Free Guided Geology Beach Walk at Fort Worden State Park - Sunday June 12 at 2 pm

All ages are welcome!

I will be leading a free guided geology walk of the lower beach at Fort Worden State Park Sunday June 12 at 2 pm in Port Townsend. We will look at the glacial clay and peat layers exposed by a landslide just north of the beach campground area.

The guided geology walking tour will be about 1/2 mile total distance and last about 30 minutes. Stay after to beach comb and identify rocks from the Field Guide to Port Townsend Rocks and Geology. Low tide is at 4:13 PM on June 12.

Click here for the full-size Fort Worden Trail Map.

The guided geology walk will start from the paved parking area about 200 feet east of the beach campground loop. This is a rain or shine event - so bring your raincoat just in case.

In 2010, I taught a "Geology of Port Townsend" Course through Peninsula College. The Fort Worden beach landslide deposits (called "Qls" on geology maps) was one of our class field stops. Below is a slide that gives some background information on what we will be looking at June 12.

You will need a Discover Pass to park your vehicle in the lower beach area. You can purchase a pass the same day of your visit from the Friends of Fort Worden Gift Shop located inside the park. Gift Shop address: Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

Photo: Northeast section of park showing beach campground and bluffs at left. Photo taken from top of Battery Kinzie in May 2016. 

Upcoming minus tides are good for beach hikes

Photo: View facing east towards Fort Worden State Park on a stormy day in March 2016. At right, layers of peat within the Whidbey Formation are exposed.

The best time for beach hiking is during low tide. And the best of the best low tides are called "minus tides." The next predicted minus low tide in May 2016 for Point Hudson in Port Townsend is Friday May 20 at 9:58 AM at -0.1 foot. As spring turns into summer, the low tides will get even lower. The lower the tide, the more area of beach is exposed and better access around points and headlands.

All tidetables are "predictions" - this is because local storms, high winds and barometric pressure affect the actual tide level on any given day.

Use the link below to look up predicted tides - or you can pick up a paper copy of a local tidetable in a marina or hardware store once you arrive at your destination.

After you click on the link, scroll down to the section called "Admiralty Inlet" (because that's where Port Townsend is). Then click the town or area closest to where you will be walking.

http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/washingtonsites.html#defuca

There are two low tides and two high tides in every lunar day (24 hours 50 minutes). There are many, many days over the next few months with minus tides -- but the list below gives you the "lowest of the low" minus tides in the near future.

Lowest minus tides in May 2016:
Tuesday May 24 ** 12:11 pm ** -1.3 foot
Friday May 27 ** 2:21 pm ** -0.5 foot
Saturday May 28 ** 3:13 pm ** 0.2 foot
Sunday May 29 ** 4:09 pm ** 1.0 foot
Monday May 30 ** 6:18 am ** 3.4 foot (Memorial Day morning)
Monday May 30 ** 5:09 pm ** 1.9 foot (Memorial Day evening)

Lowest minus tides in June 2016:
Saturday June 4 ** 9:51 AM ** -2.3 foot
Sunday June 5 ** 10:34 AM ** -2.7 foot

Lowest minus tides for July 2016:
Saturday July 2 ** 8:50 AM ** -2.0 foot
Sunday July 3 ** 9:35 AM ** -2.4 foot
Monday July 4 ** 10:19 AM ** -2.6 foot
Tuesday July 5 ** 11:02 AM ** -2.4 foot

Saturday July 30 ** 7:46 AM ** -1.2 foot
Sunday July 31 ** 8:35 AM ** -1.7 foot

Lowest minus tides for August 2016:
Monday August 1** 9:21 AM ** -1.7 foot

Lowest minus tides for September 2016:
Wednesday September 21 ** 1:40 AM ** -0.3 foot
Thursday September 22 ** 2:36 AM ** -0.3 foot

Lowest minus tides for October 2016:
Wednesday October 19 ** 12:21 AM ** -1.5 foot


Links:
NOAA's Tides and Currents graphical tide prediction page:
http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions/NOAATidesFacade.jsp?Stationid=9444900
NOAA's Tide Prediction Help Page - guide to making your own tidetable:
 https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/PageHelp.html

Field Guide to the Rocks & Geology of Port Townsend now available! Waterproof!

After eons and eons the "Field Guide to the Rocks and Geology of Port Townsend" is now available at the fine local establishments listed below. This waterproof, full color field guide provides a visual introduction to the rocks and geology of Port Townsend, Port Ludlow and Marrowstone Island.

★Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitors Center, 93 Beaver Valley Road, Port Ludlow, WA 98365

★Nordland General Store, 7180 Flagler Rd, Nordland, WA 98358

★Mail Plus, 1240 W Sims Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368

★Quimper Mercantile Company, 1121 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368


★If you are getting ready for a visit to Port Townsend, you can also purchase the map on Amazon by clicking here.

The front page of the Field Guide features photos of agate, chert, obsidian jasper, basalt and beach glass to help you identify the treasures you find while exploring the local beaches. The Quimper Peninsula is a destination for mineral collectors looking to add analcime, calcite, quartz, copper, stilbite, thomsonite and vivianite to their collection.

There was only room in the field guide for 10 geologic must-sees - but this blog will feature dozens of additional must-see spots on the Quimper Peninsula - where you can spend time with friends of all ages. Explore and enjoy!