Washington Coast and Oregon's Dramatic Storm Weekend, Especially Cape Disappointment

Published 12/30/24 at 6:35 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Ilwaco, Washington) – There are nightclub scenes. There are live music scenes, singles' scenes and definitely art scenes – usually in most towns big and small around the world. (Photos courtesy Angi D Wildt Gallery)

Then, however, on the Oregon coast and Washington coast, there are the storm scenes – you could say. Hordes of photogs who descend on the beaches and cliffs of the two coastlines like paparazzi at the airport. In this case, the celebrity money shot they're looking for is that perfect wave capture.

Two of the biggest of these scenes is at Coos Bay's Shore Acres State Park on the south Oregon coast and the south Washington coastline's Cape Disappointment. It was here where Angi D Wildt Gallery owner Angi Wildt showed up Saturday with the rest of them to snap the wild storms that were hitting the region. She snagged not only great shots but a glimpse into this spot that's popular with storm wave chasers.

Wildt said some real crowds can gather at times – just about all with one kind of camera gear or another. Many of them, it turns out, are serious influencers with their own brands.

“I've seen photographers that have their websites on the car or on their gear,” she said. “This area draws professionals.”

Her phone battery died at one point, which caused her to head back into her rig and plug it in. Meanwhile, she was able to continue taking video, capturing just part of the crush of nature paparazzi.

“It gives a good perspective of where the photographers are in relation to those amazing photos that you see,” Wildt said. “Also, the view from the car when it is stirred up is still stellar. If you happen to be someone who has a hard time standing very long or walking around, and you get a spot within the first say 20ish spots at Waikiki beach, you'll still get to experience the power of the sea.”

That power showed not just in the gargantuan yet elegant breakers beneath Cape Disappointment Lighthouse but in the video of the giant log just lazily roaming with the tides.

“The waves hit the shore and the wall of logs and shot up,” Wildt said of one rather dramatic moment.

December 27 also proved really dramatic along the Oregon coast. See here for some rather intense shots and video at spots like Shore Acres, Cannon Beach, Depoe Bay, Bandon, etc.

Things can get dangerous in this south Washington coast lookout, though it wasn't bad this time around. Waikiki Beach is as ironically named as Cape Disappointment.

“But it didn't feel dangerous,” Wildt said. “There is always the possibility a log could wash up, or be tossed out. I haven't seen that or heard anyone talk about that. One should always be cautious. There is a deep layer of logs that everyone is behind.”

Wildt added on some occasions, if conditions get too unruly, park rangers come along and shoo people out.

So what if you want to come down yourself?

Wildt had some advice, including how it can be dog-eat-dog when it comes to competition for good spots.

“The parking lot fills up during the King Tides,” she said. “You may have to walk from the parking lot near the entrance during those times. Some people come out as soon as the park opens to get a prime spot for filming. It is challenging to fund a spot to stand where you aren't in someone's filming area and no one is in yours. I overhear interesting conversations between photographers.”

However, mostly everyone tries to accommodate everyone else.

“Most people are respectful and courteous to those who are filming,” Wildt said.

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