Humbug Mountain
Encyclopedia
Humbug Mountain lies on the southern coast
of the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is located about 6 miles (10 km) south of Port Orford
, and 21 miles (33.8 km) north of Gold Beach
, on the Pacific Ocean
. The mountain is completely within Humbug Mountain State Park
, and U.S. Route 101
passes by its northern base. It is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean.
Its slopes feature an old-growth temperate rainforest.
Two trails run from the state park campground to the mountain's summit
, one 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, the other 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Both are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail
. The area is popular with hikers
, campers
, cyclists
, and whale watchers
.
period.
It was formed when islands in the Klamath microcontinent collided, uplifting primordial mountains composed of mostly sandstone
. Ancient rivers eroded
these mountains, and the sediment
and sandstone was deposited on the seashore. Then, the microcontinent collided with the North America
n continent, uplifting Humbug Mountain in the process. Near the summit, rock outcrops of granite
and sandstone can still be found.
The mountain now stands 1756 feet (535.2 m) above sea level
, and is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean. It is considered a headland
.
party sent by Captain William Tichenor, founder of Port Orford
, got lost and headed north of the port instead of south.
Tichenor stated that the name was chosen "to palliate their gross failure."
Since that time, Tichenor's Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain. Other names for the mountain include Mount Franklin, and the Native American
name, Me-tus.
In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps
built the first trail to the summit, however, it was destroyed in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm
. An alternate trail was used until the original was reopened in 1993.
Many types of plants inhabit Humbug Mountain. The most common types of trees include tanoak, Douglas fir
, big-leaf maple, Port Orford cedar
, and Oregon myrtle
. Spruce, alder, and western red cedar
can also be found.
Smaller plants such as maidenhair ferns, wild rhododendron
s, and vanilla leaf
are abundant in the area. Wildflower
s such as Columbia lilies
, trillium
s, and bleeding heart
s grow in the spring
. Currant
, elderberries, blackberries
, thimbleberries
, huckleberries
, and salmonberries are some of the many berries that grow on the mountain.
Birds such as varied thrushes
and chickadees live on Humbug Mountain. Douglas squirrels
and black-tailed deer
are among the numerous mammals that inhabit the mountain.
There are many tide pool
s in the intertidal zone
at the base of the mountain. Organisms such as jellyfish
, littleneck clams
, sunflower starfish
, and many others can be found in these pools.
Gray whales
can sometimes be seen migrating along the coast, and more rarely, humpback whales
are spotted.
. The trailhead
is located in the campground at Humbug Mountain State Park
. After going through a tunnel under the U.S. Route 101
, the trail leads through the old-growth temperate rainforest on the mountain.
It has several switchback
s. The trail then forks about 1 miles (1.6 km) in. The trail to the west was originally built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps
, but was washed out in the Columbus Day Storm of 1962
. An alternate trail was built, which now forms a loop with the original trail. The original trail was rebuilt in 1993. Overall, the original trail is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, while the alternate trail is 2 miles (3.2 km) long, for a round trip of 5.5 miles (8.9 km). The Pacific Ocean can only be seen through a thin gap in the forest on the summit of the mountain. Both trails are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail
.
Another trail leads from the campground, under the highway, to a 4 miles (6.4 km) long beach on the north side of the mountain.
A fourth trail, named Recreation Trail, follows the path of the Old Coast Highway. It is approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long, and crosses nearby Brush Creek seventeen times. The trail has many views of the Pacific Ocean. It eventually merges with the U.S. Route 101.
, wildlife
viewing, camping
, and whale watching
are popular activities around the mountain. Hiking
and cycling
are also very popular on the trails in the area. Beachcombers
, windsurfers
, and scuba divers
can be found on the beach and in the deep water near the mountain.
Humbug Mountain State Park
, which includes all of Humbug Mountain, features a campground with over 100 campsites. The campground is located between Brush Creek and the beach. It has amenities such as shower
s, flush toilet
s, a hiker/biker camp, and an amphitheater
. There are also picnic table
s in the day-use section, 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the main campground.
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is located about 6 miles (10 km) south of Port Orford
Port Orford, Oregon
Port Orford is a city in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It is on the southern Oregon Coast, at the northern end of what coastal Oregonians call the Banana Belt, because the weather from Port Orford south is noticeably warmer than the weather north of nearby Cape Blanco...
, and 21 miles (33.8 km) north of Gold Beach
Gold Beach, Oregon
Gold Beach is a city in and the county seat of Curry County, Oregon, United States, on the Oregon Coast. The population was 1,897 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The mountain is completely within Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park is a state park located on the Oregon coast. It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park can be accessed via the US Route 101, south of Port Orford, and north of Gold Beach....
