As is my custom, I check the National Weather Service’s forecast for our area each morning. It came as no surprise to read the following in the special weather statement:
THE UPPER RIDGE WHICH HAS GIVEN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUNNY AND
WARM FALL WEATHER WILL SHIFT EAST THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.
THIS WILL ALLOW AN INCREASINGLY STRONG WESTERLY JET STREAM TO
IMPACT THE NORTHWEST OVER THE WEEKEND.
THE FIRST STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE COAST THURSDAY NIGHT AND
FRIDAY WITH A GLANCING BLOW TO NORTHWEST OREGON. RAIN AND WIND
WILL BE MOSTLY ALONG THE NORTH COAST.
The “ugly weather season” begins in earnest this weekend so I decided it might not be a bad idea to take a hike. I have been wanting to explore more of Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington, so on a whim I grabbed my boots and hit the road. After considering all the options, I choose to hike to the top of McKenzie Head; I figured that if it was good enough for William Clark in 1805, it would do just fine for me today. In 1805 it must have been a struggle to reach the top, but today it’s little more than a leisurely stroll.
During the second World War, the site became part of the harbor defense of the Columbia River, the site was also known as Battery 247. Many a cold night was spent atop of the head by the soldiers who manned the battery’s six inch guns. Today, the guns are long gone and the battery is slowly crumbling, but I returned with a few images of a nearly forgotten installation.
A portion the battery’s command post which is slowly crumbling as the forest vegetation encroaches
A view from the bunker where the gun’s ammunition was once stored
4 comments:
Steve, it sounds like a wonderful hike to me and certainly interesting/lovely images and info of some of the history of the area.
Good luck with that approaching storm!
The good weather that we have had lately couldn't last forever!
It is such a shame that bunker is allowed to crumble like it is. Getting out for a hike sounds like a very good idea. Hope the storms haven't hit you too hard!
Weather wise, it's been a very wet and windy weekend. I just returned from the beach; I went in search of storm images. They are downloading at this very moment so if one of two are good I'll post them later on this evening.
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