Mile 315 Report
Chapman Beach north, Chapman Point, Ecola SP
May 30, 2018
Crescent Beach, below Ecola State Park and just north of Chapman Point/North Chapman Beach, is pristine, secluded and difficult to access.
Report Details
Crescent Beach, below Ecola State Park and just north of Chapman Point/North Chapman Beach, is pristine, secluded and difficult to access. There were a total of five people on the beach - two unrelated couples and me. It was sunny and there was a moderate, chilly breeze. Most notable observations were a manmade shrine/altar made of driftwood with other found objects and a feather, as well as a crab trap washed up to the back of the shore almost against the cliff. I did not remove the crab trap. It was bulky and I wasn't sure I could manage to bring it up to the street level because of the trail climbing difficulty.
Conditions
Temperature: 65 F. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 2.6 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 5. Walking or running: 3. Playing in surf: 2. Sitting: 3. There were two couples on Crescent Beach, plus me. One couple sat for a while on a driftwood log, then went into the surf for just a few minutes. One person was walking along the beach while their partner reclined on a large rock and rested. There was an installation of driftwood in a formation as a shrine/ritual/religion that included the driftwood logs (small) with sticks and other washed up matter, plus a feather. Clearly, a manmade installation of natural objects found on the beach.
Concerns
Fire
Apparent violations: remnants of a campfire on the beach.Notable Wildlife
A few birds overhead and on the rocks. A large flock of birds churned the air and settled in the water between a couple of sea stacks.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). A crab trap had washed up to the furthest drift line (close to the cliff) or could have been pulled in by a human.
New Development
n/a
Man-made Modifications
n/a
Natural Changes
This was my first visit to Crescent Beach. I will be able to compare after next visit.
Actions & Comments
Crescent Beach is incredibly pristine and secluded. It is not easy to access the beach. While there are two trails, they both feed into the single trail down to the beach.
Report Images
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Chapman Beach north, Chapman Point, Ecola SP
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Beautiful day to hike in to Crescent Beach.
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A tourist attempted to climb the west end of the first Bird Rock at Chapman Point for a photo opportunity, flushing two black oystercatcher parents from their nest and away from their chicks.
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Hiked in and out to Crescent Beach.
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Most of the people on Crescent Beach hiked over before low tide.
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