Lost Coast Trail

After I turned in my dissertation to my committee, I had very little to do but wait. So, to make best use of this time, I ran away from civilization for my first time this year. Off to the lost coast of California.

This is the view from the parking lot at the end (Shelter Cove), taken while I waited for my shuttle. The far point you can see was about 1/3 of the total hike of 26 miles.

And here is the beginning, at the mouth of the Mattole River

It was a pretty stunning hike.
Lots of dead sea lions.

Very solitary, which since that was what I was looking for... was pretty cool. Just a few isolated cabins on the beach. some of them had trucks in front, who the heck knows how they got there though.

This is the Punta Gorda Lighthouse, one of the most isolated in California.

And the lovely view from the top.

Me, in the one picture you will get. It was taken by one of the 2 brothers I shared a shuttle with from Shelter Cove.

I loved how the sea lions and cormorants (?) divied up the space on this big rock.

Parts of the trail were on the bluff above, but most of the time you were treking on the beach itself. Some of it impassible at high tide and all. Not the easiest hiking conditions.

Rinley, who I cant get to swim for the life of me, loved lying down in every stream we came to. Crazy boy.

My first night I camped on this bluff. This picture reminds me of some outdoor magazine ad.

We were camped next to this old hut, by the Cooskie Spur Trail.

Golden hills

Sunset number 1

And sunrise the next morning. I was getting up early! Nothing like threat of getting trapped by the tide to get you moving.

While I made my breakfast, Rinley hunted for his. Not that he actually caught anything. It was funny to watch him spend the morning bounding around though.

On the trail again, more dead stuff.

It really was a pretty morning.

One unnerving thing was the bear tracks in the sand. You know very well that they came by since you were on the beach last, and that really isn't so far from where you were sleeping. weeeeee

Even better, knowing you are following them. Of course they are long gone by that time, but the thought of getting trapped by the tide with a bear? fun stuff.

Rin and I came around a corner and he stopped dead. It took me a little while to see why. This little one was rather reluctant to give up his beach so we could pass. He kept swimming by, waiting for us to leave so he could go back.

Then the fog moved in. My god did I burn my nose that day. ouch.

Fun stuff at one of the many creeks. This was at Oat Creek, I think.

Kinsey Creek

There were so many animals out and about.

Big Creek

I camped here for my second night. Many of the creek mouths had these wonderful driftwood shelters.

One of the not so pleasant things on this trip. Pretty admittedly.

A bit more wild looking in this section.

Sunset number 2

And off again the next morning. Rin loved climbing up the hills after who knows what.

Looks like someone got a bit of a shock.

The third day was a lot of beach walking

and rather adventurous. This little point gave us quite a scare. I decided to hike it in the morning even though they recommend you do all the restricted sections on an outgoing tide. I made it around fine, even though it was a little sketchy with the waves washing over the slippery rocks. But... Rin wouldn't do it. The silly dog is afraid of the waves. So I had to go back and drag him. No way I could carry him on the slippery rocks. As it was, I slipped off the rocks and into the water as we went around. Rina panicked, waves were crashing around us, and we both got soaked. And this was only 2 hours after low tide!

Look at my silly boy, all pooped out.

We were stuck at Shipman creek after that, waiting for the tide to go down, and my shoes to dry.

Not a bad place to be marooned though

Dont know how this is comfortable, but...

More dead stuff. I actually watched this one make its way in on the tide. Like how the gulls pecked out his brains?

This last section of the trail was absolutely beautiful.

Another encounter

Less creeks over here, and more seeps.

All this black sand. bautiful, but a bit hard on Rin. He did well until the last day.

Pretty birds

We spent our last night at Gitchell Creek. Lots of fun drift wood piled up in the mouth.

Sunset number 3

Pretty spectacular this time.

My final morning.

The fog moved in again, making it rather earie.

And finally, 6 very sore feet later, Rin and I made it out and drove the windy roads above the fog.

All in all, a pretty spectacular trip.