Now is the time to go whale watching
Peninsula Daily News
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As they move north from Baja California, where they breed and produce their calves, LaPush is an ideal spot on the North Olympic Peninsula to catch a close-up glimpse of these magnificent beasts which weigh 30 to 40 tons and grow as long as 45 feet.
Whales that frequent the waters off LaPush are easily seen through mid-May and often into June.
It's thanks to the calves, in fact, that LaPush-area beaches offer so many close-up views of the whales.
Mother whales with calves often roll just beyond the surf, while the males swim further out and don't get as close to the shore.
Gray whales feed primarily on bottom-dwelling organisms, taking in mouthfuls of sediment and sieving through it for their prey.
The best time to catch a glimpse of gray whales — bring binoculars and look for spouts — is early in the day, when the water is often calm.
It helps if it's high tide, or about an hour before, and if the sky is cloudy so the glare off the water is minimized.
One of the best whale-watching vantage points is the south end of First Beach in LaPush, the heart of the Quileute tribe's reservation about 12 miles west of Forks.
Another good place to whale-watch is Second Beach, which is reached by way of a 0.7-mile forested trail that leads to a 2-mile sandy stretch of beach that is also home to elk, deer, bald eagles and seals.
The best viewing areas are those located at a higher elevation than the beach, such as standing on a beach log or rock.
Extreme care should be exercised when crawling over and walking on beach logs — they shift easily.
Other popular viewpoints south of LaPush, and reachable via U.S. Highway 101, include Ruby Beach and the Kalaloch beaches, especially the Beach 4 and Beach 6 overlooks.
Northwest is Cape Flattery, located a couple of miles west of Neah Bay on the Makah reservation.
Bring binoculars
Warm clothing, rain gear and shoes with non-slippery soles also are recommended for whale watching.
Although people have reported seeing whales 50 feet from shore, binoculars or a spotting scope are needed for better viewing.
Cameras with telephoto lenses are suggested for people hoping to take pictures.
Spotting whales can be difficult, but half the fun is the build up of anticipation.
Spouts from the blow-hole on top of a whale's head is usually the first thing watchers spot, but it's not uncommon to see a flick of the tail — or their eyes peering above the water to survey the area.
The whales will return to their southern mating and calving lagoons in October, again passing though North Olympic Peninsula waters.
But they travel further offshore in November and December, making it harder for people to see them.
To inquire about day-to-day whale spotting, contact the Oceanside Resort in LaPush at 800-487-1267 or the Forks Chamber of Commerce at 360-374-2531.
There's also a Web cam overlooking First Beach that interested whale-watchers can view at the Forks chamber's Web site at www.forkswa.com/41.html.
Last modified: April 11. 2008 9:00PM