tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81052293131089583732024-03-13T23:33:27.385-07:00Lost Coast Trail and the King Range WildernessThese are the personal thoughts of the King Range Wilderness Ranger. The purpose of this site is to get information to you, the potential visitor, so you can better plan your trip. The views and opinions expressed here do not represent the views or official positions of the BLM or the Department of the InteriorLost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-51189356616959941942017-04-21T12:06:00.002-07:002017-04-21T12:06:21.139-07:00Slide on Hwy 101!<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaltransD1/photos/a.365543556820261.79339.327888130585804/1460508747323731/?type=3&theater" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>CaltransD1/photos/a.<wbr></wbr>365543556820261.79339.<wbr></wbr>327888130585804/<wbr></wbr>1460508747323731/?type=3&<wbr></wbr>theater</a>Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-11857799853242212032017-01-25T06:51:00.003-08:002017-02-10T09:08:40.398-08:00Winter<span class="tabbedHead" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: -20px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong> Attention:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>Due to extreme winter storms, most trails in the King Range Wilderness are impassable. Backpacking and hiking are discouraged at this time due to landslides, downed trees, high creek levels, and snow which are impacting the trails.</u></span><br />
<u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></u><br />
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2017/feb/9/landslide-makes-wilder-ridge-road-go-bye-bye/">The Road Between Mattole and Black Sands Beach is closed.</a> </span></u><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtCountyOES/posts/720219354808780">Other Road Conditions</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
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Before heading out to the King Range this winter to go backpacking research the current and projected conditions. <br />
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If it's sunny or storming is only one factor to consider. <br />
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Also be aware of the marine conditions - large swells will make it extremely difficult and hazardous to hike on the beach. <br />
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FOR EXAMPLE: <br />
<div class="row row-odd row-forecast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #eff8fd; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; padding: 0.5em !important; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="col-sm-2 forecast-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 125px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Today</b></div>
<div class="col-sm-10 forecast-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 625px;">
Sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.</div>
</div>
<div class="row row-even row-forecast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; padding: 0.5em !important; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="col-sm-2 forecast-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 125px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Tonight</b></div>
<div class="col-sm-10 forecast-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 625px;">
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.</div>
</div>
<div class="row row-odd row-forecast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #eff8fd; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; padding: 0.5em !important; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="col-sm-2 forecast-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 125px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Saturday</b></div>
<div class="col-sm-10 forecast-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 625px;">
Sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind.</div>
</div>
<div class="row row-even row-forecast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; padding: 0.5em !important; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="col-sm-2 forecast-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 125px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Saturday Night</b></div>
<div class="col-sm-10 forecast-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 625px;">
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.</div>
</div>
<div class="row row-odd row-forecast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #eff8fd; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; padding: 0.5em !important; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="col-sm-2 forecast-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 1.5em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 125px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Sunday</b></div>
<div class="col-sm-10 forecast-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 625px;">
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Light north wind.</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: #eff8fd; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eff8fd; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span><br />
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<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<u>
<span style="color: red;">Meanwhile...</span></u></h3>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Beach Hazards Statement</h3>
<pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-left: 20px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
415 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017
CAZ101-103-104-109-272015-
/O.CON.KEKA.BH.S.0002.000000T0000Z-170128T0000Z/
COASTAL DEL NORTE-NORTHERN HUMBOLDT COAST-SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT-
MENDOCINO COAST-
415 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON...
* SNEAKER WAVES...THE SNEAKER WAVE THREAT WILL INCREASE FRIDAY AS
THE LONG PERIOD SWELL LINGERS THROUGHOUT THE WATERS.
