Hike to Cape Alava

Last week I had a couple of work adventures on the Olympic Peninsula. I was very prepared to get wet, but rain shadowing resulted in the first day being just light rain. The second day was outside the path of most of the rain. When I finished up I had just enough time to get over to Lake Ozette and take a hike to the ocean at Cape Alava.  

Ozette Island from the end of the trail at the beach

Tskawahyah Island

Cape Alava is named for Jose Manuel de Alava. He was supportive of early Spanish exploration of the Northwest coast; hence, the many Spanish names along the Northwest coast. He was also a commisioner for Spain on negotiations to resolve the Nootka Sound Controversy involving trading conflicts between the Spanish and other non Indian traders on the Pacific Northwest Coast in particular with Great Britain due to Spansh capturing ships from Great Britain and America. War bteween Spian and Great Britain was avoided when Spain agreed to leave the Nootka area including the coast of what is now Washington.

A Makah village was located just north of Cape Alava. A landslide at the village preserved pre European structures and artifacts. Archeology studies of the village have been important in establishing treaty rights of the Makah. The site demonstrated that the Makah possessed metal prior to the arrival of European, Russian and American traders. Periodically boats from Japan drifted across the ocean and washed ashore at this area and thus the acquisition of metal prior to European arrival. In 1834 a boat with three surviving Japanese sailors landed on the Makah coast hhistorylink.org/File/9065.

With the wet weather and rather dire rain predictions that in fact did take place, I was the only biped on the trail and beach. I did see some signs of other visitors but they did not show themselves.