Winter at KPR

February 11, 2017

December, 2016

 

We’ve had some frosty mornings and some warm, sunny days at the Reserve this winter.

 

Spring on the Reserve

Things have been sprouting up all over the place at Kilchis Point Reserve! Including picnic tables, benches, and the start of the new restrooms that are being installed next to the trailhead gardens.

 

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November at the Reserve

The long, beautiful summer has given way to autumn at Kilchis Point Reserve. Vine maples are showing their colors and alder leaves are falling in abundance. Days are crisp but not always clear and sunny, unless you are lucky enough to visit between November downpours. Its okay… we need the rain.

         

Fall at KPR

detail of dwarf coyote bush

The trailhead garden has a star this time of year. The Dwarf Coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) is full of blooms. This shrub has gotten a little larger than we had expected, but who wants to prune back something so dramatic? Especially as the rest of the garden is winding down for winter.

New Membership Opportunities at help KPR

The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum has announced that they will be creating a new level of membership for Kilchis Point Reserve. By joining “Friends of Kilchis Point” you will be ensuring the success and future of this spectacular site in Tillamook County. There are five levels of yearly participation: Individual- $25, Family $50, Partner $100, Sponsor-$250, and Patron-$500. Each level has a separate series of membership benefits. This is a separate membership from that of the Pioneer Museum, and all funds will be used at Kilchis Point Reserve for upkeep and development of the trails and educational programs. Those joining Friends of Kilchis Point Reserve before June 30, 2015, will be considered Charter Members. For more information or to sign up, please call the Museum at 503.842.4553.

Winter has come to Kilchis Point!

 

 Waters in the Kilchis Point streams have been rising with the rains this week, but gravel has been placed on most of the trails now, making a hike to Tillamook Bay possible even in damp weather. Wear your boots for the few muddy spots on the Flora and Fauna and Native American Trails, though.

There are a few new interpretive signs on the trails, too, thanks to Louisa Johnston and Gary Albright.

 

Working Hard!

There has been a lot of trail improvement accomplished in the last few weeks at Kilchis Point Reserve, thanks largely to the hard working men from South Fork Camp. In the three weeks they were on site they made tremendous strides in placing gravel on the paths so that there is only a little left before the loops are finished. They also laid gravel at both ends of Bridge #6, making it easier to access the bridge. When you think that there is no motorized equipment used on the site, and that all the gravel has to be moved by the wheelbarrow load, it is amazing what has been done!

We thank these men for the dedication to our project and hope they will return in the New Year to help us finish the trails at Kilchis Point Reserve.

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Work parties!

We had two groups of wonderful volunteers working on the trails this month. Luckily the weather has cooperated and lots has been accomplished.

November 1st, a group worked all morning to clean the borrow pit and groom more trails. They also installed posts for future interpretive signage.  

Then on November 15, the  Neah Kah Nie High School Honor Students returned to haul gravel and lay down more hog fuel along the paths. They come to Kilchis Point to help several times a year under the guidance of Beth Gienger and – while they work hard – they have a good time along the way.

In addition to our KPR volunteers, the crew from South Fork Work Camp came this month and have been hauling tons of gravel – literally! We could not make the progress we have done without this crew.

Thank you to all who treasure  Kilchis Point Reserve and show their dedication through hard work!

Volunteers Wanted!

We have scheduled a volunteer work party at Kilchis Point Reserve on Saturday, November 1st. We will be weeding the Trailhead Garden, building new benches, removing invasive plants and collecting trash.

If you would like to join us, please call the Pioneer Museum at 503-842-4553. The work times are from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and we will be meeting at the storage building at 9. Tools and equipment will be provided, but please wear old clothes and boots. Its still pretty muddy in the areas where we will be working.

Autumn has arrived at Kilchis Point Reserve!

The dried alder leaves are falling with a “clunk” to the ground, some of the vine maples have started changing color, the streams are again filling with water, and the “wooly bear” caterpillars are everywhere.

The rain we had earlier this week brought out more newts so caution is to be used on the paths to avoid the newts and the wooly bears. Progress has been made on the logging road trail to the Bay, with North Coast Lawn workers spreading tons and tons of gravel. As soon as that road is improved, we can start work on the bird watching station that will sit along Tillamook Bay. And not a minute too soon as the migrating birds are at the Bay in masses already.

Although the Sixth – and final- Bridge has been finished, we are awaiting the return of the South Fork crew to work on graveling the approaches. It is a steep step up and down from the bridge, so please use caution here, too. But the scene of Doty Creek from the center of the bridge east to the old railroad bridge is worth getting onto the bridge to see – and photograph! This is a tidal creek, so the direction of the flow changes with extreme high and low tides, making it interesting to watch.

Watch here for more progress as the trails are groomed, bumpers and landscape fabric are installed and gravel and mulch are laid down.