* IMPACTS...LONG LULLS WITH COMPARATIVELY SMALL WAVES ARE LIKELY
TO DEVELOP BETWEEN SETS OF LARGER WAVES. THESE LULLS MAY LAST
SEVERAL MINUTES...<strong>GIVING BEACHGOERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF LARGER WAVES THAT WASH FARTHER ONTO THE
BEACH THAN EXPECTED. THESE WAVES CAN EASILY WASH BEACHGOERS INTO
THE FRIGID AND TURBULENT WATERS.</strong>
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
BEACHGOERS ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVE THE OCEAN FROM A SAFE
DISTANCE...AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAVES WHEN VENTURING
CLOSE TO THE SURF ZONE.</pre>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-left: 20px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Hazardous Weather Outlook</h3>
<pre style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-left: 20px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
405 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017
CAZ101-103-104-109-281215-
COASTAL DEL NORTE-NORTHERN HUMBOLDT COAST-SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT-
MENDOCINO COAST-
405 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
A DIMINISHING LONG PERIOD WESTERLY SWELL OF 10 FT AT 16 SECONDS WILL
BRING A THREAT FOR SNEAKER WAVES TODAY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
</pre>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-left: 20px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Any day can be potentially high risk for sneaker waves (often most dangerous on sunny days because there are more people on the beach and they are less expected). <br />
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High winds will make your trip miserable - and potentially dangerous also. <br />
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Point is: Just because it's sunny doesn't mean that it will be a good time to backpack the Lost Coast Trail during the winter. If it's not sunny, you definitely don't want to be out here. There <em>could</em> be calm days between storms but really know all of the conditions before you head out. This winter has been particularly wet and stormy with rough seas. <br />
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Read these blog posts for more information about general winter conditions and travel advice. <br />
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<a href="http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2016/01/winter-travels-safety-first.html">http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2016/01/winter-travels-safety-first.html</a><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2015/11/careful-of-sneaker-waves.html">http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2015/11/careful-of-sneaker-waves.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-conditions-prepare-for-worst.html">http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-conditions-prepare-for-worst.html</a><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-in-king-range-what-to-expect.html">http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-in-king-range-what-to-expect.html</a><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/09/rescue-on-lost-coast.html">http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/09/rescue-on-lost-coast.html</a><br />
<br />
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For current conditions call the King Range Project Office: 707-986-5400Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-39726166610137970652017-01-13T10:04:00.002-08:002017-01-13T13:13:24.327-08:00NEW King Range Individual Wilderness Permit Requirement <br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bureau of
Land Management will require permits for overnight use in the King Range
Wilderness, part of the King Range National Conservation Area on northern
California’s Lost Coast, beginning Jan. 9, 2017. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The requirement will not affect day-use visitors
or campgrounds outside the wilderness area.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jg-JY0VfureUdnYUGjup3yJprpwnvEYjOeUkWrRZzXz6sEdI0QqyMFwdCoOuXuKp3hyqWURN4jXwoPi4XqwW2spVw5T6O51w-UkiSP-RgN2HEjOPvZeIhQf90UkXNVG-khQrkmKq3GM/s1600/P5230023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jg-JY0VfureUdnYUGjup3yJprpwnvEYjOeUkWrRZzXz6sEdI0QqyMFwdCoOuXuKp3hyqWURN4jXwoPi4XqwW2spVw5T6O51w-UkiSP-RgN2HEjOPvZeIhQf90UkXNVG-khQrkmKq3GM/s640/P5230023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The permit system will limit the number of people entering
the King Range Wilderness for overnight use to 60 entries per day during the peak
season of May 15-Sept. 15, and 30 entries per day during the non-peak season of
Sept. 16-May14. </span></div>
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<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Starting Jan. 9, 2017, King Range visitors can visit </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.recreation.gov/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">www.recreation.gov</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to book their overnight permits.
Permits will cost $6 per group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visitors
can also purchase permits by visiting the King Range office in Whitethorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The new permitting requirement will help the BLM manage the
number of visitors, preserving the wilderness experience of solitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overnight use has increased by more than 150
percent since the King Range Wilderness was designated in 2006, from 3,300
overnight visitors to more than 9,500 in 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Visitor days (number of visitors multiplied by the number of days they stay) have increased from 12,400 to 34,400 in the same time.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwpXyT4tSgn5WKZ5kDx4lAqtU3KAX7Rdmv28oZCnNP0nyHCVfNnkW3ZxnKJlIwhg2Pm1WEMquaQhdYAZDaTGM2jMEbnehMftmCMcvpnwePOZXzk_z9SOpGWIPRM1jMrSIGncHHNqAUjk/s1600/Gitchell+Creek+Memorial+Day+weekend+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwpXyT4tSgn5WKZ5kDx4lAqtU3KAX7Rdmv28oZCnNP0nyHCVfNnkW3ZxnKJlIwhg2Pm1WEMquaQhdYAZDaTGM2jMEbnehMftmCMcvpnwePOZXzk_z9SOpGWIPRM1jMrSIGncHHNqAUjk/s320/Gitchell+Creek+Memorial+Day+weekend+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“The new permit
