Today we hiked 8.5+ miles on the Tillamook Head Trail with our friends Paula and Don.  

Scott and I had semi attempted this hike when we first got to Seaside. We gave up after about 200 feet due to the extremely wet conditions and us not being prepared for it.  The hike has an increase in elevation of about 1500 feet.  There were lots of switchbacks, steep inclines, slippery decents, and really muddy spots.  Several storms in the past have caused quite some damage to the trees.

This fallen tree had an impressive and large root structure.

This was a viewpoint on the hike up.

Also on the way up we walked through the hiker’s camp.  Open sided cabins for backpackers.

Just beyond the camp is an abandoned bunker that was used during WWII.

Not far from here was the view we had all been waiting for.  The Tillamook Head Lighthouse.  The Lighthouse was built out on a rock because the Head was covered in fog too often for the lighthouse to be there.  It is no longer an operational lighthouse and is now a protected wildlife sanctuary due to the sea lions and birds.  The sun came out just as we got to the viewpoint.  It made the colors of the water change and it was breathtaking.

We stopped here and ate our lunches that we packed and of course drank some wine.

Don and Scott talking radios.  Haha  Paula and I pretended we were taking a selfie but really we were taking pics of them

I may have crossed the safety fence to get a better view of the beach below.

 

This is Scott trying to push me since I crossed the safety fence.

 

The fog started to roll in as we headed back down.

On the way back down we took notice of some pretty cool fungi.

We called this one Shamu

After making it back and going home to take quick showers, the 4 of us met up at Naked Winery for some post hike wine and of course pizza too!

The ride home with our leftover pizza.  There isn’t usually any leftovers but I think we were all too tired to eat.