Tuesday, January 19, 2016
A sequence of morning six-foot-plus high tides accompanies the full moon of Saturday, January 23. On Thursday, the high tide peaks at 6.7 feet at 8:08 am in the morning—beach walking is best in the afternoons. Check with park visitor centers for high surf advisories.
The high tides may affect the bustling northern elephant seal colonies. The past week's storms appear to be encouraging more seals to haul out at the north [sic] Drakes colony (seen from Chimney Rock) which allows for more protection from storm surges. This colony began in 1995, a year of heavy storms. Researchers are marking some of the larger males with dyes near their flippers to track their activity. The overall numbers of seals on the beaches during the last count was 577.
Whale watching at the Lighthouse has been hampered by rough weather and heavy fog; just a few spotted mid-week.
Annual winter reminder: please report downed trees. The trail crew needs to know not only the location but also a) the kind of tree; b) the diameter/width of the truck; and c) whether is blocking access for horses or whether a hiker can walk over it. This information will help them get the right equipment to the area.