West Seattle, Washington

30 Monday

41℉

West Seattle beaches 724 results

TUESDAY: Last 13-foot ‘king tide’ of winter
February 12, 2024 10:44 am
|    Comments Off on TUESDAY: Last 13-foot ‘king tide’ of winter
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

This will happen tomorrow before our daily reminder list is out, so we’re mentioning it today: This winter’s final 13-foot “king tide” is expected at 7:24 am Tuesday (February 13). The weather’s relatively calm – no atmospheric conditions present to intensify the tidal peak – so no trouble is expected, but early-morning beachwalkers might be interested.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Seen on nighttime low-tide walk
February 10, 2024 10:22 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Brandy DeWeese for photos from one of our featured Friday events – the Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists’ nighttime low-tide walk at Constellation Park south of Alki Point.

No organized event tonight – but the -2.3-foot low tide at 11:19 pm is almost as low as last night’s.

The volunteer beach naturalists are usually out at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park multiple times during summer’s daytime low tides – watch this webpage (and our calendar) for the schedule.

Share This

About the deer carcass on Alki (WEDNESDAY UPDATE)
January 30, 2024 3:07 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

3:07 PM TUESDAY: We’ve also received multiple messages today about a startling sight toward the east end of Alki Beach – an animal carcass. Some thought it might be a goat but the first person who messaged us, Karen, reported it to city authorities, who told her it’s a young deer and that they were aware of it and planning to remove it. We don’t know if that’s happened yet but are checking. Karen saw it near 54th/Alki.

ADDED 2:57 PM WEDNESDAY: Karen noticed it was still there this morning, so made more calls. Meantime, we checked with Seattle Animal Shelter spokesperson Melissa Mixon, both about the status and about what to do in case of a dead animal. Her reply:

I checked in with the team and it looks like the deceased deer was removed from Alki early this afternoon. With respect to when the public should report a dead animal to SAS, we encourage them to do so any time they encounter a large, deceased animal. The shelter’s animal control team responds to these calls as soon as possible, pending other high-priority or emergency calls.

Smaller dead wildlife, under 15 pounds, should be double-bagged and placed in the garbage. This includes rats, squirrels, birds and other small wildlife. Residents can also bring an animal to the shelter for disposal, but are encouraged to please contact us for an appointment first.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is reachable at 206-386-PETS; you also can file a report (including for a dead animal) here. If you see a dead marine mammal, though, call Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 206-905-SEAL.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: A 2024 first for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
January 27, 2024 9:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

That photo by Antoine Smith – taken from a distance – shows a harbor seal that marked a milestone for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network: The first live seal that SSMMSN volunteers have tended this year, according to David Hutchinson. The seal came ashore at Lincoln Park, where, David tells us, “The First Responder on duty reported that this seal looked healthy and returned to the water around 3 pm due to the rising tide.” If you see a marine mammal on shore – or one in distress offshore – in West Seattle, notify the SSMMSN hotline at 206-905-SEAL.

Share This

VOLLEYBALL: UW hosting two tournaments on Alki Beach this spring
January 27, 2024 7:02 pm
|    Comments Off on VOLLEYBALL: UW hosting two tournaments on Alki Beach this spring
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

volley3(WSB photo, April 2016)

The first time the University of Washington beach-volleyball team came to Alki for a home match, in April 2016, the sun shone as if it were summer. Subsequent years have brought some sun, some rain. Whatever the weather brings, this year the UW will play at Alki on four days in April, according to the schedule announcement this week:

… The Huskies will host two consecutive home tournaments on Alki Beach. The first tournament is the “Pac-12 North Tournament” which takes place on [Friday-Saturday] April 5th and 6th and pits the Huskies against Stanford, Cal Oregon, and Arizona State. UW then welcomes Oregon again, Boise State, and Georgia State the following [Friday-Saturday] for the “Alki Beach Invitational.” …

The announcement notes that the Huskies are at the top of their game, so to speak, as they prepare to start the 2024 schedule on the road in Texas on February 23, “coming off their best season in program history, with a record number of wins, and finished ranked 15th, the first year-end ranking in school history.”