system will help meet the intent of the Wilderness Act by </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">reducing overcrowding,” said Molly
Brown, BLM Arcata field manager. </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Current use levels have negatively impacted the wilderness
character of the King Range Wilderness, particularly along the Lost Coast
Trail.”</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06FyA1xx86bhyiqh76qJ5kl276PKX883zEwey_AOcc9VyZuc1URAsaWoC3bf3GepkmNmutP8w-YFf62WWSJnm3AsE7rI9QcXF6ZOH9cXYYvHi4twzxX_1sF8KR_TUl8lGxlMSbNmlG34/s1600/buck+creek+late+June+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06FyA1xx86bhyiqh76qJ5kl276PKX883zEwey_AOcc9VyZuc1URAsaWoC3bf3GepkmNmutP8w-YFf62WWSJnm3AsE7rI9QcXF6ZOH9cXYYvHi4twzxX_1sF8KR_TUl8lGxlMSbNmlG34/s400/buck+creek+late+June+2010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The BLM decided
to put the permit system in place after receiving extensive public input over
more than a decade as part of the King Range National Conservation Area
Resource Management Plan and the King Range Wilderness Management Plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Additional information regarding the permit and
management plans are</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> available online at (insert
address); by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>request to the BLM-Arcata
Field Office, (707) 825-2300; or request to the King Range Office, PO Drawer
189, Whitethorn, CA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>95589,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(707) 986-5400; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or by sending an email request to </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="mailto:CA338@BLM.GOV"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CA338@BLM.GOV</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-64150116065909925552016-08-16T15:39:00.000-07:002016-08-18T07:08:41.814-07:00Signing Out<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Greetings from Colorado. There haven’t been any new posts in
several months because I moved to Grand Junction, Colorado at the end of March
to continue recreation work with BLM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I started working as a seasonal wilderness ranger for the
King Range NCA in 2009 and became permanent in 2011. It didn’t take long to
stop counting how many times I hiked the Lost Coast Trail, or how many miles I
walked, but it’s enough to say that I know the King Range National Conservation
Area very well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve enjoyed my time
here but I decided that it was time to shake things up a bit and see some new country. Of course, not a week goes by that I don’t day dream
about the Lost Coast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve seen it change quite a bit since my first season. This
is an ever changing landscape that is being sculpted by waves, wind, rain, and
seismic activity. Every spring the rivers have a new mouth, sometimes shifting
hundreds of feet. Hillsides erode and crumble into the sea. Ocean creatures
such as whales, octopus, anemones, and all sorts of fish are washed onto the
shore where birds are always waiting at the breaking waves for their next meal
to appear. Year after year I’ve observed the movement of the same ginormous
logs that are thrown onto the beach during large winter swells. They stay there
throughout the summer only to be gobbled up again by the ocean the following
winter and moved another few hundred feet down the beach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And then there’s the wildlife. There’s the time a bear came
into by camp (with volunteers) and violently shook and slammed every bear
canister onto the ground. Another time a bear silently circled my camp late at
night, strolling within feet of my hammock. I really enjoyed when I was working
up on the switchbacks of Rattlesnake Ridge Trail when I looked down at Big Flat
Creek to witness a bear slowly making his way down the creek and soaking at every
pool of water (or looking for fish?). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The river otters are always a delight to see. By far my
favorite is when I observed several young otters learning how to catch fish.
The family of otters scurried into the waves together and only after a few
minutes the adult otter (mother?) caught a fish and pulled it up onto a rock to
eat. One by one, each of the youngsters took a try at getting a bite. But the adult was determined that they each get a fish of their own and none of them
had a “free meal.” Well, she finished her dinner and watched the kids try on their own. Soon she decided to get back in the water and show them,
again, how it was done. It didn’t take long for her to pull another fish up
onto the rock, this time she shared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One of my favorite creeks on the coast has a deep pool near
its mouth. It was here that I was eating lunch while waiting for the tide to
recede one afternoon when I witnessed 2 snakes attempting to catch fish in the
pool. They lied out on a log that crossed over the pool and intently watched
the fish dart around below the surface. Then suddenly, one of the snakes would
strike down into the pool and I’d see flashes of light followed by a dark
streaks whiz around in the water in the grand dance of life-death. But alas,
the snake slithered back onto shore and onto the log with an empty mouth and
began his intense gaze back into the water, completely stiff except for his
head ever so slightly moving back and forth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have dozens of stories like this but of course they don’t
happen every day or even every week. But I do run into and talk with people
every day. People like you who are reading this right now, planning your trip.
