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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2021)
SN THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY EDITION | AUGUST 4, 2021 | $1.00 Hobbit Trail and China Creek Loop On the Trail By Zeahna Young/Siuslaw News Siuslaw News Sports & Lifestyle SPORTS CALENDAR To add your activity’s summer sports schedule, email Sports Reporter Zeahna Young at zyoung@ thesiuslawnews.com Tide Tables This summer, recreationists in search of a hike with multiple path options and the best views the Central Coast has to offer need look no further than the Hobbit Trail Loop. Located in the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park, the Hobbit Trail and China Creek Loop is a four-mile loop that can be broken into several smaller hikes depending on the visitor’s preferences. To complete the full loop as reviewed here, you should follow the specific instructions for park- ing and hiking as listed below. There are also tips on various stopping points that can be chosen throughout, should a visitor not want to complete the full loop. Additionally, Carl G. Washburne Me- morial State Park has a campground, as well as a smaller parking lot for the Hobbit Trailhead, and more information for those areas can be found at stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.pro- file&parkId=85. To access the loop trailhead from Florence, peo- ple can take Highway 101 north and continue past Heceta Head Lighthouse for about 2.5 miles to the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Turn left toward the beach to access the Day Use Area park- ing lot (the campground can be accessed here by turning right instead). Take the one-way road to the right and follow the path to the parking lot. There is no fee to park, but there is a four-hour time limit at the Day Use Area; camping and overnight parking are only al- lowed at the designated campground. Dogs are al- lowed throughout the park as long as they remain on a leash. Once parked, visitors can follow the designat- ed path to the beach. There are restrooms and a picnic area with barbecue pits located before the See TRAIL page 2B Located in the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park, the Hobbit Trail and China Creek Trail Loop is a four-mile loop that winds hikers down the beach and through the Siuslaw National Forest. Entrance Siuslaw River Low Tide High Tide August 4 5:21 a.m. / 0.2 11:59 a.m. / 4.4 4:53 p.m. / 2.8 10:40 p.m. / 6.0 August 5 6:06 a.m. / -0.2 12:42 p.m. / 4.7 5:45 p.m. / 2.7 11:27 p.m. / 6.2 August 6 6:46 a.m. / -0.5 1:19 p.m. / 4.9 6:30 p.m. / 2.5 August 7 12:11 a.m. / 6.4 7:24 a.m. / -0.7 1:53 p.m. / 5.1 7:11 p.m. / 2.3 August 8 12:52 a.m. / 6.6 8:00 a.m. / -0.9 2:26 p.m. / 5.3 7:52 p.m. / 2.0 August 9 1:33 a.m. / 6.7 8:35 a.m. / -1.0 2:59 p.m. / 5.5 8:33 p.m. / 1.7 August 10 2:14 a.m. / 6.6 9:09 a.m. / -0.9 3:32 p.m. / 5.7 9:16 p.m. / 1.5 ODFW marine researchers set to begin the state’s first survey for black, blue, deacon rockfish NEWPORT—ODFW re- searchers are about to embark on a nearly 10-week at-sea survey of black, blue and deacon rockfish in Oregon’s nearshore waters. The crew of four will use scien- tific fish finders and underwater video cameras to count these highly prized rockfish species in Oregon. Leif Rasmuson, lead researcher on this project, says blue, black and deacon rockfish have con- siderable economic value to Or- egon’s recreational, charter and commercial nearshore fisheries but managers need better infor- mation to effectively manage the fisheries. “Right now, we rely on data from the fisheries to assess these populations. Our samplers col- lect harvest information from recreational, charter and com- mercial fishers, and we use this data to estimate populations. But we need scientific survey data to generate a better estimate of pop- ulation size,” Rasmuson said. The team departed from New- port early Saturday morning to begin Oregon’s first fishery-inde- pendent survey of black, blue and deacon rockfish near the Wash- ington border. Rasmuson and his team con- ducted pilot study surveys using scientific fish finders and un- derwater video cameras at Seal Rock reef near Newport. They compared findings to a popu- lation estimate from an historic 