, and U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 101, a major north–south U.S. Highway, runs through the state along the coastline near the Pacific Ocean. In Oregon, it runs from the Oregon–California border, south of Brookings, to the Oregon–Washington border on the Columbia River, between Astoria,...
passes by its northern base. It is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean.
Its slopes feature an old-growth temperate rainforest.
Two trails run from the state park campground to the mountain's summit
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
, one 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, the other 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Both are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail
Oregon Coast Trail
The Oregon Coast Trail is a long-distance hiking route along the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States. It follows the coast of Oregon from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border south of Brookings....
. The area is popular with hikers
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, campers
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, cyclists
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and whale watchers
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
.
Geology
Humbug Mountain was created about 130 million years ago, in the early CretaceousEarly Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous or the Lower Cretaceous , is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous...
period.
It was formed when islands in the Klamath microcontinent collided, uplifting primordial mountains composed of mostly sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. Ancient rivers eroded
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
these mountains, and the sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
and sandstone was deposited on the seashore. Then, the microcontinent collided with the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n continent, uplifting Humbug Mountain in the process. Near the summit, rock outcrops of granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
and sandstone can still be found.
The mountain now stands 1756 feet (535.2 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, and is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean. It is considered a headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
.
History
Humbug Mountain was originally known as Sugarloaf Mountain. In 1851 it began to be called Tichenor's Humbug when an exploringExploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
party sent by Captain William Tichenor, founder of Port Orford
Port Orford, Oregon
Port Orford is a city in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It is on the southern Oregon Coast, at the northern end of what coastal Oregonians call the Banana Belt, because the weather from Port Orford south is noticeably warmer than the weather north of nearby Cape Blanco...
, got lost and headed north of the port instead of south.
Tichenor stated that the name was chosen "to palliate their gross failure."
Since that time, Tichenor's Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain. Other names for the mountain include Mount Franklin, and the Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
name, Me-tus.
In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
built the first trail to the summit, however, it was destroyed in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm
Columbus Day Storm of 1962
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was an extratropical cyclone that ranked among the most intense to strike the United States Pacific Northwest since at least 1948, likely since the January 9, 1880 "Great Gale" and snowstorm...
. An alternate trail was used until the original was reopened in 1993.
Flora and fauna
Coast Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii, known as Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer species native to western North America. Its variety Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, also known as coast Douglas-fir grows in the coastal regions, from west-central British Columbia, Canada...
, big-leaf maple, Port Orford cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is a cypress in the genus Chamaecyparis, family Cupressaceae, known by the name Lawson's Cypress in the horticultural trade, or Port Orford-cedar in its native range . C...
, and Oregon myrtle
Umbellularia
Umbellularia californica is a large tree native to coastal forests of California and slightly extended into Oregon.It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia....
. Spruce, alder, and western red cedar
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
can also be found.
Smaller plants such as maidenhair ferns, wild rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s, and vanilla leaf
Achlys (plant)
Achlys is a small genus of flowering plants in the barberry family, which it shares with genera such as Berberis and Vancouveria.-Species:...
are abundant in the area. Wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s such as Columbia lilies
Lilium columbianum
Lilium columbianum is a lily native to western North America. It is also known as the Columbia Lily or Tiger Lily .-Distribution:...
, trillium
Trillium
Trillium is a genus of about 40–50 species of spring ephemeral perennials, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia....
s, and bleeding heart
Dicentra formosa
Dicentra formosa is a herbaceous perennial growing from a rhizome, native to moist woodland from California to British Columbia.-Description:...
s grow in the spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
. Currant
Blackcurrant
Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum, is a species of Ribes berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia, and is a perennial....
, elderberries, blackberries
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
, thimbleberries
Thimbleberry
Rubus parviflorus, commonly called thimbleberry or salmonberry, is a species of Rubus, native to western and northern North America, from Alaska east to Ontario and Michigan, and south to northern Mexico...
, huckleberries
Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a common name used in North America for several species of plants in two closely related genera in the family Ericaceae:* Vaccinium* GaylussaciaHuckleberry may also refer to:-Plants:...
, and salmonberries are some of the many berries that grow on the mountain.
