{"id":39950,"date":"2022-08-06T08:10:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-06T14:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39950"},"modified":"2022-10-01T20:36:22","modified_gmt":"2022-10-02T02:36:22","slug":"humbug-mountain-coast-range-ophir-beach-9-1-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39950","title":{"rendered":"Humbug Mountain, Coast Range & Ophir Beach (9-1-21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 27 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!<\/em><\/p>\n

10:17 AM, 66\u00baF, Humbug Mountain<\/span><\/a> (1,761 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> trailhead off Hwy 101<\/em> – 5 miles S of Port Orford, almost immediately after Hwy 101 swung inland away the Oregon coast, a big empty gravel parking area appeared on the R.\u00a0 Joy of joys!\u00a0 SPHP had been hoping there might be a way Lupe could climb Humbug Mountain, and there was!\u00a0 Parking the RAV4, a posted sign, complete with a map, confirmed the existence of a Humbug Mountain trail that went all the way to the summit!<\/p>\n

Oh, we gotta do this one, SPHP!\u00a0 Humbug Mountain is practically right on the Pacific Ocean.\u00a0 Just think what we might be able to see from up top!<\/em><\/p>\n

No argument from SPHP there!\u00a0 Within minutes, the American Dingo was on her way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Humbug Mountain trailhead. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Posted trail system map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Closeup of the Humbug Mountain loop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In case there was the least bit of doubt, a few pawsteps into the forest a Humbug Mtn Trail sign directed Lupe L.\u00a0 3 miles to the top!\u00a0 Actually that was a slight exaggeration, no matter which part of a loop Lupe took.\u00a0 No need to even think about that yet, though.\u00a0 The trail wouldn’t divide into E and W routes until the first mile was about over and done with.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A second sign almost right at the start.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail headed SE a short distance into a ferny forest before trending NE, winding its way higher at an easy to moderate pace along the N side of the mountain.\u00a0 Lupe began coming to posts marking each 0.25 mile.\u00a0 Progress was good.\u00a0 The trail was in great shape!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Along the N side of the mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before reaching the 0.5 mile mark, the trail curved into a little valley.\u00a0 At the far E end, Lupe crossed a tiny, clear-running stream, the only water she would come to on the whole route.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sampling the tiny creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the stream, the trail reversed direction, going W or S most of the time.\u00a0 Lupe passed a 0.75 mile post.\u00a0 Shortly before reaching a 1.0 mile post, she came to a bench.\u00a0 This was where the trail divided into E and W routes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the 3\/4 mile post.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Decision time! At the bench where the trail divides.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Which way, SPHP?\u00a0 E or W?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hardly matters, Loop.\u00a0 The E route is 0.2 mile longer, but both routes will meet again a little below the summit.\u00a0 The map shows that the W route has 3 viewpoints, while the E route only has 1.\u00a0 If you don’t mind, I’d rather go W, so we can check out the views on the way up.\u00a0 We can do the E half of the loop on the way down.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds good to me, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

The W route started out going WSW, before turning S.\u00a0 \u00a0The Carolina Dog soon reached the first viewpoint, a narrow opening through the forest featuring a glimpse of the Oregon Coast over by Port Orford.\u00a0 The air was rather hazy.\u00a0 Looked more like smoke than humidity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Port Orford<\/strong> (Center) from the first viewpoint. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cool to see the Oregon Coast from elevation, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Marvelous, Loop!\u00a0 A little discouraging, though, that we’re practically in the drink, and there’s still all this wildfire smoke hanging around.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing we can do about it, SPHP.\u00a0 Let’s keep going.<\/em><\/p>\n

The trail continued S, then turned W again.\u00a0 \u00a0Less than 5 minutes from the first viewpoint, Lupe came to a second bench.\u00a0 This bench was also the location of a second viewpoint, although the view was almost exactly the same, another look at Port Orford from a little higher up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the second bench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Port Orford<\/strong> (R of Center) again. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the second bench, the trail soon turned SW, but that didn’t last.\u00a0 Before long, the Humbug Mountain Trail was snaking it’s way SE, then E.\u00a0 The forest was amazing, but was all Lupe could see.<\/p>\n

At least the posts the American Dingo continued to pass every 0.25 mile provided encouragement that progress really was being made.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the 1.75 mile post.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Enjoying the shady forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe kept climbing.\u00a0 If there actually was a third viewpoint along the W route, SPHP never saw it.\u00a0 1.6 miles from the first bench, the trail crossed part of a tree trunk had been hewn away.\u00a0 Immediately beyond this spot, the E and W routes of the Humbug Mountain Trail merged again.\u00a0 An arrow on the final post pointed up a short spur leading to the summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Next to the post where the E and W routes meet up again. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11:53 AM, 63\u00baF, Humbug Mountain<\/span><\/a> (1,761 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/em> – The short spur quickly brought Lupe up to the W end of a 125 foot long summit ridge.\u00a0 Running NW\/SE, this ridge was roughly 20 feet wide.\u00a0 The RAV4 had been alone at the big gravel trailhead down by Hwy 101, and Loop had seen no one at all on the way up the mountain, so SPHP was surprised to see 3 couples basking in sunshine on benches strung out along the ridgeline.<\/p>\n