Share This

Your next chance to run into the water at Alki with a crowd
January 3, 2024 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on Your next chance to run into the water at Alki with a crowd
 |   How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, 2020 Polar Plunge)

Loved the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim? Do it again as part of a fundraiser for Special Olympics Washington! The Polar Plunge is returning to Alki Beach next month. It’s a “winter beach party,” highlighted by the “plunge,” with food, drinks, and music, starting at 10 am Saturday, February 24th. Costume contest too! Registration is open now for individuals and teams – you can go here to sign up. This is one of four Polar Plunges that Special Olympics Washington is presenting this winter – the others are January 13th in the Tri-Cities, March 1st in Wenatchee, and Marh 9th in Anacortes.

Share This

‘Be brave!’ You’re invited to the 2024 West Seattle New Year’s Polar Bear Plunge at Alki Beach
December 19, 2023 4:36 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(2022 photo by Robert Spears)

It’s back for 2024 – the New Year’s Day tradition that lines Alki Beach with hundreds of people ready to at least briefly submerge themselves in the chilly water of Puget Sound! We just received the announcement from organizer Mark Ufkes:

Optimists unite! Make no mistake about it; Life continues to get better! Our nation continues to get better! Remember, the glass is always way more than half full.

Alki Beach, West Seattle, again this year. We go into the water at 10:00 am sharp on January 1, 2024. Don’t be late. Over 1,000 participated last year, so plan for a crowd. We line up and down the quarter-mile beach, hold hands, and we start counting down from 10, 9, 8 . . . We yell “Happy New Year” and, together, rush wildly into the 47-degree water, screaming with joy! Holding hands and wearing bright colors seems to help. And we are only in the water for a short time. Yes, it’s a form of mild insanity, but a lot of fun too. And the hundreds of smiles before and after is the best part.

In our home, we have a candle service every Winter solstice (December 21), generally considered the end of the year by many ancient cultures. We blow out a candle to leave behind the complexities from last year, and then light the candle again, asking the Universe, in all her infinite wisdom (because God must be a woman after all) for more opportunities to be a better person.

Since our White Center home is too small for 1,000 of you, this year, we encourage all Polar Bear participants and guests to try this;

On a small piece of paper, write down what you want to leave behind from 2023 and what you want from the New Year for you, your family, and for our great nation. There will be a giant jar on a table at Alki beach, with a sign, and lots of pens and pads of paper, so that you can write and then insert your unsigned dreams and wishes list into the jar. We will save the contents for next year’s 2025 announcement.

Life is a clean slate on January 1. Be Brave. Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air. Inhale! Exhale!! Come share the joy of being alive here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Bring your friends and family. This is your year!

Requirements; be an Optimist, be in good health, bring a towel, good water shoes, a change of warm clothes and your hopes and dreams for 2024. 10:00 am sharp. And remember, how can we believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself?

While the crowd stretches quite a ways along the beach, Mark usually shouts the countdown from the vicinity of 57th/Alki.

Share This

UPDATE: About the beached sailboat at Lincoln Park
December 19, 2023 4:25 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo sent by Mike Munson)

4:25 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos of that sailboat on the beach at Lincoln Park this afternoon. Several also noted that SPD officers were there. So we asked them about the situation, and they forwarded a Coast Guard statement:

The Coast Guard boarded a 25-foot sailing vessel this morning around 11:15. The owner/operator stated he was moving the boat from Tacoma to Shilshole Marina to sell it. The USCG boarding crew noted that the individual had all required safety gear aboard (i.e. lifejacket, sound producing device, etc.). There was no concern from the USCG at that point, so the man was allowed to continue his voyage. Sometime after 1 p.m., he ran into some rocks near the Fauntleroy area.

The USCG did not plan another response as no one was hurt and there’s no danger of pollution, as the boat has no engine. SPD says its officers were just there to “assist the boater.” We don’t know yet how – whether – the grounding was resolved; next high tide is just after 10 pm, but it’s a much lower high tide than the 12-foot-plus high tide expected at 11 am tomorrow.

8:53 PM: Thanks to Rick Rasmussen for that photo of the sailboat getting the aforementioned USCG visit earlier today. It’s apparently still there – dispatch tried sending officers again this evening, until informed that it had already been “dealt with” and that the boat’s occupant indeed was awaiting high tide.

