You said — “Hey Star Traveler. YOU are exactly right. My husband and I were almost caught by ‘sneaker’ waves twice. First time, had it not been for good folks screaming at us, we would have been goners. (They were on a cliff, we were on the beach) Managed to race to shore grab some dune grass and hang on.”
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Yeah, people just don’t realize the situation. And there’s no rhyme or reason to it — and that’s why they’re called sneaker waves or rogue waves.
And, it’s been shown that rogue waves are much more common on the ocean than scientists (who look into these things) thought, before. It turns out that these rogue waves are big enough, sometimes, to sink big ships. I was watching a TV show about those rogue waves, recently, and they had many stories and some actual videos of it happening (to a ship).
But, what we’re talking about here is something smaller — that isn’t a rogue wave big enough to sink a ship — only about three or four foot higher than the surrounding waves, coming in — all of a sudden (in this news story).
However, from what you’re saying, of your experience, that was definitely more of a “real rogue wave” (or sneaker wave) — more than just three or four feet... That was bigger — and they definitely do hit the Oregon Coast, too. That’s why this kind of stuff is put out on the news a lot and people are constantly warned about it. But, since people don’t see it every time they go to the beach (or even once in ten times), they are lulled into a sense of complacency and may think it won’t happen to them and don’t keep their eyes open and peeled for something like that.
But, even if you keep your eyes open, there are times you just wouldn’t be able to get away and it would get you. I’ve been in situations along the beach where — if a rogue wave came along at that moment — there would have been nothing I could do.
And then you said — “Second time, we had just parked in a parking area. As Mom and I gathered our purses, hubby was facing the rear of the truck to put the leash on our dog in the back seat. I looked up and started yelling “BACK UP! BACK UP! BACK UP!”
He got the truck (Ford F-250) started and backed up but a tad bit late. Water came up over the windshield, logs damaged the bumper and a week later there was still sand IN the truck.”
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Yeah, you’ve already had more than your fair share of those waves... LOL..
And yes, that sort of thing happens, as I’ve heard about it constantly from others. Fortunately, I haven’t had it directly happen to me. But, there is always the next time, I guess... :-)
It still wouldn’t stop me from going to the Oregon beach, though. However, right now I would have to travel from Oklahoma to do it... :-)