It’s wonderful to meet people from all over the country and all over the world
who come all the way out to this remote area of northern California to
experience the rugged, beautiful and unforgiving Lost Coast. Visitation has
continued to increase and nearly doubles every few years – the lost coast isn’t
lost and it hasn’t been for a long time. That being said, you can still find
solitude if you know when and where to look. What has always been difficult to
escape, though, is the evidence of mankind – the trash, toilet paper, human
waste, graffiti, and campsite structures. Although I have gradually found less
and less junk hanging from the trees and slightly less exposed turds, I have
always packed out large amounts of trash and litter year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
large part of this is in the form of micro trash – bits of wrappers, twisty
ties, nylon strings, tent stakes, ten foil, orange peels and all sorts of odd
bits of plastic. After I go to every campsite on the coast I’d always come off
the trail with at least a half-gallon worth of micro trash, minimum. </span></div>
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These, maybe from one individual... </div>
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Adds up to this from multiple visitors </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGHCSGEQwMvh1G5QsW7HC9C1FOMISjgS8c3U30SAlKJv9z5-BvoeRjhNkiUMdK6tNver_P56id8LznUEdp0ieJ32L2Z3Kiw8c5cu6DqFH_UQcXR7py-WwgA68qGp-0suoUkQmS-zcmuY/s1600/PA110042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGHCSGEQwMvh1G5QsW7HC9C1FOMISjgS8c3U30SAlKJv9z5-BvoeRjhNkiUMdK6tNver_P56id8LznUEdp0ieJ32L2Z3Kiw8c5cu6DqFH_UQcXR7py-WwgA68qGp-0suoUkQmS-zcmuY/s320/PA110042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>every</em> week it's a fresh batch of trash left behind. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My guess
is that most micro trash is left unintentionally. I’ve found a good way to
avoid leaving trash and other items behind is to always check my campsite and
resting locations before I leave them. I also have ONE designated pocket<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- a backpocket or a cargo work well – for wrappers
and other small trash items. This way you’re not getting into this pocket for your
camera or sunscreen while pulling out wrappers that blow away in the wind in the
process. Keep in mind that most things don’t burn. A lot of what
I pack out is from fire rings: Plastics, metal cans, foils, and food! Notorious
fire ring trash is instant freeze dried food packaging (e.g.
mountain house); these are thick plastic and foil!!!! They don’t burn. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tRhyphenhyphenekw9xjU7hYCYIVdarsCG-2VyoBuviDhrkoMs0KA9VII0_bi1O1bhM_giOakpnKgBaRft2-jbUzxXchTpPMNLIMe_Oz70WQ0BxG7XOFBZpQeSnxKIQavRssZ9dLwBWj22xnCmFjM/s1600/PA100033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tRhyphenhyphenekw9xjU7hYCYIVdarsCG-2VyoBuviDhrkoMs0KA9VII0_bi1O1bhM_giOakpnKgBaRft2-jbUzxXchTpPMNLIMe_Oz70WQ0BxG7XOFBZpQeSnxKIQavRssZ9dLwBWj22xnCmFjM/s320/PA100033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A used Mountain House package just left here. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bottom line is: if it’s not straight paper
- like cardboard or toilet paper - please don't burn it. Leaving anything behind
is an eye sore for other visitors and reminds them of the dirty, busy, noisy
city life that they probably came here to escape. Seeing wrappers at a
campsite, toilet paper dangling from a bush, a pile of trash inside of a circle
of rocks, and marine debris “artfully” hanging from a tree are the very things
that most people come here to avoid. We can do better. We can do better picking
up after ourselves and we can also pick up and pack out things that aren’t ours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The torch is being passed to you. You have, and always have
had, the responsibility. I was just an educator and a custodian – it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> land (and the land of all the flora and fauna, more importantly). How do you want to leave it for the next visitor, for <em>your</em> next visit, and for your children? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This blog will still be here and will have more than enough
information for you to successfully plan a trip. If you have any general
questions about trip planning you can still shoot me an e-mail but anything
immediate or about current conditions you should call the King Range Project
Office. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Paul</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">PS: I was hiking up Big Flat Creek during early spring and came across these sights. How do you think these happened? </span><br />
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-73674212799763424362016-06-30T07:47:00.001-07:002016-06-30T12:35:46.147-07:00Major slide in Sinkyone Apparently there has been a major slide on the trail between Needle Rock and Bear Harbor in the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park (southern half of the Lost Coast Trail). <br />
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The Lost Coast Trail south of Needle Rock in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is OPEN. The slide is still impacting the trail and making travel very difficult and more dangerous. State Parks is advising people not to hike the trail and for those who still want to hike to proceed at their own risk. </div>
