2003 Coastal Trail Expedition

June 2, 2003 – Del Norte Grover Beach (April 27, 2003)  A pivotal step in insuring the success of the Coastal Trail Expedition 2003 was the purchase of a 1997 Dodge 15-passenger van.  In excellent condition, it would provide the wheels to allow our feet to walk the state.  Volunteer and Coastwalk Board member Mel…

Del Norte The Coastal Trail Expedition 2003 is moving south! Our first Del Norte morning was glorious with only a gentle breeze off the Pacific to cool us from the warm sun.  Our morning chores completed and our camping gear stowed away on the van’s roof rack, we drove the two miles from camp at…

Del Norte We met our guides for the day, Jim Barrett and Aaron Jacobs, at the shoreline of Lake Earl.  With them was Tim Williamson from California Fish and Game, a grizzled bear of a man, and the pilot/captain of our ferry across the lake via an air boat.  Taking us 3-5 at a time…

2003 Coastal Trail Expedition From Crescent City to the Damnation Trail Trailhead: 12 miles June 5, 2003 – Del Norte   After meeting our guide for the morning,  Beverly Noll, we first walked the 2 miles or so along the waterfront in Crescent City.  Inland and across a street was a large park; a gift…

2003 Coastal Trail Expedition Onto the Mouth of the Klamath River: 12 Miles June 6, 2003 – Del Norte   Our day’s hike begins in a magnificent redwood forest shrouded in fog.  We descend and ascend through steep drainage.     The redwoods above are seining the fog, extracting its moisture for their own use.…

2003 Coastal Trail Expedition Leaving Del Norte on the Way South June 7, 2003 – Northern Humboldt   Before getting up, it sounds like rain on the tent but it is only heavy dew from the fog being shaken from the trees by the first winds of morning. While most of us worked on striking…

2003 Coastal Trail Expedition Gold Bluff Beach to Redwood Visitor’s Center: 11.5 miles June 8, 2003 – Northern Humboldt   This morning we got to meet Bert Taylor, Coastwalk’s Humboldt County coordinator, who has done so much to insure that our walk through this county will be pleasant and successful. With Bert was Rob Amerman, our…

2003 Coastal Trail Expedition Redwood Visitor’s Center to Patrick’s Point: 12.3 miles June 9, 2003 – Humboldt Northern   After staying the night at Prairie Creek State Park we drove back to the Redwood Visitor’s Center and were met by our guide Everett Henkle from Arcata.   We begin walking on the beach.  To the…