11-year mark-recapture study. In this way, researchers verified that their method was effective and cost effective. The survey will be conducted along the entire Oregon coast over approximately 175 nautical See ODFW page 2B A crew of four ODFW researchers will live and work on the Pacific Surveyor col- lecting data on sever- al rockfish species. Firefighting resources at their limit, so follow restrictions or face more closures SALEM—Nearly 2,000 firefighters are fighting the 640 square mile Bootleg Fire in Klamath and Lake Counties, the nation’s larg- est fire, and few are left to spare if another fire sparks. Umatilla National Forest is closed to all public ac- cess because if another fire starts, there are limited re- sources available to fight it. Natural resource agencies are imploring outdoor rec- reationists to follow all fire restrictions. Access to pub- lic land during late summer and fall depends on it. “We need the public’s help in preventing wild- fires as our resources are stretched very thin,” said Todd Forbes, Bureau of Land Management. “All human caused wildfires are preventable if visitors will just follow the fire restric- tions that land managers put in place. These simple rules will keep you safe and avoid you being responsible for accidentally starting a wildfire. “ THE RULES ARE: • Campfires prohibited on many public lands in- cluding all lands east of I-5. That includes within desig- nated campgrounds. • Only liquid-fueled camp stoves may be used. No charcoal briquettes or other flammable solid ma- terials are allowed. • No smoking except in- side an enclosed vehicle. • Off-road driving is also prohibited in most areas, which includes motorcy- cles and all-terrain vehi- cles. Driving on vegetation could spark a fire. • Vehicles must have ei- ther a gallon of water or a fully charged and opera- tional 2½-pound fire extin- guisher and shovel (except when travelling on state highways or county roads). • ATVs must have a charged and operational 2½ pound fire extinguisher. • Additional restrictions as set by landowner. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - HOW TO CHECK FOR ACCESS AND RESTRICTIONS Hunters, anglers and oth- er visitors to public lands are responsible for checking on access and restrictions beforehand. Access and habitat property closures are typically announced by ODFW via press release. Here are some links to help: • Interagency status map of recreation sites impacted by fires — wildfire.oregon. gov/Pages/Recreation-Im- pacts.aspx — • Oregon Department of Forestry fire restrictions — gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/ Firerestrictions/PFR.html • National Forests in Oregon (U.S. Forest Ser- vice) — www.fs.usda.gov/ visit/forests-and-grass- lands?state=42 • Bureau of Land Man- agement — www.blm.gov/ orwafire • Inciweb for current fires and fire-related clo- sures in Oregon — inciweb. nwcg.gov • Private forestland closure information — ofic.com/private-forest- land-closures/ ODFW TAG REFUND, PREFERENCE POINT REINSTATEMENT POLICIES DURING FIRE SEASON ODFW is closely mon- itoring access for hunters as fall seasons approach, with staff meeting week- ly to assess the situation. Currently, southeast Or- egon pronghorn hunters are most impacted as their seasons begin in August. Pronghorn hunters with a tag for areas affected by the Bootleg Fire have been con- tacted with their options which include preference See FIRE page 2B Happy Summer! It’s been a fabulous summer so far. Very busy in town and for real estate. Th at being said though...it’s a tough time for real estate. We’re busy but inventory is low and multiple bids on properties are high. Here’s a couple of tips Be prepared. Make a list of your top 3 must haves and don’t wants in a home. Be prepared to compromise...aim for almost perfect. If you’re fi nancing, get preapproved, that way you’ll know what your budget is and know what your down payment and monthly payments will be. Lastly, choose the right agent, your agent will guide you through the steps to make it a pleasant experience for you. Call me, I can help. 100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR • 541.997.7777 Lynnette Wikstrom Broker “We’re next to the Bridge.” lynnette@cbcoast.com · Cell: 541.999.0786 COAST REAL ESTATE