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State Parks is still making a determination if the trail should be closed.</div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-72675861111321874692016-04-05T17:19:00.001-07:002016-04-05T17:19:35.210-07:00Meet Ben: He Helped Remove Beach Garbage From the Lost Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt_CtGU-NjrI3rbGFi1tiRrUjzpqBJgag_osvsEWk9IZV064QVLqS3gd0CZIoFP54GQ5BCFntw3bEqOXnsg_9GmmxHSBt1TIjjr007kyqrq3x4XKgVm7X-Cy1RIalguzj3379v_Bd_jQ/s1600/IMG_5054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt_CtGU-NjrI3rbGFi1tiRrUjzpqBJgag_osvsEWk9IZV064QVLqS3gd0CZIoFP54GQ5BCFntw3bEqOXnsg_9GmmxHSBt1TIjjr007kyqrq3x4XKgVm7X-Cy1RIalguzj3379v_Bd_jQ/s400/IMG_5054.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRETE9Wvo_zR5zXZF8X5WK3ydhFPXj1ClpeOuBMSZc1pMiNaLGzrbym1EJUHAPtS-7fcpjVF1OYOpZwGV6Te1hJ3LEvDmHImfrESde9kWb9cfu7frQgzEDwGvvsDytqoyE8hPsTim8Fxc/s1600/IMG_5060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRETE9Wvo_zR5zXZF8X5WK3ydhFPXj1ClpeOuBMSZc1pMiNaLGzrbym1EJUHAPtS-7fcpjVF1OYOpZwGV6Te1hJ3LEvDmHImfrESde9kWb9cfu7frQgzEDwGvvsDytqoyE8hPsTim8Fxc/s400/IMG_5060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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THANKS BEN!</div>
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You can also be like Ben. Remove some garbage, take a picture of it at the end of your trip, and I'll post it to the blog!</div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-47065806260989094682016-04-05T17:07:00.001-07:002016-04-16T12:50:28.772-07:00"Hat Rock" is impassable at all tide levelsThere is an area of the Lost Coast Trail about 1 mile south of Sea Lion Gulch that is impassable at all tide levels. At this area you will need to travel up off the beach for about a 1/2 mile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfR2ciWG0iNhtG4B1upwAZdbqYWs4YQhG19CNs30vd28WShsxQ8G5oGmKXplipnvNzu4rxUib6HuucCiLiMwPYHNeYb3S9O3MffoH7rcDmyogr_TiE0lzgx2XS2GNErwYjhzND2Fx4-s/s1600/KRmap.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfR2ciWG0iNhtG4B1upwAZdbqYWs4YQhG19CNs30vd28WShsxQ8G5oGmKXplipnvNzu4rxUib6HuucCiLiMwPYHNeYb3S9O3MffoH7rcDmyogr_TiE0lzgx2XS2GNErwYjhzND2Fx4-s/s640/KRmap.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>If traveling North to South, this is what the area will look like:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oChS8mdyRMmJbBmKQDda2goHsj8lCDR0Ew3usgTJpj6LotjMklGo5LM-_P1OiJ_HWTaMLSqhVuhvipJwtssmL9QB9NzTNMQC566e0L7UxO_AMz1OHwTlWE4TRWvKmy-iwSV7CIxrF_Q/s1600/IMG_9450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oChS8mdyRMmJbBmKQDda2goHsj8lCDR0Ew3usgTJpj6LotjMklGo5LM-_P1OiJ_HWTaMLSqhVuhvipJwtssmL9QB9NzTNMQC566e0L7UxO_AMz1OHwTlWE4TRWvKmy-iwSV7CIxrF_Q/s640/IMG_9450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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From standing at Sea Lion Gulch looking south. The pink arrow is where you will want to travel up the creek a few hundred feet and find the trail to go overland. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac-Ei-PG4iNqXAxGDGyTDC8eq35oykcgwM5xHs-tBo8z0FfQu_uYgRUTUPd0IlhkZTjGwCYB_zRYfcGh39vdynT-HATNdp8M0NU4rxcH4DIh8R5dH5x2ssoQYs0F9mzKXAlxNzG4GzrQ/s1600/IMG_9438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac-Ei-PG4iNqXAxGDGyTDC8eq35oykcgwM5xHs-tBo8z0FfQu_uYgRUTUPd0IlhkZTjGwCYB_zRYfcGh39vdynT-HATNdp8M0NU4rxcH4DIh8R5dH5x2ssoQYs0F9mzKXAlxNzG4GzrQ/s640/IMG_9438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you approach you will see this rocky area. The trail goes up and over this. Just walk up the creek a bit to find the trail. </div>
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Next, You will come to this sign:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAktbeJfaWloWs3c1Ohsa-1I9ygxOUqsuFQX5vXfqjIHYscP00KZXxFOUhGb2txvPYNZZQ5ogwEl2LF7bbAtgzLS4a1ujLbDJm1an8Vt0XImR7vgwv8krbD8-vJnkMUKyI6Uu_kyDY7o/s1600/IMG_9433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAktbeJfaWloWs3c1Ohsa-1I9ygxOUqsuFQX5vXfqjIHYscP00KZXxFOUhGb2txvPYNZZQ5ogwEl2LF7bbAtgzLS4a1ujLbDJm1an8Vt0XImR7vgwv8krbD8-vJnkMUKyI6Uu_kyDY7o/s640/IMG_9433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the Junction of the Lost Coast Trail with the Cooskie Spur Trail.The LCT goes back north for a short distance, following a fence line. Go through the gate (please close) and drop back down to the beach. The storms this winter eroded the hillside a bit so don't expect there to be a trail for the last 15 feet down to the beach. </div>
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<b>If you are traveling South to North this is what you will see:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb0wg7oiq2nWtQNi0AZRI3ZUtkSBrLFpAhhpGgV_l3tLm8IWMXkZzuPuAgUlr9s8nCHH9GCW5WhcVDXa97-LP5L92KRtjzEHiOkKyDLm2Ud-YU3qoK1IvzZbLAR9zneGyoRW7S9gZ1Qg/s1600/IMG_9428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb0wg7oiq2nWtQNi0AZRI3ZUtkSBrLFpAhhpGgV_l3tLm8IWMXkZzuPuAgUlr9s8nCHH9GCW5WhcVDXa97-LP5L92KRtjzEHiOkKyDLm2Ud-YU3qoK1IvzZbLAR9zneGyoRW7S9gZ1Qg/s640/IMG_9428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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As mentioned above, this is where the hill side has been eroded from the winter storms. You will need to scramble a bit here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyGu-63M4HczOuEnfDarbt3P1k23JKn33DH79sT2sX7AHUQ-bjmc1S-GEaRQKzKH9FZCv5WuL-SIMFheJwJ5yECT9JAnQxJkRHePmYbZ7cfbA5jzPQbuAv1VJ3ypV7XQv1q9wiCTsJ8M/s1600/IMG_9429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyGu-63M4HczOuEnfDarbt3P1k23JKn33DH79sT2sX7AHUQ-bjmc1S-GEaRQKzKH9FZCv5WuL-SIMFheJwJ5yECT9JAnQxJkRHePmYbZ7cfbA5jzPQbuAv1VJ3ypV7XQv1q9wiCTsJ8M/s640/IMG_9429.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When you see this sign, go up and over!</div>