Birds such as varied thrushes
Varied Thrush
The Varied Thrush is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.It breeds in western North America from Alaska to northern California. It is migratory, with northern breeders moving south within or somewhat beyond the breeding range...
and chickadees live on Humbug Mountain. Douglas squirrels
Douglas Squirrel
The Douglas Squirrel is a pine squirrel found in the Pacific coastal states and provinces of North America. It is sometimes known as the Chickaree or Pine Squirrel, but since Chickaree is also used for the American Red Squirrel and Pine Squirrel for the genus Tamiasciurus, these alternative names...
and black-tailed deer
Black-tailed Deer
Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer occupying coastal temperate rainforest on North America's Pacific coast are subspecies of the mule deer. They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies...
are among the numerous mammals that inhabit the mountain.
There are many tide pool
Tide pool
Tide pools are rocky pools by oceans that are filled with seawater. Many of these pools exist as separate entities only at low tide.Tide pools are habitats of uniquely adaptable animals that have engaged the special attention of naturalists and marine biologists, as well as philosophical...
s in the intertidal zone
Intertidal zone
The intertidal zone is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide . This area can include many different types of habitats, with many types of animals like starfish, sea urchins, and some species of coral...
at the base of the mountain. Organisms such as jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
, littleneck clams
Hard clam
The hard clam , also known as a quahog , round clam, or hard-shell clam, is an edible marine bivalve mollusk which is native to the eastern shores of North America, from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula...
, sunflower starfish
Sunflower starfish
The sunflower sea star is a large predatory sea star usually with 16–24 limbs called rays. It is the largest sea star in the world. Sunflower sea stars can grow to have an arm span of 1 metre in diameter...
, and many others can be found in these pools.
Gray whales
Gray Whale
The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about , a weight of , and lives 50–70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were...
can sometimes be seen migrating along the coast, and more rarely, humpback whales
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
are spotted.
Trails
Many trails have been built on Humbug Mountain. The Humbug Mountain Trail climbs 1730 feet (527.3 m) to the summitSummit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
. The trailhead
Trailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
is located in the campground at Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park is a state park located on the Oregon coast. It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park can be accessed via the US Route 101, south of Port Orford, and north of Gold Beach....
. After going through a tunnel under the U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 101, a major north–south U.S. Highway, runs through the state along the coastline near the Pacific Ocean. In Oregon, it runs from the Oregon–California border, south of Brookings, to the Oregon–Washington border on the Columbia River, between Astoria,...
, the trail leads through the old-growth temperate rainforest on the mountain.
It has several switchback
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s. The trail then forks about 1 miles (1.6 km) in. The trail to the west was originally built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
, but was washed out in the Columbus Day Storm of 1962
Columbus Day Storm of 1962
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was an extratropical cyclone that ranked among the most intense to strike the United States Pacific Northwest since at least 1948, likely since the January 9, 1880 "Great Gale" and snowstorm...
. An alternate trail was built, which now forms a loop with the original trail. The original trail was rebuilt in 1993. Overall, the original trail is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, while the alternate trail is 2 miles (3.2 km) long, for a round trip of 5.5 miles (8.9 km). The Pacific Ocean can only be seen through a thin gap in the forest on the summit of the mountain. Both trails are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail
Oregon Coast Trail
The Oregon Coast Trail is a long-distance hiking route along the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States. It follows the coast of Oregon from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border south of Brookings....
.
Another trail leads from the campground, under the highway, to a 4 miles (6.4 km) long beach on the north side of the mountain.
A fourth trail, named Recreation Trail, follows the path of the Old Coast Highway. It is approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long, and crosses nearby Brush Creek seventeen times. The trail has many views of the Pacific Ocean. It eventually merges with the U.S. Route 101.
Recreation
Nature studyNature study
The nature study movement was a popular education movement in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nature study attempted to reconcile scientific investigation with spiritual, personal experiences gained from interaction with the natural world...
, wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
viewing, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, and whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
are popular activities around the mountain. Hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
are also very popular on the trails in the area. Beachcombers
Beachcombing
Beachcombing and beachcomber are words with multiple, but related, meanings that have evolved over time.A beachcomber is someone who "combs" the beach, and the intertidal zone in general, looking for things of value, interest or utility....
, windsurfers
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, and scuba divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
can be found on the beach and in the deep water near the mountain.
Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park is a state park located on the Oregon coast. It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park can be accessed via the US Route 101, south of Port Orford, and north of Gold Beach....
, which includes all of Humbug Mountain, features a campground with over 100 campsites. The campground is located between Brush Creek and the beach. It has amenities such as shower
Shower
A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :...
s, flush toilet
Flush toilet
A flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Flushing mechanisms are found more often on western toilets , but many squat toilets also are made for automated flushing...
s, a hiker/biker camp, and an amphitheater
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
. There are also picnic table
Picnic table
A picnic table is a modified table with attached benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors .-Uses:...
s in the day-use section, 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the main campground.