second rest gives you a view of the ocean. Looking south back toward Whale’s Head Trail Viewpoint, you can see the beach parking area and an absolutely stunning curve of beach. Continue along the trails to a knoll with an amazing ocean view thick with wild strawberry and huckleberry bushes. If you thought the world lacked wonders, think again.

Whether you are a hiker, a camera buff, a kid at heart, a nature lover or an artist you can't go wrong at Whale’s Head Beach.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again, I'd like to thank everyone for keeping my family in their thoughts and prayers. My wife seems to be doing a little better, but I still have daily bouts with horrible memories and find myself crying and not even know it, till the person I'm talking to asks me what is wrong. Anyway, I send my love and thoughts to every one of you!!

Your Friend from California......Buddy & Jenny Denmark

No_One, danos, Sonata11, timecapturer, krzychu30, Miguel82, annjackman, Royaldevon, delpeoples, photoray, kennyblack marcou esta nota como útil

Critiques | Translate

No_One (4) 2012-11-16 12:05

Hi Buddy

So good to see you post. And what an image. A great sense of blue throughout, it seems to have a feeling of cold naturally down to the blue, but I guess also the trees in the foreground which I would conveniently call Christmas Trees :) It is a beautiful view, the trees giving depth and the rock formations being spectacular. Lovely mist rising too.

Wonderful shot, thanks for sharing.
All the best from your friend in Ireland
Noel

brianmcc (6223) 2012-11-16 12:45

hi buddy,
what a wonderful looking coastline, and such a fantastic place for a photographer. great framing with the trees in the foreground, which also add depth to the image. the rock formations are incredible and you have captured them very well. a lovely coastal scene.
have a great weekend,
brian

siudzi (34141) 2012-11-16 12:46

Hello Buddy,
How are you doing?
This is very beautiful landscape post created with stunning blue mood. The light is a key of your work! Like it a lot.

Warm regards,
Malgorzata

Gigidusud (21679) 2012-11-16 12:48

Hi Buddy,
Beautiful seascape with these rocks in the middle of the water.I like the tree in FG,the light is splendid.Well done!
All my thoughts are for you and your family.
Your friend from Marseille,
Ghislaine.

danos (110407) 2012-11-16 13:44

Hello Buddy,
a really nice rock formations that looks like a Whale's head.I like the fascinating beauty of the place, with the dark silhouettes of the foreground trees to decorate perfect the scenery.Well done.

Regards,danos

npecanhuk (79329) 2012-11-16 14:33

Hi Buddy!
Wonderful seashore!
Beautiful picture!
Special regards to the management of light, horizontal format, chosen pov and composition!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Sonata11 (34119) 2012-11-16 21:14

Hello Buddy,
very beautiful composition of this churming place. Wonderfully executed and presented. Fantastic colors, sharpness,clarity, POV. I like the silhouttes of those trees. Awesome !!!! I really love it and enjoying this pic. Thanks for sharing. I hope everthing is getting better. I wish you the best.
Warm regatds and have a great WE,
Barbara

timecapturer (49288) 2012-11-17 4:22

Hi Buddy
love this! Really atmospheric and typical of the beauty of the West Coast of the USA. Super fg silhouettes that anchor and frame the magnificent view. Stunning image executed superbly.

Enjoy your weekend - Brian.
Glad things are beginning to improve emotionally for you. Takes time I know. All the very best to you and Jenny.

krzychu30 (15512) 2012-11-17 5:48

Hello Buddy,
I´m glad to see another beautiful picture from you and that you stay in touch with us despite difficult personal experiences in the recent past.The more it´s nice to hear things are beginning to get better for you and your family.
The photo you uploaded here confirms my opinion,that West Coast of the USA is definitely worth a visit and to drive it with a car from north to the south.The views are simply breathtaking.I think it´s a perfect place to relax and to forget about the daily hardships.Really excellently captured scene.
Wish You and your family All the Best
Krzysztof

Bartleby (13552) 2012-11-17 8:35

Hi Buddy,
super blue tones and a composition with depth thanks to those trees in the foreground.
Love it.