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Hopefully this helps you find your way. </div>
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If you have any questions please call: 707-986-5400</div>
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Paul</div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-10840634915374766472016-03-21T13:57:00.004-07:002016-03-21T13:57:57.507-07:00Mattole Road will be closed March 23rdhttp://kymkemp.com/2016/03/21/rain-pushes-back-mattole-road-closure/Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-86689348019945520362016-03-11T10:25:00.004-08:002016-03-11T11:05:49.075-08:00Meet Fiona Maclean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLljHWohSzp3IlRnDqBDlBfjgWVZv_jCJ_NNGFx-xkqGvdmQYkdr1I18wrkopVhGVmE6eFKWBzOyTqBLd5BWifxTgzlc1YOjlGJC_WWLJetAw7TEvwjToxzisAPy6kRdm36A4-btJdA4o/s1600/IMG_2638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLljHWohSzp3IlRnDqBDlBfjgWVZv_jCJ_NNGFx-xkqGvdmQYkdr1I18wrkopVhGVmE6eFKWBzOyTqBLd5BWifxTgzlc1YOjlGJC_WWLJetAw7TEvwjToxzisAPy6kRdm36A4-btJdA4o/s640/IMG_2638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fiona is an illustrator, animator and naturalist and is a frequent visitor to the King Range National Conservation Area.<br />
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She is currently working on a project she calls the Big Year Drawn. In her own words:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">In 2016 I am participating in a Big Year. A birding event that runs the calendar year in which every bino-strapped, feather-loving, bird-nerd who cares to tallies up the number of species they see and hear. I'm adding an element. I'm illustrating each species I see.</span><br />
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So far the project has gotten me outside, inspired a few others to take up drawing again for themselves, and engendered conversations and comments around our experiences outside.</div>
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I'd love for any and all who are interested to join the conversation, follow along, and share you own experiences or drawings.</div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">Most of that happens at </span></span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fi_firefly/">https://www.instagram.com/fi_firefly/</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">. but you can also check out my Big Year blog. ( </span></span><a href="https://fionalee-studios.squarespace.com/blog/2015/12/30/drawn-outdoors-a-big-year-illustrated" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://fionalee-studios.<wbr></wbr>squarespace.com/blog/2015/12/<wbr></wbr>30/drawn-outdoors-a-big-year-<wbr></wbr>illustrated</a>) <span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">I'm a far less prolific writer, but I do have fun writing and I hope you have fun reading.</span></div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-2014058993526090592016-03-10T16:23:00.001-08:002016-03-11T09:55:45.809-08:00New Additions to the King Range MapThe King Range National Conservation Area map has a few changes you should know about:<br />
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1. The Cooskie Creek Trail is now called Cooskie Creek Route.<br />
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You'll also notice on the map that it says, "Cooskie Creek Route is unmarked and unmaintained. Route finding skills necessary." This is because this "route" is very difficult to follow.<br />
Primarily, this is because it goes through grassland. Build a trail that goes through grass and you'll notice that it will be overgrown very quickly, unless you have a very large amount of human traffic on that trail - which this trail does not. In addition, there are wildlife and cattle trails that crisscross and parallel the human trail - making a spaghetti of paths to choose from that all look the same. <br />
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There are several dozen trail markers out there but unfortunately most of them are usually on the ground (even a month after I reinstall them). In the near future the majority of the trail markers are going to be removed to help improve<a href="http://carhart.wilderness.net/elearning/wacomplete/WA_22.htm"> <i>undeveloped</i></a> wilderness character while providing the minimum tool necessary. I believe that a wilderness area should be managed as a place of absolute minimal development and that information should be provided <u>off site</u> whenever possible. Are we not bombarded with enough signs and directions in our daily lives?<br />
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On the map you will find several GPS coordinates <i>if</i> you<i> choose</i> to use them. Primarily these are coordinates for land marks and/or near private property.<br />
