20 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
What do our forests mean to us? Toast atop Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain
CANNON BEACH — Or-
egon is known for both
its timber industry and
its deep environmental
values. What are the
beliefs we have about our
forests, and what will we,
as a state, do to steward,
manage and protect this
special resource?
This is the focus of
“Seeing the Forest for the
Trees: Stewarding Our
Public Lands,” a free con-
versation with Mariah Ac-
ton, 4 p.m. Thursday, June
14, at the Cannon Beach
History Center & Muse-
um, 1387 South Spruce St.
This program is sponsored
by Oregon Humanities.
Acton is a soon-to-be
graduate from the Univer-
sity of Oregon, where her
master’s work focuses at
the intersection of con-
flict resolution, nonprofit
management and public
administration. She is
a recent social science
researcher for the U.S.
Forest Service and a
volunteer facilitator with
forest collaboratives in
the southern Willamette
Valley.
PHOTOS COURTESY CANNON BEACH HISTORY CENTER & MUSEUM
A forest
Through the Conver-
sation Project, Oregon
Humanities offers free
programs that engage
community members in
thoughtful, challenging
conversations about ideas
critical to our daily lives
and our state’s future.
Mariah Acton
Experience the con-
nection between land and
sea during the upcoming
World Oceans Day Hike to
the summit of Neah-Kah-
Nie Mountain in Oswald
West State Park, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, June 8.
This guided hike is part
of the Explore Nature Tilla-
mook Coast series of hikes,
walks, paddles and outdoor
adventures.
The climb to the summit
of Neah-Kah-Nie Moun-
tain offers stunning views
of the Nehalem River
Valley, Nehalem Bay and
watershed, Oswald West
State Park and the Cape
Falcon Marine Reserve.
The 5-mile round-trip hike
will highlight the inter-
connection of the marine
and terrestrial environment
along the North Coast and
the vital work being done
to protect these areas.
Celebrate World Oceans
Day with Lower Nehalem
Watershed Council and
Friends of Cape Falcon
Marine Reserve with a
special toast atop Neah-
Kah-Nie. Participants will
receive a reusable water
SUMMER MARIE GONZALES PHOTO
A view from the summit of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain
bottle, we’ll provide the
sparkling cider!
Details
Expect to spend three to
three and a half hours on
the trail.
Follow signs for and
meet at Neah-Kah-Nie
Mountain South Trailhead
parking area on the east side
of U.S. Highway 101, just
south of milepost 40 and
two miles south of Short
Sands Beach in Oswald
West State Park.
Parking is limited; car-
pool when possible.
The trail’s difficulty level
is rated moderate to hard.
The trail is steep in places
and was damaged some by
winter storms. Be prepared
to scamper over or under
sizable fallen trees and larg-
er rocks blocking the trail.
There are no bathrooms
or drinking water facilities
on this hike. Bring a sack
dinner or snacks and plenty
of water.
Weather on the Oregon
Coast is unpredictable
and trails can be slick and
muddy. Be prepared and
bring appropriate gear and
clothing.
For details, contact
Lower Nehalem Watershed
Council at 503-368-7424
or Cape Falcon Marine
Reserve at capefalconmr@
gmail.com.
Space is limited. Register
at explorenaturetillamook-
coast.com or by visiting
eventbrite.com and search-
ing for “World Oceans Day
Hike” in Nehalem.
The hike is free, though
suggested tax-exempt dona-
tions of $10 help Lower Ne-
halem Watershed Council
and Friends of Cape Falcon
Marine Reserve provide
quality programs like these.