Philippe

Cricri (176) 2012-11-18 9:41

Hi Buddy
Un paysage merveilleux de ces rochers sur la mer, la lumière et le bleu de la mer, joliment présenter avec les arbres en avant plan, belle réalisation
Une très belle soirée a vous et votre famille
Belle soirée
cricri

Miguel82 (47110) 2012-11-18 9:59

Buddy,
I like the blue color in all the picture
Interesting note
Wild and beautiful Oregon coast
Sharp photo
Have a nice We

milad_abazari (1648) 2012-11-18 21:01

Hello dear friend
Registration of this beautiful landscape. Very good light and colors. With respect

annjackman (23019) 2012-11-18 23:09

Hello Buddy,
This is an area of the USA that I still have to explore. Your picture shows a very beautiful coastline. I like the way that those wonderful rocks are viewed through dark trees. Lovely light, colours and framing - superb!
Kind Regards, Ann

Royaldevon (85932) 2012-11-19 8:38

Hello Buddy,

Your black border gives the impression that we are looking through a window, and what a view! The silhouetted trees anchor the f/g giving a fine sense of depth to the rocks and the breaking waves. The limited colour palette adds to the atmosphere.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

delpeoples (60342) 2012-11-20 4:27

Hello dear Buddy

How's life? I hope things are improving for you and your family.

The high POV is beautiful, excellent view and wonderful definition in the rocks out at sea. The trees provide an interesting extra element and also a natural frame.

Thanks for sharing, have a happy day
Lisa

freeride01 (167) 2012-11-23 3:40

Love this kind of coastline. The Big Sur, pacific rim at Vancouver Island, Baskian coastline... al high cliffs, rocks, small islands just off shore, big tide differences.. As you can guess.. For no big and crowded sandy beaches. These are the shores a fall in love with. Is also again a very lovely shot from you. A place what is high on my list as it comes to beautiful holiday-cylcing-trip destinations.

photoray (13981) 2012-11-29 8:18

Howdy Bud,

Eye catching contrast, emphasizing the impressive sea stacks, with fine depth of field.
Good job and postcard for our Oregon coast.

Take care,
Sincerely,
RayWindbum

PS: "No Man is an Island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Earth is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own,
or of thine friend's were.

Each Man's death diminishes Me,
for I am involved in mankind,
therefore, send not to know
for Whom the Bell Tolls,
It tolls for thee."
--- JOHN DONNE

madhumita_roy86 (2344) 2012-12-18 9:35

Hello Buddy,
very beautiful shot...
nice & soothing colours...
lovely ambiance...good POV...
trees and the rock formations are great...
lovely mist sun rising...
Tfs! regards,
Madhumita.

Tigerlily (3381) 2012-12-29 3:41

Hi Buddy,
How are you?
Beautiful blue colour and wonderful composition. I wish you and your family have a good year in 2013. Best wishes.

kim_gwan (1142) 2012-12-31 5:35

Yo Buddy,

Mother nature that includes wind, rain, heat wave & etc always shaped stones into good photographic opportunities!!

Your Nikon Coolpix shot worth like a DSLR.

The mist blend very well into the scene.

Cheers and Happy Year 2013,
Ralf

kennyblack (4207) 2013-05-16 13:28

Hello Buddy
I really like the layout of the elements of this your photo. You did very well to enter the pints of trees which enrich the landscape very well composed with a view that lets you imagine what there later.
Great work, thank you for sharing.
The best greetings, have a nice evening ... Marino

Photo Information

Copyright: Buddy Denmark (PecoBud) (3824)
Genre: Lugares
Medium: Cor
Date Taken: 2012-08-28
Categories: Vida Diária, Natureza, Momento Decisivo
Camera: Nikon coolpix S3000
Exposição: f/4.8, 1/400 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versão da Foto: Versão Original
Date Submitted: 2012-11-16 11:38

Viewed: 3011

Points: 44

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