This Land, Your Land

Cape Lookout National Seashore is providing additional opportunities to climb the lighthouse this summer.

A news release today says the Seashore will add a day - Wednesday - and an extra time to climb at the end of the day for the 2012 season.

The lighthouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, May 16 to September 22, this year.

Climbs begin every 15 minutes and require reservations. Tickets cost $8, or $4 for ages 12 and younger (must be at least 44 inches tall) and 62 and older, and for those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass.

The National Park Service opened the North Core Banks road and resumed vehicle ferry access at Cape Lookout National Seashore this week, allowing vehicle traffic for the first time since Hurricane Irene tore through the area August 26-27.

The 20 Long Point Cabins are closed for the season and repair work continues in the cabin area, but tent and RV camping is allowed on the beaches. (The 21 Great Island Cabins at South Core Banks remain open through November 28.)

Roads between the beach and the ferry landing and sanitary dump station, and between the beach and the long-term parking lot and bathhouse are open.

In addition to roads, long-term parking, a fish-cleaning station, potable water, a sanitary dump station, and the bathhouse and bathrooms are open as of Wednesday.

The camp office remains closed, and gasoline, diesel and ice are not available.

"The island was subject to a tremendous amount of erosion and overwash from Hurricane Irene and there are still numerous hazards (such as old rusted-out vehicles, and pilings) partly buried in the sand," the National Park Service news release says. Drivers should "be very mindful of the signs designating where vehicles may operate."

In addition to damaging the Long Point Cabins, the storm's overwash eroded about 50 feet of beach and filled in the ferry landing with about 100 feet of sand.

All remaining reservations for the season at the Cape Lookout National Seashore's Long Point cabins will be cancelled as the national park continues to deal with damage from Hurricane Irene, which struck in August.

There are 20 Long Point rental cabins on North Core Banks and their season was to go to the end of November. There are 21 similar cabins at South Core Banks that remain open.

The National Park Service also said in a news release Thursday that the Long Point ferry basin would be dredged, and that vehicle access to North Core Banks could be available by mid-November.

When it hit August 26-26, Hurricane Irene significantly overwashed the entire seashore, the news release says, "and overwash caused the greatest physical damage at the Long Point camp, eroding about 50 feet of beach, causing damage to cabins [and] cabin infrastructure, and filling in the ferry landing with about 100 feet of sand."

In addition to other work, the "back road" to the Long Point area has been graded, and marking the dune lines and remaining vehicle routes is underway.

The National Park Service said Friday it would build a passenger ferry depot on Front Street in Beaufort for service to the Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout areas of Cape Lookout National Seashore.

A private firm will operate the site, which is to be located at the new Beaufort Town Hall (the former Post Office building) and Grayden Paul Park, according to a news release. Service is expected to begin in 2014 after contracts are let in 2013.

Currently, Cape Lookout is only accessible by private boats or private ferries.

The National Park Service decided in 2008 to develop a ferry service, and various options were presented for public comment last March.

In an update two weeks after Hurricane Irene's strike, officials at Cape Lookout National Seashore say workers continue to make repairs but have opened most areas of the park.

The Long Point Cabins on North Core Banks suffered the most extensive damage, a news release says. After Irene, high seas washed over North Core Banks as Hurricane Katia passed offshore. Damage to the septic system and the ferry basin, which filled with sand, will require coordination with regulatory agencies to repair. Work to replace roofs continues, the news release says.

The camp at Long Point consists of 20 furnished cabins of about 500 square feet each that sleep six in bunk beds.

Elsewhere, Shackleford Banks is open, visitor services in the Lighthouse area have been restored, and the visitor center on Harkers Island is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Portsmouth Village, the two developed areas remain closed, but the beaches have reopened for day use and foot traffic.

The Cape Lookout National Seashore's Shackleford Banks and the visitor center at Harkers Island have re-opened following Hurricane Irene as damage assessment continues, the National Park Service says. All other areas of the park remain closed.

The visitor center does not have phone or email service.

The storm damaged docks, buildings and other infrastructure, including the dock at Shackleford, which will have to be rebuilt, the NPS news release says.

"Storm overwash has moved sand across the backroad and affected boat access at docks. In other areas, erosion has affected boardwalks and other visitor areas. Abandoned vehicles have been uncovered and are on the beach. Trees are down in Portsmouth Village."

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Shackleford Horses and the National Park Service began a count of horses on Shackleford Banks, and a new foal thought to have been born on Sunday was seen. All horses appeared to be in good condition, the release says.

Get a look at two alternatives for ferry terminals to provide service to Cape Lookout National Seashore in a public meeting at the Duke University Marine Lab Auditorium on Pivers Island at 7 to 9 p.m. next Tuesday.

The National Park Service is planning passenger ferry service from either 10th Street in Morehead City or from Front Street in Beaufort to Shackleford Banks and to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse area of South Core Banks.

Officials will announce the preferred departure site Tuesday as part of the draft Passenger Ferry Departure Site Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect, the National Park Service says.

Cape Lookout National Seashore is currently reachable by private boats or private ferries.

The study examined eight potential sites since last August, and each site's characteristics and requirements, including accessibility issues and opportunities for partnering with the Towns of Beaufort and Morehead City, the NPS news release says.

The public can comment on the EA/AoE from March 1 until March 31.

Comments by mail may be sent to: Wouter Ketel, Management Assistant, Cape Lookout National Seashore, 131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531.