Share This

WEEK AHEAD: Next round of ‘king tides’ on West Seattle shores
December 10, 2023 1:21 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

That’s what it looked like on Alki in November 2020, when a 12.6-foot “king tide” was enhanced by atmospheric conditions. 12.6 is where the next round of “king tides” will peak late next week – too soon to tell if any atmospheric enhancement is likely this time (so far the forecast looks relatively calm). The highest high tides will be 12.6 feet at 7:30 am Friday (December 15), 8:14 am Saturday (December 16), 8:58 am Sunday (December 17), 9:43 am Monday (December 18). This winter’s highest predicted “king tides” will hit or surpass 13 feet in mid-January. P.S. If you need sandbags, remember the closest city-stocked pickup spot this year is in South Park.

Share This

PARK PROJECTS MEETING, REPORT #1: Changes planned in seasonal closing time for Alki Beach
November 27, 2023 7:37 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Tonight’s online briefing regarding West Seattle park projects was newsworthy in several regards, so we’re breaking our coverage into three parts. First, news on a topic that wasn’t even mentioned in the announcement previewing the meeting – a plan to permanently change the Alki Beach Park (and Golden Gardens) closing time in the peak season.

Most recently, the seasonal hours have been in effect Memorial Day through Labor Day, so among other things, this would stretch them a few more weeks. Deputy Superintendent Andy Sheffler noted that this would “align with the beach fire program.” He also noted – in a key point that the Zoom screen partly cut off – the Board of Park Commissioners will have a hearing on this in two weeks.

The agenda for the December 14 meeting isn’t posted yet, but will appear here when ready. Meantime, our other two reports on tonight’s meeting (pickleball, and everything else) are on the way.

Share This

SEEN ON ALKI: The fleetingly famous palm tree is gone. ‘Dune ecosystem’ is not.
November 7, 2023 12:47 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

We looked into both of these Alki observations after reader photos/tips:

RESTORATION: Christopher sent that photo of a section on the beach near the volleyball courts, “wondering what exactly is being restored here and why.” According to Seattle Parks, “This area is one of the last remnants of the native dune ecosystem at Alki Beach. We are working to protect this area during the high season when there is a lot of foot traffic.”

PALM GONE: We also asked Parks about what Kathy spotted, sending the photo above – the disappearance of the 59th/Alki palm tree that briefly gained regional fame after we published a reader report last March. Parks says it was removed because “it was dying.”

Share This

SPORTS: UW beach volleyball returning to Alki this weekend
October 6, 2023 12:28 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: UW beach volleyball returning to Alki this weekend
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

image(WSB photo from UW’s first home beach-volleyball match at Alki, in 2016)

Summer’s encore is just in time for fall beach volleyball – and this weekend, the University of Washington team is hosting a season-opening tournament at Alki. Arizona, Oregon, Utah, and Boise State are visiting for the two-part, two-day tournament, with play starting at 9 am both days. The UW preview explains that the matches will actually comprise two tournaments, with two champions. This is the only home match of the Huskies’ season. Not the first time they’ve played on Alki, though – they’ve played here multiple times dating back to 2016.

Share This

REMINDER: Beach fire season is over
September 7, 2023 4:30 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

With the weekend in view, a reminder – Alki Beach’s fire rings have been picked up and taken away because beach-fire season ended on Labor Day. (Thanks to Guy for the nudge to remind you.)

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Seal Sitters respond to first live pup of the (slow) season
August 31, 2023 2:38 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

That’s the first live seal pup of the season reported to Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network – a season that normally begins in June. The report and photo are from Seal Sitters’ David Hutchinson:

Just a reminder to your readers that we are still in harbor seal pupping season, which in our part of Puget Sound typically runs from June – September. The 2023 season has gotten off to an unusually slow start on our West Seattle beaches. Yesterday, Seal Sitters had our first response to a live pup on a local beach. Volunteers watched over this vulnerable young seal from mid-afternoon until dark. These animals are protected by federal law and if you come across one onshore, we ask that you keep back, keep people and pets away, and call the Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325. Operators are on duty 7 days a week from 8 AM – 8 PM. If you call outside of those hours, please leave a message including the type of animal and its location.

Resting on a beach is normal behavior for harbor seals but the young pups haven’t learned to be discriminating about where they do this. You may encounter them on any of West Seattle’s public or private beaches. It’s particularly important that dogs are not allowed to run off leash on our beaches. While harbor seals are quick and graceful in the water, they are pretty slow while moving on land and would have trouble escaping from a curious dog. Even a small injury can quickly become infected and could be fatal for pups with developing immune systems.

