Calendar

Past Activity

Exploding Whale Hike

  • Start date: 06/03/2018

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 06/03/2018

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Take a hike to the site of the exploding whale near Florence. Our walk will also pass the location of a memorial noting the solemn and mysterious stranding of 41 Sperm Whales in 1979. Gray Whales will be migrating just off the coast so keep an eye open. Come prepared for sun, rain, wind, or cool temperatures. Bring lunch and snacks.

Meet at the Target (West 11th in Eugene) parking lot and drive to Florence. In Florence, drive south over the 101 bridge and turn west on South Jetty Road for 2 miles making a right at the "Y" onto Sand Dunes Road. Park ath the South Jetty Dog Ponds (alternate parking is an 1/8 miles back on the same side of the road) where we will set up a shuttle and drive north 5 miles to the South Jetty #7-Whale Memorial parking lot (pit bathrooms are available). We will be hiking up the jetty then south down the beach and back to the cars.

In 1970 a whale carcass near Florence became so foul smelling that local residents wanted it gone. An idea was hatched to use dynamite to blow the putrid mass into tiny little bits so scavengers would take care of the problem. What could go wrong? The result was a massive explosion that blew chunks of blubber far into the sky and onto cars and observers up to a quarter of a mile away. A car suffered some significant damage. Fortunately, no one was injured, but many were covered in goo. A TV report of the incident is classic viewing on the web. The story has become a local legend and it is known internationally as just "the exploding whale."

  • Event Leader: Mark Hougardy

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-206-9532

  • Event Leader Email: hougardy@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Coastal

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Easy

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 128

  • Season: 2018

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Lunch, snacks

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 5

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

We hiked to the site of the “exploding whale,” one of Oregon’s most prominent stories of local lore. In 1970, near Florence, a 16,000-pound whale carcass the length of a bus washed ashore. After 3-days in the sun, it became so foul smelling that locals wanted it gone. An idea was hatched to dynamite the odorous mass into tiny bits. A local TV report of the incident is classic web viewing. In the clip, a massive boom launches putrid blubber into the sky. As the blast ends, behind the camera, a series of cheers and laughs ring out. One woman’s voice is heard, “All right, Fred, you can take your hand’s our of out of your ears now … here come pieces of … my G-” No one was injured, but viewers were covered in goo and a car was nearly totaled. Our group located the approximate location of the detonation. The day included a pleasant 5-mile beach walk where we viewed a number of shells. We also observed a memorial to 41 sperm whales who mysteriously stranded themselves in the area in 1979. One whale spout was observed just offshore.