Several log slice benches were near a big stump where Lupe came up.\u00a0 Two normal benches were farther SE.\u00a0 A battered metal container full of cement was 10 feet W of the middle bench, which was stationed at the true summit.\u00a0 Inspection of the container revealed a survey benchmark.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Humbug Mountain true summit<\/strong>. Survey benchmark container (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the survey benchmark container.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Humbug survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyone was friendly!\u00a0 Turned out they had all spent the night over at a campground N of Hwy 101 directly across from the trailhead, explaining why no vehicles had been at the trailhead.<\/p>\n

Humbug Mountain had been entirely forested on the way up.\u00a0 However, that wasn’t true here!\u00a0 A good-sized clearing on the upper SW slope let the sun shine in, and provided a stunning view of the Oregon coast.\u00a0 A fair amount of smoke was visible, but mostly near the horizon.\u00a0 Closer by, the smoke wasn’t bad enough to seriously mar the scene.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oregon Coast<\/strong> from Humbug Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sisters Rocks<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The main view was S along the coastline, but Lupe could see SW out over the Pacific Ocean, too.\u00a0 A surprising amount of smoke was drifting way out beyond the coast, limiting visibility, but it still felt incredible to be looking down on the ocean from such a height.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pacific Ocean<\/strong> from Humbug Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wow!\u00a0 Bet there are some amazing sunsets from up here, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

No doubt about that, Loop!\u00a0 Maybe we should have come later in the day?<\/em><\/p>\n

That would have been sweet, SPHP, but we should be happy we’ve got a view at all.\u00a0 So much forest on the way up, I wasn’t really expecting to see much of anything.\u00a0 This is awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n

Trees did block the views both E and W, and only the same limited view of Port Orford was available to the N, although more ocean and coastline could be seen from this height.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Port Orford<\/strong> (L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe sniffed while SPHP chatted with the other hikers.\u00a0 None stayed all that long.\u00a0 Once they all departed, Loop took possession of the bench at the high point.\u00a0 Peace and quiet reigned, but eventually a steady stream of people began appearing again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the summit bench. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Summit ridge<\/strong> from the SE bench. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hikers came and went.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog remained.\u00a0 As the day warmed up, Loop hid in the shade of the summit bench while SPHP admired the spectacular coastline and ocean panorama.\u00a0 Humbug Mountain was an incredible vantage point!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Relaxing on Humbug Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Loopster’s traditional summit hour drew to a close, a small crowd was present.\u00a0 Getting mighty busy!\u00a0 Surrendering the highest bench, Lupe wandered down to the lower end of the clearing for a last glance at the splendid scene before her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Fabulous!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back, Lupe explored the E half of the Humbug Mountain loop.\u00a0 Marginally longer, but barely noticeable, since it was nearly all downhill.\u00a0 The only disappointment was that the one viewpoint the map showed along the E route didn’t seem to exist.\u00a0 Forest all the way!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Starting down the E route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1:56 PM, 68\u00baF, Hwy 101, Humbug Mountain trailhead<\/em> – It was still early when Lupe got back to the RAV4.\u00a0 After a bite to eat, the Carolina Dog headed S on Hwy 101.\u00a0 A dozen miles from Humbug Mountain, SPHP spotted a sign for the Ophir Safety Rest Area.\u00a0 Making the turn, a short road led to a large, paved parking lot.<\/p>\n

A restroom and picnic tables on a low grassy plateau overlooked an enormous expanse of the Pacific Ocean.\u00a0 Off to the N, there was a great view of Humbug Mountain.<\/p>\n

Driven by a fierce wind coming off the Pacific, big waves were crashing ashore.\u00a0 The RAV4 was much more pleasant.\u00a0 Sunny and warm, enough of a chilly breeze flowed through with the windows cracked open to keep Lupe from getting hot.<\/p>\n

What do you think, Loop?\u00a0 This is a cool spot!\u00a0 Want to hang out here for a while?\u00a0 You can snooze, or watch seagulls and waves, while I catch up the trip journal.<\/em><\/p>\n

A snooze sounds good, SPHP!\u00a0 Wake me up, if the wind stops blowing.<\/em><\/p>\n

It wasn’t long before both Lupe and SPHP were in Dingo Dreamland.\u00a0 Must have snoozed a while.\u00a0 By the time SPHP regained consciousness, the sun was noticeably farther W.<\/p>\n

Hey, sleepyhead!\u00a0 I’m starving!\u00a0 What do we have to eat, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

A box of chocolate coconut bars was handy.\u00a0 To the sweet-toothed Dingo’s enormous delight, SPHP shared 3 of them with her.<\/p>\n

