Great News in the King Range!

The Shelter Cove General Store is now renting out bear cans with a $50 deposit plus $20 for up to 4 days and $5/day thereafter. They are open 7 days a week 7:30am to 7:30pm. Their number is 707-986-7733; you may want to call them to verify inventory, prices, etc.

As a reminder, ALL overnight visitors in the King Range are required to have a bear can and to use it properly ($150 fine for noncompliance). ALL scented items, such as food, toothpaste, sunscreen and trash from said items needs to be stored in the bear can. Hanging food is not an option in the King Range as there are limited trees that meet the requirements for an effective food hang.

We rent out the Garcia bear can here at the BLM Project Office in Whitethorn for $5 for your entire journey. You will need a credit card and a valid drivers license (if you don’t return the bear can you will buy it). We are open Monday-Friday 8-4:30. You can also rent from the BLM Field Office in Arcata which has the same hours as the Project office here in Whitethorn: Monday-Friday 8-4:30.The Petrolia General Store on the northern end of the King Range also rents cans for $5. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 9-5:30 and Sunday from 11-5:00. You will also need a credit card but they take cash only. Their number is 707-629-3455 if you want to verify the hours or have other questions.

So far this year, 94% of the people visiting have had a bear can with them – there really is no reason for that not to be 100%, especially now that there are so many places available to rent bear cans! Please, help protect the bears in the King Range (and protect your food).

Give me a call or send me an e-mail if you have any questions,

Your Wilderness Ranger,
Paul
lostcoastranger@gmail.com; 707-986-5405

Mark Your Calendars for National Public Lands Day!

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a single day event that brings together thousands of volunteers to give back to the lands that they recreate on. This year the King Range National Conservation Area will be hosting an event to build a new section of trail around Hidden Valley (above) on the southern end of the Conservation Area. In addition, the Bigfoot Mountain Bike Club will be here to help build new mountain biking trails. While many of the trails in the King Range can be strenuous in some way, the Hidden Valley Interpretive Trail will provide you with an opportunity to experience the gentler side of the King Range. In its entirety, the trail will consist of 2.5 miles that circumnavigate the valley while providing for interpretive opportunities and grand ocean views.

I’m really excited for what this trail will have to offer you and the King Range. NPLD will be a great opportunity for you to give back to your public lands and to get out and recreate. We have over 80 miles of hiking trails for you to explore as well as a top notch mountain biking trail just minutes from where we will be working.

Volunteers will receive free camping on Friday and Saturday, one free day pass to any participating public lands (good for 1 year), a NPLD shirt and a BBQ hosted by the BLM. How awesome is that? Very awesome, so mark your calendar and don’t miss National Public Lands Day here at the King Range on October 15! If you plan to attend or want more information please call Pam, our contact representative at 707-986-5400.

Hope to see you out there!

Your Wilderness Ranger,
Paul

Thank the SCA

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has spent 40 days throughout this summer in the blistering heat and the pooring rain maintaining the trails that you walk on here in the King Range. In short, they used a crosscut saw to clear over 123 trees off the trail, installed 200 feet of cribwall on the lower section of Rattlesnake Ridge Trail (in the picture above), cleared 18 miles of brush and vegetation, dismantled 35 driftwood shelters (see my previous post about driftwood shelters and why they don’t fit with Wilderness values), and converted 8800 square feet of two track trail into single track. If it weren’t for the hard work of the SCA our trails in the King Range would not look as great as they do. We thank them and hope you do too if you ever see them around.

Your Wilderness Ranger,
Paul