Washington Coast Cleanup

This outing is part of the annual Washington Coast Cleanup – a dedicated, focused effort by volunteers (never enough) to pick up debris from our coastal beaches. To learn more about the big picture, check out coastsavers.org. (There is no need to register at coastsavers.org; I have registered for the group.)

Our group will work the beaches South of Duk Point — a remote and difficult-to-access area of the North Coast. The road to Duk Point is on private property and is normally not accessible by non-owners. We have permission (and keys) to use this road once a year to facilitate the cleanup. So, come on out to a place you normally wouldn’t be able to get to.

But, be aware, this is a strenuous activity: We will hike about 6 miles, wade creeks, cross fields of softball like rocks, climb over or under or around dead falls all the while carrying as much trash as we can carry. Participants need to be in fairly good physical condition.

Our group will meet at 0830 on April 20 at the Lake Ozette Ranger Station. We will caravan from the ranger station to Duk Point. Trash pickers (an honorary title) are encouraged to carpool from the ranger station to Duk Point. Carpooling however, it is at your sole risk, whether you are the driver or passenger. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them; carpooling, ride sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the drivers and riders.

Leaving cars at Duk Point, we will hike south (toward the Ozette River) and then turn around and head back to where we started from picking up trash on the way back.

Dogs are not allowed. Children under 16 are not allowed — and children 16 and over need to be accompanied by a parent.

Participants may choose to camp at the Lake Ozette campground the night of 4-19 (Friday). Camping is courtesy of the National Park Service since we are participating in the cleanup. (Of course, if you don’t want to camp, you can drive out the morning of the 4-20, but it’s a long drive. Other options include staying at the Lost Resort, which is about 1 mile from the Lake Ozette Ranger Station, or spending Friday night at a hotel in Sekiu and driving out to the ranger station on Saturday morning – about 45 minutes.) Folks are welcome to stay at the campground again on Saturday night (again free of charge).

Participants can coordinate carpooling by using the conversation box to share carpool information - where you are coming from, where you want to meet, and how many people can ride with you.

Directions to the ranger station and to the Lake Ozette campground: Take hwy 101 through Port Angeles to Sappho. At Sappho (don’t blink) turn right onto hwy 113. Hwy 113 will merge into Hwy 112. Take Hwy 112 through Clallam Bay and past Sekiu. About 2.5 miles beyond Sekiu turn left on Hoko Ozette Road. Continue on Hoko Ozette Road to the ranger station at the end of the road. It will take about 2 hrs to get from Port Angeles to the ranger station. (Don’t be tempted to take a right on hwy 112 just out of Port Angeles – it is the sort-of-scenic-but-definitely-slow route.) If you are using a GPS or Google Maps (or a similar mapping service), you can aim at 21261 Hoko-Ozette Road, Clallam Bay, Washington.

Participants will be required to sign a Liability Waiver (http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/sites/content.sierraclub.org.outings/files/forms/local-outings-individual_waiver.pdf)(no need to print it, we'll have it at the trailhead for you to sign).

Please provide your real name, email address, and cell number when you signup. I will contact you with some additional information.