Despite the recent tumultuous weather, fall and winter kayaking in the county is an excellent recreational prospect, with the right conditions. There are numerous mild days when Mother Nature calms down and takes a breather before returning to tumultuous storms. In between, think about grabbing a paddle and slipping into a kayak.
Julie Chick’s life has revolved around kayaking: she’s the former owner of Nehalem Bay Outdoor Company. She also previously worked as an Outdoor Education and Outreach Coordinator with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) and is still an avid Nehalem paddler. While she encourages kayakers to explore our waterways during the winter months, she stresses that safety is paramount to any trip no matter what date is on the calendar. First order of business is wearing a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD. “Find a good one and wear it,” Chick says. “If you don’t want to wear it, then you don’t have the right PFD, because you should love your PFD.”
Being safe also includes knowing what wind and tide can do on any given day, meaning paddlers should check local tide tables and weather conditions before setting out. “In our area, you need to pay attention to tide and wind,” she says. “You can have a November day with extremely high tides and gale force winds, or a November day with relatively typical tides, sunny, clear and perfectly ‘kayakable.’” She adds that checking wind and conditions and familiarizing yourself with how those affect the waterway you are paddling is key to a safe and fun experience.
When discussing the differences between summer and winter paddling, Chick notes that conditions for each season on the Oregon Coast can often be very similar. This is especially true when it comes to water temperatures. You may have picked a warm, sunny day to paddle, but the water is usually bone-chilling. In that regard, Chick stresses that dressing with water temperature in mind is a top priority. Cotton shirts and denim jeans won’t suffice.
“If you end up in the water and can’t get back in your boat or back to shore, you better be dressed for forty-something degree water,” she says. “Hypothermia happens fast.” Chick adds that a good dry suit not only keeps kayakers warm and cozy, but gives them peace of mind knowing that it will buy them a lot of time if they end up in the water.
The November King Tides and flooding this year also highlight the need to be aware of debris and obstacles in the water after such storms have passed through. With safety in mind, kayakers have a multitude of reasons to enjoy winter paddling.
Aside from the recent rough weather, Chick says that most winter days offer fuller rivers with flat, glassy paddling surfaces. These conditions combine to give kayakers a sense of serenity and solitude that’s hard to duplicate during the busy summer months. “It’s a lot quieter and a lot less people,” Chick says. She adds that with salmon season over, there isn’t the potential for kayaker versus fishing boat conflicts, which can be an issue in late summer and early fall. Photographers find plenty of reasons to point-and-shoot, and winter offers a chance for some excellent picture-taking.
“The light this time of year is at a lower angle, so you get crisper, cleaner pictures, especially if you get out there a little earlier,” Chick says.
There are many places to paddle year-round that offer a bevy of options. Overall, there are five estuaries in Tillamook County: Nehalem, Tillamook Bay, Nestucca, Sand Lake, and Netarts. They boast distinct characteristics and TEP has published “water trail” guides for each. With so many options for paddlers to consider, winter kayaking is the perfect way to get outside, shake off the winter blahs, and see coastal waterways from a different perspective.
Foraging for mushrooms is a great way to stay active once the rainy season returns to the Coast. On the morning of October 27th, Tillamook County residents gathered on Mt. Hebo to learn about foraging wild mushrooms while getting a bit of exercise. The walk was put on by Tillamook County Wellness (TCW) and led by AmeriCorps Vista Brett Buesnel. As a member of the TCW team and experienced forager, Brett led the eager crew on a relatively short walk packed with many mushroom foraging and identification tips. The information shared ranged from impromptu observations like, “sometimes they’re hairy, this one for example reminds me of Chewbacca”, to practical cleaning methods like gently spraying down particularly dirty Lobster Mushrooms with a garden hose. When conditions are right, the fungi on Mt. Hebo, often out of sight, underground and hidden in rotting logs will create fruiting bodies called sporocarps, more commonly known as mushrooms. These uniquely formed and functionally varied structures share one goal – to spread their spores in bid to reproduce.
Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
A particular mushroom was on the minds of many walkers that day: the Lobster mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum). This mushroom is actually a parasitic fungus that grows on the unassuming Russula brevipes and changes the white host mushroom into a wrinkled bright-orange form, giving it the color of a cooked Lobster, that also happens to taste great on pizza. The conditions on Mt. Hebo were just right to find fresh Lobster Mushrooms earlier in the month. For the walkers on the mountain that day, all the lobsters found proved to be on the soggy side. Changing conditions can cut a season in a particular area short, or possibly extend it later into the year than what is typical. The Lobster mushrooms that were found provided a great opportunity to share the important lesson of what a mushroom looks like when it is no longer fit for consumption.
