Moments in Dirt and Ink

Redwood National Park DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4 Purple line for day 1. Click for map. I decided it was time to stop thinking about backpacking Redwood Creek and actually do it. It would probably be easy enough to "see everything" with a couple grand day hikes, but I felt it would be a nicer trip if backpacked. Planning has been somewhat delayed by the fact that I own a paper map of the area, but can't find it. A free permit is required to backpack in Redwood National Forest. Usually one must pick it up on the day at a visitor center and no reservations are taken. For now, there is an online form to fill out at least 48 hours prior and up to 2 weeks before. Like everyone else, they are reporting record visitation, but I was able to get a permit with my choice of camps with the minimum notice. It probably helped that I didn't ask for any weekend days and school was starting the next day. Parking at Redwood Creek Trailhead. I chose ...

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Click for map. I turned my attention to the north side of the road where the trails climb to the ridge line instead of dropping to the ocean. I smiled thinking of the views that must be up there then remembered that it should be thickly covered with trees. One day I might understand that most ridges do not get above tree line, especially those that are only about 1000 feet up. Plenty of really big trees, no views expected. The sign says about four miles for the loop and I decided on the clockwise direction. Signed trailhead is easy to find. It certainly plunges into the trees. There are some steep sections as it climbs in little wiggles up to the junction that starts the loop. From the junction, I could see bridges circling around big trees down below and plenty more climbing the way I was planning to go. Hope Creek to the left, which I continued on, and Ten Taypo to the right. How big are big trees? It's hard to understand how big...

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Click for map. I must admit, I was sort of out to check off trails I had not yet hiked in Pairie Creek Redwoods. On the list is Ossagon Creek and Hope Creek, which are handily across the street from each other. If there is a little time after, then Carruthers Cove as well. I did not plan to do the two together because what I read about the Coastal Trail in between, which just follows the beach, implied that it wouldn't be possible to do unless the tide was quite low because the beach had washed out significantly. I expect the source of that information knows that there is some seasonality to beaches and didn't just happen to come in summer before, see a grand beach, then come again in winter and see much less. Anyway, I got parked, crossed the road, and got going down, which actually requires a short climb at first. Detailed signs at the trailhead with hike suggestions and trail regulations and a map on one, a little something about...