Please note that the accompanying photo was taken with a telephoto lens from behind the tape perimeter. These photos are taken to provide a closer look at the animal to see if there are any external wounds or other signs of poor health and for ID purposes.

Thank you for sharing the shore with our marine wildlife neighbors!

Share This

ALSO THIS WEEK: 2023’s last round of daytime low-low tides
August 27, 2023 6:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, August 1st)

If you like exploring the beach, you should know that the next four days bring this year’s last round of daytime low-low tides, not as low as earlier this month but low enough for significant wildlife-watching. Fall and winter low-low tides are at night. So here’s what’s ahead for the next four days:

Monday, 9:10 am: -1.9L
Tuesday, 10:03 am: -2.3L
Wednesday, 10:52 am: -2.4L
Thursday, 11:39 am: -1.9L

Tread lightly!

Share This

YOU CAN HELP: Habitat helpers sought Saturday at Shoreline Street End #7
August 9, 2023 9:12 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Habitat helpers sought Saturday at Shoreline Street End #7
 |   How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Right next to Constellation Park/Charles Richey Viewpoint is a bit of public land that’s actually separate – known as Shoreline Street End #7, technically the end of SW Spokane Street. Volunteers are invited to join in restoration work there this Saturday morning – here’s the invitation:

A community effort supported by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Friends of Street Ends to restore approximately 11,000 square feet of right-of-way for shoreline access, views, and habitat: The project is located at Shoreline Street End #7, SW Spokane St, in West Seattle (3555R Beach Dr SW). The site is one of 141 Shoreline Street Ends designated by Seattle City Council.

Goals
• Improve and maintain shoreline access and views
• Enhance shoreline habitat
• Build partnerships and encourage stewardship through community partners

Work party will focus on removing invasive plants, spreading mulch, installing new plantings

Work Party Dates
August 12th, 2023 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Spokane St SW

To RSVP for Work Part!es:
seattle.gov/trees/events.html
206-615-1668 | TreeAmbassador@seattle.gov

Share This

WEST SEATTLE SCENES: From pink-gold sunset to pink-salmon fishing to Blue Angels
August 4, 2023 11:16 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENES: From pink-gold sunset to pink-salmon fishing to Blue Angels
 |   Blue Angels | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Three West Seattle scenes from August’s first Friday:

Above, James Bratsanos captured the colors of tonight’s sunset. … Below is Steve Pumphrey‘s photo of salmon seekers lined up along the north side of Point Williams at Lincoln Park:

And below, an image from today’s Blue Angels flight – Rainer Klett photographed a Space Needle flyby from Alki:

Saturday’s forecast has some clouds – maybe even a chance of an afternoon shower.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: After Paddle to Muckleshoot landing on Alki, canoes departing
July 31, 2023 1:57 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: After Paddle to Muckleshoot landing on Alki, canoes departing
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

While the canoe families who arrived at Alki on the Journey to Muckleshoot have moved on to the host tribe’s community center for a week of around-the-clock protocol, most if not all of the canoes are heading home. Alki photographer David Hutchinson sent these three images, reporting, “When I checked around 11:30 AM today, there were still 34 tribal canoes on Alki Beach. They were in the process of leaving, with some being carried down the beach to the water and others being loaded onto boat trailers along Alki Ave.”

Some are/were paddled to Don Armeni Boat Ramp to be placed onto trailers there, as shown in one photo from our Sunday coverage.

Share This

SUNDAY: Paddle to Muckleshoot to bring Alki Beach landing for dozens of Indigenous canoe families
July 29, 2023 7:56 pm
|    Comments Off on SUNDAY: Paddle to Muckleshoot to bring Alki Beach landing for dozens of Indigenous canoe families
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from Alki landing during 2018 Canoe Journey)

As reported here last Sunday, the first Canoe Journey since pre-pandemic will see dozens of Indigenous canoe families landing at Alki Beach tomorrow. This year, the Muckleshoot Tribe is hosting the weeklong gathering that will follow the landing. Some have asked us today what time the ~100 canoe families are expected to start arriving. The only time we’ve seen is 11 am; we note on the Paddle to Muckleshoot website that they’re planning a YouTube live stream during the landing, with the feed scheduled to go live starting at 10:30 am. The canoe families are being hosted by the Suquamish Tribe (in North Kitsap) tonight, after arriving there Friday, and will paddle to Alki from there; the schedule on the Suquamish website says they’re expecting the canoe families to depart at 9:30 am and land at Alki around noon. As for what happens once they’re here, this story from the Muckleshoot newspaper explains that shuttle buses will take them to the host tribe’s community center in Auburn, where a week of protocol – cultural sharing – will follow, starting Monday morning. Many of the participating canae families are listed here. This year’s Canoe Journey theme is “Honoring Our Warriors Past & Present.” It’s the first time the Muckleshoot Tribe has hosted in more than 15 years, though they’ve hosted the Alki stop on other Canoe Journeys since then.