Here are some signs of when to leave a Lobster mushroom in the woods and off your plate:
It’s color has changed from bright orange to dark red
Soft areas are a sign of decay which relative to a fresh mushroom will appear more translucent than solid white when cut
Small holes in the mushroom’s flesh are an indicator of bugs having lunch
Despite a name that recalls the sea, it’s not a good sign if it smells strongly of fish
Even with the cold temperatures and increasingly strong drizzle, spirits of the group remained high. Back at the trailhead, attendees received a zine produced for the event with information on how to identify a chanterelle, important terms in mushroom identification and a healthy wild mushroom recipe. With empty baskets and full minds, the walk came to an end and folks returned to their vehicles and dispersed like so many spores until the next foray.
If this sounds like your kind of fun and are interested in learning the basics of mushroom identification, Tillamook County Wellness will be hosting a Zoom event on November 17th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Brett Buesnel will again be serving as presenter and share the process of how to identify a mushroom and additional resources you can use to further your skills. Please register using this link or by contacting Brett at bbuesnel@co.tillamook.or.us.
AUTHOR: Brett Buesnel, AmeriCorps VISTA at Tillamook County Community Health Center
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Have you ever noticed a sense of calmness and relaxation while spending time outdoors? Felt your stress slip away while hiking or spending time near a body of water? If you have, you may have recognized the benefits of forest therapy without even realizing it. Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing, is the immersion in and embracing of nature with all your senses. This practice, which has begun to grow in popularity, has mental, physical, and spiritual benefits that you can harness from right here in Tillamook County.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may have already noticed some of the mental and spiritual benefits of forest bathing in your own life. Studies have shown that forest therapy can improve mental health, leading to reductions in stress, depression, anxiety, and negative emotions. People who participate in forest therapy sessions, especially in a group, often develop a sense of community among strangers and a deeper connection to the natural world. Additionally, time spent outdoors has been shown to be positively correlated with having more gray matter in your brain and can lead to a better mood.
There are also physical benefits to forest therapy. A study of older adults suggested spending time in nature can help lower blood pressure, especially when compared to spending time in a city. Another study showed that forest therapy may boost immune function by increasing the number of white blood cells (immune cells) and anti-cancer proteins in your blood. Both of these can improve your overall health and lower your risk of diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Wondering how you can gain the benefits of forest therapy? Organizations like the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy offer programs for those interested in a guided forest therapy experience. Several of the guides in their registry are located in Oregon and can be contacted by those interested in a forest therapy experience. You can also attend their virtual training to become a Forest Therapy Guide yourself!
You can also get the benefits of forest therapy on your own. For a more self-directed experience, find a hiking trail or other natural area nearby and just enjoy spending time outside. Keep in mind that hiking and spending time in the woods may not impact everyone in the same way. Some people experience these benefits more when they are near water or on a mountain top. What matters is exploring which natural environments help you feel calmer and more connected to yourself and the world around you. You can use the new Tillamook County Trails and Recreation Map at https://tillamookcoast.com/recreation-map/ to find a new spot or return to an old favorite.
While you’re out, consider taking time to connect more deeply with the nature around you. You can do this by engaging senses you don’t use as frequently while outdoors (such as focusing on the feeling of the bark of a tree or closing your eyes and thinking about what you smell around you). Also be sure to take some time for internal reflection both during and after the experience, maybe involving some meditation or deep breathing. You can also share the experience with others and discuss how you felt as a group.
Tillamook County is full of wonderful natural spaces for you to explore. With all the benefits of forest therapy, physical activity, and the last of our warm summer weather, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy them.
AUTHOR: Amy McVeety, AmeriCorps VISTA at Tillamook County Community Health Center
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
It’s no secret. Tillamook County is on the map for outdoor recreation – literally. If you are wanting to get outside for some summertime fun, the Tillamook County Trails & Recreation Map is for you!
The beauty of our natural surroundings isn’t just for visitors. It’s for the people who live here to enjoy year-round. Looking for seashells, wading in rivers and streams or walking through forest paths are all great ways to spend quality family time or for personal relaxation. Any of these activities can have the healing effects of lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and boosting happy hormones. Best of all, it costs very little to reap the restorative benefits from being out in nature.
It might surprise people to learn that many families living in Tillamook County have never been to the beach or on a local hiking trail. The reasons for this can be lack of time, transportation, or interest but often it comes down to lack of information. When we don’t have all the information we need to try something new, it can keep us from taking that first step. We may know it’s there and want to explore it but little things make the difference of actually making that happen. Is there going to be a place to park? Is the trail steep and rocky or smooth and flat? Are there bathrooms? Can I take my dog? My kids? If the answer to those questions is “I don’t know,” then we often just won’t go.
To address this need, Tillamook County Wellness worked closely with partners to create a comprehensive trails & recreation map that answers those questions. With this map, people can plan their outings in advance and feel more confident about exploring new places and activities. In addition to providing good information, the map can also help disperse activity by introducing people to new locations and recreational opportunities.
A goal of the map is to also be able to share information about areas getting too much love and attention so we can protect them from overuse. Another goal is to equip local residents with the tools to effectively communicate to visitors about safety and stewardship so everyone can enjoy their experiences safely and with the least possible impact on the natural environment. Links to resources with those messages can be found at Tillamook Coast Pledge and Visit Responsibly – Oregon Coast .