Just being lazy, Loop.\u00a0 Don’t count on more evil feasts like this anytime soon!<\/em><\/p>\n

The trend was encouraging!\u00a0 Not quite as windy now.\u00a0 SPHP went back to work on the trip journal.<\/p>\n

6:50 PM, 66\u00baF, Ophir Beach<\/em> – Caught up.\u00a0 Time for a romp!\u00a0 There’d only been a light breeze at Humbug Mountain, but down here, even though it was dying, the wind was still 15 to 20 mph out of the NW as Lupe and SPHP both headed bare-pawed down a sandy path to the ocean.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading down to Ophir Beach<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along the shore, someone had built a little wall out of driftwood next to a log, for what purpose wasn’t clear.\u00a0 Humbug Mountain<\/span><\/a> (1,761 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight off to the N.\u00a0 Much too far away to get to, but it seemed like the way to go.\u00a0 After checking out the impressive wave action up close, the Carolina Dog led the way N along the wet sand of the deserted beach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Humbug Mountain<\/strong> (L of Center) from Ophir Beach<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Checking out the waves. Humbug Mountain<\/strong> (R), Sisters Rocks<\/strong> (far R). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ophir Beach slanted more steeply into the ocean than the other beaches Lupe had been to along the Oregon Coast.\u00a0 With the waves as big as they were, seemed a bit dangerous to get too close.\u00a0 SPHP walked on the wet sand along the edge where the waves played out.\u00a0 Loopster preferred staying a even a little farther out of reach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Making tracks. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wind was cool, the sand gritty and loose.\u00a0 Seemed incredible that such a large expanse of beach could be so deserted.\u00a0 No complaints about that at all!\u00a0 For a long way, Lupe trotted along happily sniffing the odd scents on the salted breeze, but there was something in the wild wind and foaming roar of the ocean that struck a primal nerve.<\/p>\n

Pausing to examine the wonderfully rippled dry sand beyond wave’s reach, SPHP looked up after a moment and recognized a feral gleam in Looper’s eyes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Rippled sand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
In the grip of a sudden evil thought! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The were-puppy was here!\u00a0 Sick and tired of the long, featureless sandy trudge, spurred on by wind and waves, the were-puppy wanted to play!\u00a0 Only one game that the were-puppy likes – predator and prey!\u00a0 As usual, SPHP got to play the prey role, as the were-puppy launched a ferocious barking, snarling, leaping attack.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The were-puppy, about to spring into action!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP danced around, fending off the were-puppy’s determined assault, sustaining only a couple of nips in the process.\u00a0 A few exciting minutes, then the were-puppy vanished.\u00a0 Mild-mannered Lupe returned.\u00a0 Point made, though.\u00a0 Soon getting to be time to turn back.<\/p>\n

During the return, SPHP noticed two white pebbles sitting up on a sandy bank.\u00a0 One had a black spot at one end.\u00a0 Since this was likely Lupe’s last stroll of her Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast along the Pacific Ocean, SPHP picked them up.\u00a0 They’d become part of Loopster’s rock collection.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe’s Ophir Beach souvenirs<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Humbug Mountain<\/strong> (L), Sisters Rocks<\/strong> (Center) during the return. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8:01 PM, 58\u00baF, Ophir Beach –\u00a0<\/em>The sun was nearly down by the time Lupe got back to where she’d have to leave the beach to return to the RAV4.\u00a0 A yellow-orange sky, slightly blurred by smoke, illuminated gray waves.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Savor the moment, Looper!\u00a0 Think we’ll be heading inland tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n

My Dingo Vacation isn’t over already, is it, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

September now, Loop.\u00a0 We’ll keep it going, if we can, but depends on what we find when we head E.\u00a0 Smoky even along the ocean the last couple of days.\u00a0 We’ve been at it nearly a month now, yet it never rains enough to even put a dent in the wildfires.<\/em><\/p>\n

Always hard to leave the ocean.\u00a0 Lupe watched as the sun sank into a watery gray grave.\u00a0 Gone!\u00a0 By tomorrow morning, Lupe would be, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunset from Ophir Beach<\/strong>, Oregon Coast 9-1-21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2021<\/span> Dingo Vacations to New Mexico, Wyoming & the West Coast Adventure Inde<\/strong><\/span>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 27 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast! 10:17 AM, 66\u00baF, Humbug Mountain (1,761 ft.) trailhead off Hwy 101 – 5 miles S of Port Orford, almost immediately after Hwy 101 swung inland away the Oregon coast, a big empty gravel parking area appeared on the R.\u00a0 Joy of … Continue reading Humbug Mountain, Coast Range & Ophir Beach (9-1-21)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1416],"tags":[105,106,1555,26,1561,1563,104,1562,524],"class_list":["post-39950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1416","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-coast-range","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-humbug-mountain","tag-humbug-mountain-state-park","tag-lupe","tag-ophir-beach","tag-oregon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_2610-scaled.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39950"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41330,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39950\/revisions\/41330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}