North Head Lighthouse

Today we decided to take a trip to Cape Disappointment which has the oldest lighthouse on the Northwest coast and located right at the entrance to the Columbia River. and the North Head Lighthouse which is just 3 km away, it provides light to the northern approach to the Columbia. It was a bit drizzly today we decided to visit the North Head as it has a paved path so no mud. We will try the Cape Disappointment one when the weather is nicer.

You can see the lighthouse up on the cliff.

Here is the other lighthouse. 

The North Head Lighthouse went into service on May 16, 1898. There was three keepers, they worked 8 hour shifts to provide 24 hr coverage, year round. The tower is 65 feet tall and the keepers had to carry 30 lbs of kerosene up it to light the lens. Typically one or more of the keepers were married as the wives looked after the family and the home, here at North Head, Mabel  Breterton, the only female keeper did both jobs singlehandedly. A mother of thre and widow to another keeper from 1905 to 1907.

Walking up to the North Head Lighthouse we lucked out as the Coast Guard was doing rope rescues from the helicopter to the bank down below.  

The largest Coast Guard station on the northwest coast is located right at the mouth of the Columbia where it meets the Pacific Ocean.  This area is called "Graveyard of the Pacific. It is regarded as one of the most treacherous river bars in the world. During Winter storms, wind driven ocean swells often reach heights of 30 feet at the entrance to the bar. They respond to an average of 200 calls for assistance every year. They also do onsite training for other coast guards from all over the world.

Here is the rope rescue