Tillamook County is known for its emergency preparedness – for storms, winds and floods. Last year’s wildfire in Bay City was a different kind of emergency. With the early onset of wildfire season in 2021, the Tillamook County board of commissioners gathered local fire departments, state forestry, and county agencies to review the Pike Road fire response and make plans to do better. One of the most important keys for residents is being prepared for ANY emergency and knowing where to go to get accurate information. “One of the most important things people can do is signup for alerts,” said Tillamook County Emergency Manager Gordon McCraw. “If you don’t have a landline anymore, our Everbridge Alert Notification System – when we call you to evacuate – works for the numbers you register, but you gotta signup.” Here is the link to https://oralert.gov/ and it’s easy to signup. Nixle alerts is another system that Tillamook County uses as well at www.nixle.com.
The extreme wildfires in southern and northeastern Oregon and elsewhere in the region have fire-fighting resources stretched thin according to Kate Skinner, Tillamook District Forester. That’s why it’s even more important that people are prepared and aware of the extremely dry conditions. Most areas of Oregon are under full fire closures. If you are travelling, it’s always a good idea to carry a shovel and several gallons of water. There have been numerous reports of “spot” fires along highways that have been extinguished or stopped from spreading by aware, prepared travelers.
“We know folks are experiencing some stress over the Tillamook State Forest Game Hog Creek Fire, which is now in the mop up stages, so this is an excellent opportunity to set up your emergency preparedness game,” said McCraw. “When you’re prepared for an emergency, any type of emergency, it gives you and your family peace of mind knowing – hey – we’ve got a plan, we have our go-bags, we know what to do.”
Understanding what to do to increase your safety can help address that fear, and if or when you need to evacuate, you can do so safely and be sure to bring:
An emergency food and water supply.
An emergency medicine supply. Make a plan to keep medications that need refrigeration cold.
Emergency power sources for medical devices and flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries).
Safety and personal items, including a face covering and hand sanitizer to protect against COVID. Remember: face coverings do not protect against wildfire smoke.
Important documents, including medical documents, proof of vaccination, wills, passports and personal identification.
During an emergency is NOT when you should be assembling your go kit or go bag. Now’s the time to do that. Here is a helpful resource with a list of what to include: https://www.ready.gov/kit. And this website is a great resource for up-to-date information about wildfires across the region: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/
Be Prepared – Not Scared. Tillamook County is ready for an emergency if all of our residents are prepared as well. Sign-up for Nixle alerts, make a plan, have your go-bag ready.
AUTHOR: Laura Swanson, Tillamook County Pioneer Editor
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
It’s amazing how a little sunshine can brighten our mood – and when living on the Oregon coast, we know not to take those beautiful summer days for granted. Tillamook County is well-known for its beaches and hiking trails, but if you’re looking to mix up your weekend activities or try a new hobby, it’s worth stopping by the Bohannon Disc Golf Course (and bringing a few friends or family members as well!)
For those who have never played, disc golf is similar to golf except instead of balls and clubs, it involves throwing a flying disc (like a Frisbee) into a raised metal basket. The goal is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible, which makes it a great a family-friendly activity where all ages can enjoy participating. Take for example, local community member Tonya Brown, who was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her knee and was told that she needed to walk more often. “I hate being told to do something,” she commented, “but this course is fun and you’re not ‘walking’, you’re playing and having fun with family and friends.” She initially got involved in disc golf when her son-in-law challenged her husband to a match (and who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?) It also serves as an opportunity to do something fun and engaging with her grandchildren who often play with them as well.
Tonya has tracked the 18-hole Bohannon Disc Golf course on her walking app and found that it’s about 5,000 steps long. This is half of the 10,000 steps that are often recommended as a daily goal, which makes disc golf a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors while also checking physical activity off your list.
So how can you get started?
Find a few discs: These usually cost between 10 and 20 dollars and can be found at Fred Meyer, Tillamook Sporting Goods, and the Tillamook Family YMCA.
Gather some basic supplies: If you plan to spend an afternoon out on the course, bring some snacks, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
Round up a few friends:This one is optional! Disc golf can be enjoyed solo or with others.
Make your way to the Bohannon Disc Golf Course: The course can be found at 3960 Alder Lane in Tillamook and it has a sign at the first station, or tee box, outlining the rules of play. The course was built around Bud’s Community Fitness Trail at Tillamook Junior High School, just behind Tillamook Bowling Lanes.
And that’s all there is to it! Please remember to respect neighboring property lines and school use of the course.
If you want to check out other disc golf courses, visit https://oregondiscgolf.com/ for an interactive map and descriptions of courses across Oregon.
For any upcoming local events or tournaments, follow Bud’s Community Fitness Trail and Bohannon Disc Golf Course on Facebook.
As Tonya noted, “We are so lucky to have this course here and hope that more people will enjoy it as well.”
AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, AmeriCorps VISTA at Tillamook County Community Health Center
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