Share This

SUMMER: More canoes on Alki this weekend
July 24, 2023 2:25 pm
|    Comments Off on SUMMER: More canoes on Alki this weekend
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB file photo from past Da Grind)

We reported yesterday on the plan for next Sunday’s Alki arrival of dozens of Indigenous canoe families during the Paddle to Muckleshoot, first tribal Canoe Journey since pre-pandemic. One day earlier – next Saturday (July 29th) – a different canoe event will take over Alki: The Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club-hosted annual Da Grind races. Canoe clubs come from around the region to participate in a day of racing that is scheduled to start around 9 am Saturday and wrap up in time for a 3:30-ish awards ceremony.

Share This

CANOE JOURNEY: Paddle to Muckleshoot this week, landing next weekend on Alki
July 23, 2023 4:32 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, July 2019)

That was the scene at Alki Beach in July 2019, the last year that tribes from around the region participated in a Canoe Journey. This year, the tradition has resumed, and the journey is ending on West Seattle shores because the Muckleshoot Tribe is this year’s host tribe. Canoe families are scheduled to arrive at Alki one week from today (Sunday, July 30th), according to the Paddle to Muckleshoot website. Participants will proceed from here by land to the Muckleshoot Community Center for a weeklong event. The Muckleshoot has a canoe family participating as well, with their journey starting today, as noted here. In all, 60 canoe families – including the Duwamish – are listed as participating.

Share This

VIDEO, PHOTOS: Seafair Pirates conquer Alki
July 8, 2023 5:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)

We may not have year-round royals like Charles, Camilla, and company, but Seattle does have royalty once a year … during Seafair. This year’s King Neptune, radio personality Bender, tried to defend Alki Beach from the Seafair Pirates this afternoon … but somehow, as happens every year, they managed to storm the beach anyway. At about 1:10 pm, in a haze of cannon smoke, they arrived at Alki aboard the Global vessel Prudhoe Bay:

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

The Pirates disembarked near Alki Bathhouse, with hundreds there to watch – and snap photos:

After coming ashore, they were found to be bearing gifts – not plundered treasure, but instead, stickers for kids:

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

The Pirates made their way through the curious crowd, up to where their land-going vessel Moby Duck awaited, as did a ceremony in which they seized – OK, were presented – the key to the county/city, held by County Executive (and lifelong West Seattleite) Dow Constantine:

Other royalty participating in the ceremony included Miss Seafair, Savannah Parker, who took a moment to pose with King Neptune:

As for the Pirates, it was eventually “all aboard” the Moby Duck, which they’ll sail back into West Seattle two weeks from today for the WS Grand Parade.

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

The parade’s at 11 am Saturday, July 22, starting from California/Lander in The Admiral District and heading southbound on California to The Junction, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K at 9:30 am.

Share This

SATURDAY: What to know about Seafair Pirates Landing 2023
July 6, 2023 6:36 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last year)

West Seattle’s next big summer event will bring a crowd to Alki Beach on Saturday (July 8th) for the Seafair Pirates’ Landing. We’ve checked with a spokespirate to get details. Like last year – unlike pre-pandemic years – this will be “just” a landing, not a daylong festival. They’re aiming to arrive around 1 pm, but we’re warned it could be a little earlier, or later. As usual, you’ll hear offshore cannon fire as they approach. On the beach, look for the taped-off area by Alki Bathhouse for the path they’re expected to follow on arrival. On the street, you’ll see their legendary parade boat, the Moby Duck; their spokespirate says they’re also planning to visit Christo’s on Alki, El Chupacabra, and the Benbow Room while in West Seattle.

P.S. Two weeks after the landing, you are invited to breakfast with the Pirates at Brookdale Admiral Heights – 8:30 am Saturday, July 22nd, before the West Seattle Grand Parade – details in our calendar listing.

Share This