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Redwood National Park, CA

Jul 18 - Jul 26, 2015 -- $1225 ★★

Only 3% of the Redwoods that originally blanketed the Pacific Coast still stand. Come walk through time in beautiful Redwood National Park where the few remaining old growth redwoods are preserved from being cut down to make decks and picnic tables. You will walk through groves of leviathan trees that are centuries or even millenia old and can grow more than 350' tall.


Our trip will begin in Redwood National Park and morph into Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. You may see herds of regal Roosevelt Elk, catch glimpses of whales from scenic outlooks high above the pacific, view a black bear or perhaps see a sea otter or the rare and endangered marbled murrelet. If you've never seen the Pacific Coast or a Redwood Tree, this is the trip for you.


Our journey will begin in Redwood National Park where we'll start at Dolasson Prairie and head down to Redwood Creek. We'll visit the Tall Trees Grove featuring trees over 350' tall. Then we'll take head down Redwood Creek to the Skunk Cabbage Trail and onto the sand along the beautiful Pacific Coast. From the beach we head into Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park where you are almost certain to see majestic Roosevelt Elk (and you can get a shower). We spend the rest of the trip in Prairie Creek along the Ocean, on the beach, among old growth redwoods, and in Fern Canyon, a primieval place where some scenes in Jurassic Park were filmed.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s and 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 80 and as low as 30 or several days of rain. Here is the historical July weather. On the July 2009 trip, the weather was so mild and clear, we were able to sleep out under the stars almost every night, but of course you never know what's in store.



Trip Leaders

Hannah McCallum
Beau Devlin

Cost

$1225 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Eureka/Arcata (ACV), personal equipment and any restaurant meals eaten off the trail.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, campground fees, 7 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, insurance, and 2 awesome guides.



Note

The trails through Redwood National Park are well groomed with good footing and moderate elevation gain and loss (although it may not always seem like that while hiking). Difficulties arise because there are days of 10+ mile hikes planned, with some of it on the beach which although flat can retard progress. The upside is that you get stronger as you hike and that continually changing incredible scenery will keep you engaged.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Saturday, July 18, 2015

Fly, bus or drive into Eureka/Arcata, CA (ACV). We will pick you up at the airport when you arrive. Some time between Noon - 3PM is the ideal time to arrive, but if you can save a substantial amount on trip costs by arriving a few hours earlier or later, you should do that.

Note: Flights to Arcata can be expensive. There are usually at least a few people who drive up from San Francisco (4 hours) so we might be able to arrange a carpool if you decide to do this.

Check into Howard Johnson Express Arcata, 4700 Valley West, Arcata, CA 95521 , 707-826-9660

Equipment shakedown. We go through your pack and examine everything you brought.

Trip to Arcata for last minute forgotten items. Possible destinations:

Trail mix distribution

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Go out for dinner at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)



Sunday, July 19, 2015

"Before" measurements taken

Free breakfast in Hotel

Cars can be left at Hotel. Hotel assumes no responsibility for them however, will have you sign a document saying so and may charge for parking.

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and placed in storage

Shuttle to Redwood National Park with at stop at the ranger station in Orick, CA (1 hour or so)

Shuttle to Dolasson Prairie Trailhead on Bald Hills Rd.

Begin Hiking at Dolasson Prairie, elevation 2200'

Hike 7.0 downhill miles to Redwood Creek

Set up camp at Redwood Creek, elevation 100'

Miles today: 7.0 miles. Total to Date: 7.0 Miles

Swimming possible in Redwood Creek

Bailout: Bald Hills Rd.


Monday, July 20, 2015

Hike 1.0 miles down Redwood Creek past the Tall Trees Grove. You will need water shoes for the several creek crossings

Day-hike 1.0 mile around the Tall Trees Grove

Hike 6.2 miles to Redwood Creek footbridge, Elevation 100'

Camp at Elam Camp or on Redwood Creek gravel bed, Elevation 100'

Mileage Today: 8.2. Total mileage: 15.2

Possible bailout: Bald Hills Rd.


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Hike 2.0 miles down Redwood Creek to Bald Hills Rd.

Hike about 1.0 miles along US-101 to the Skunk Cabbage Trail

Hike 4.7 miles on the Skunk Cabbage Trail to the Pacific Ocean, elevation Sea Level

Hike 1.1 beach miles to Davidson Rd. in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, elevation Sea Level

Hike 2.0 miles along Davidson Rd. / Gold Bluffs to Gold Bluff's Campsite, elevation Sea Level

Camp at Gold Bluff's Hiker/Biker campground, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, elevation Sea Level

10.7 miles today. Total to Date: 25.9

Bailout: US-101.


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Hike 2.0 miles on Miner's Ridge Trail to the Clintonia Trail

Hike 1.4 miles on the Clintonia Trail to the James Irvine Trail

Hike 3.7 miles on the James Irvine Trail and Miner's Ridge Trail to Elk Prairie front country Campground

Camp at Elk Prairie frontcountry campground (Site number 027) complete with ranger station, ranger talks, and bathhouse with running water and coin-op showers.

Mileage Today: 7.1. Total mileage: 33.0

Possible bailout: Elk Prairie Campground


Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day-Hike (no pack) 14.8 miles on Rhododendron Trail and Prairie Creek Trail, max elevation 800'

Shorter day hiking loops available

Camp at Elk Prairie frontcountry campground (Site number 027) complete with ranger station, ranger talks, and bathhouse with running water and coin-op showers.

Mileage Today: 14.8. Total mileage: 47.8

Possible bailout: Elk Prairie Campground


Friday, July 24, 2015

Hike 0.5 miles to the West Ridge Trail

Hike 5.3 miles to the Friendship Ridge Trail

Hike 2.6 miles on the Friendship Ridge Trail to Fern Canyon

Hike 0.5 miles through Fern Canyon to Coastal Trail, elevation Sea Level

Hike 1.0 miles To Gold Bluffs

Mileage Today: 9.9. Total to Date: 57.7

Camp at Gold Bluffs Campground, Hiker/Biker site

Bailout: Newton Drury Scenic Drive


Saturday, July 25, 2015

Hike 2.0 miles on the beach to Davidson Rd.

End of hiking

Mileage Today: 2.0. Total mileage: 59.7

Possible bailout: Coastal Drive

Shuttle takes us to Howard Johnson Express Arcata, 4700 Valley West, Arcata, CA 95521 , 707-826-9660

"After" body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, July 26, 2015

Free breakfast in Hotel

Check out of Hotel

Take Free Airport Shuttle


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