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If you choose to hike the Cooskie Creek Route give yourself much more time than you think will be necessary. As the map says: route finding skills necessary. You may end up hiking a cow trail for a while until it either fades out or branches into multiple more trails before you realize you're going the wrong way.<br />
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2. There is an area between Sea Lion Gulch and Cooskie Spur Route that is impassable at all tide levels and requires you to use an overland route; this is now indicated on the map.<br />
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3. The addition of the <a href="https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs/Network/Northern-California#27029482-sea-lion-gulch-state-marine-reserve">Sea Lion Gulch State Marine Preserve</a> boundary<br />
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The take of all living marine resources is prohibited at this location.<br />
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4. The addition of the <a href="https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs/Network/Northern-California#27029483-big-flat-state-marine-conservation-area">Big Flat State Marine Conservation Area</a> boundary<br />
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5. The wilderness is now indicated on the map with the green boundary, which is inside of the yellow line (the National Conservation Area boundary).<br />
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-86631620436674627062016-02-16T15:54:00.001-08:002016-02-16T15:54:30.652-08:00Marine Mammals on the Lost Coast <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While
out exploring the Lost Coast Trail there is a good chance you’ll come
across seals and sea lions on the beach. Most likely these will be harbor
seals, Stellar sea lions, or in one area there may also be northern elephant
seals. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
presence of elephant seals here is new and if the few pups born this winter wean
this spring, this will be the farthest northern breeding colony that has been
established! This is exciting as being able to witness the creation of a new elephant
seal colony is a rare opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1yoiK4qXg0d8jM9JpxVgcfXzAGoQalCl6Yq_EQOhmWGah2k27WkUQUPqC5puaDYL0hWB5Mpmrh897XgGASCJE1prWg4QZJbDX26nK885AIAPE9ua_JWIUVKjfbwgb37n6uWQ1AXjqps/s1600/20160202_115605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1yoiK4qXg0d8jM9JpxVgcfXzAGoQalCl6Yq_EQOhmWGah2k27WkUQUPqC5puaDYL0hWB5Mpmrh897XgGASCJE1prWg4QZJbDX26nK885AIAPE9ua_JWIUVKjfbwgb37n6uWQ1AXjqps/s320/20160202_115605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo by Jesse Irwin</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
part, the elephant seals are here because of the remote and undisturbed nature
of the lost coast. This is a great example of the importance of wilderness
areas. They are a welcoming place for
wild animals – a place where they can go and not be harassed and disturbed by
the constant presence of humans and all of our developments, machines, and
noise. This is wild nature at its finest and I’m proud that we have set aside
such places where the plants and animals are free to roam and proliferate
without the ever present manipulation of mankind. What better areas to observe the undisturbed
natural functions of the world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Wilderness Act of 1964 states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A
wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate
the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its
community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who
does not remain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
can help the marine mammals of the Lost Coast by keeping at least 50 meters
from the animals. They may seem slow and sluggish at first glance but if
they’re disturbed or agitated they can move very fast in a very short amount of
time. It won’t be any problem to crush you with their 1,500 – 4,500 pounds of
weight. Staying at least 150 Feet (about 50 paces) from
the animals will help keep you safe as well as treat them with the respect and
undisturbed habitat they deserve. These
guidelines are mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act – a federal law
that has helped many marine mammal species recover. So, please help us maintain this peaceful and
safe place, not only for elephant seals, but for all of the marine mammal
visitors to our coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
addition, please be very mindful of your dogs – which are required to be on a
leash or under voice control at all times. Dogs are probably one of the <u>largest
threats</u> to the disturbance and physical harm to the seals and sea lions of
the Lost Coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please
note that seals and sea lions can go for long periods without breathing or
moving while on land! Please enjoy them
from a safe distance (150 feet). If, however
you notice a sick or injured marine mammal that you think needs attention you
can report it to the <a href="http://www.northcoastmmc.org/">North Coast Marine Mammal Center</a> at 707-951-4722</span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. If the animal is dead, please call the HSU
Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 707-826-3650. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank
you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-6241130189416365462016-01-28T11:04:00.001-08:002016-01-28T11:07:38.592-08:00A Message to The Surfing Community<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">The Lost Coast, and the surfing opportunities here, are no longer secrets. </span><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Overnight visitation to the King Range Wilderness has doubled in the past 3 years. There are more and more of us discovering this amazing and beautiful landscape and it will take all of us to help keep it as pristine as it should be.</span></div>
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This time of year, when people head out here to ride the waves and camp out on the coast I find A LOT of abandoned property. Tents, tarps, household pots and pans, sleeping bags, food items, etc. </div>
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It's always the same type of gear that folks leave behind: cheap and heavy. They haul it out here and then decide that it's too heavy to hike back with them. To justify leaving their junk behind they say that they are either going to come back for it and/or leaving it for others to use. </div>
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The truth is this: You can justify it however you want but abandoned property is the result of laziness. </div>
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Over the past 7 years we've removed enough abandoned gear (all from the surf spot) to fill a dumpster. </div>
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Inside of the tent (pictured above) there was a note that read, "for the next campers that need it." </div>
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Are the five empty food cans that were scattered around the site also for the next campers that need them? It all looks like a bunch of garbage to me that someone was too <i>inconsiderate</i> to pack out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGReFyG73gS-ccva3gZpfQC6nAYASKh37_dv1Pfe7PdmM6calIpHZeL1u1P39CcvCX15nwpyDoiwBVSTxRPhyphenhyphenrutxTnja5Vj0T2uMvyQ_rQ4Na9QKYwcpg5UwHkXUaPH507GP9btnOL8/s1600/IMG_5201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGReFyG73gS-ccva3gZpfQC6nAYASKh37_dv1Pfe7PdmM6calIpHZeL1u1P39CcvCX15nwpyDoiwBVSTxRPhyphenhyphenrutxTnja5Vj0T2uMvyQ_rQ4Na9QKYwcpg5UwHkXUaPH507GP9btnOL8/s320/IMG_5201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Too common: Multiple pots, heavy tent, huge tarp, and a large, cheap stove designed for car camping were left behind (along with several empty fuel canisters) - most notably from surfers </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VKhxz8lQuO7q3iZJX6duahzeY7LOLydQgramHuXpc7wJbb0BjWjWBs-ogUIrhr9X_GmHkFO7iFOzdK6psDnbUiSaPdhfH2urenG2uiYGAsRzfPCdqM-FOhpgic9-UtndKmW8j0iwPjc/s1600/Surfer+junk+collected+at+Big+Flat+March+30+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VKhxz8lQuO7q3iZJX6duahzeY7LOLydQgramHuXpc7wJbb0BjWjWBs-ogUIrhr9X_GmHkFO7iFOzdK6psDnbUiSaPdhfH2urenG2uiYGAsRzfPCdqM-FOhpgic9-UtndKmW8j0iwPjc/s320/Surfer+junk+collected+at+Big+Flat+March+30+2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Several Large tarps, household pots, empty booze bottles, surfboard bag, broken tent poles</div>
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NOW, all this being said, I've met a lot of really awesome people in the surfing community who care about their public lands, keeping things clean for other visitors, and who have actually helped me clean fire rings and collect garbage. </div>
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One of these people I've met that really stands out in my mind is Aleks, the owner of <a href="http://www.aquasurfshop.com/">Aqua Surf Shop</a> in San Francisco. He's all about spreading the message on keeping the place clean and has helped me pack out other people's trash. </div>
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This is everyone's space. Let's keep things wild, natural and pristine so we can all enjoy this place now and for generations to come. </div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-16188788073438664902016-01-27T16:11:00.003-08:002016-01-28T15:57:52.115-08:00Winter Travels: Safety First<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b>I’ve either witnessed or heard of all of the below scenarios happening to people.</b></div>
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1. You’re hiking along the Lost Coast Trail in light rains and the streams are high but still passable. On Day one of your hike heavy rains set in and persist through the night. On day two you realize that you’re unable to go north or south because the creeks are impassable. This adds an extra day to your journey that you didn’t plan for as you wait for the streams to lower. </div>
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2. The creek is pretty high but you decide to attempt the crossing. Half way across you slip and are soaked head to toe – along with most of your gear.</div>
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3. A wave with intense energy races much farther up the beach than you expect and you jump up onto a small rock ledge at the last moment and cling on to whatever you can grab. The wave hits and knocks your feet off the rock but you’re still holding on. You get banged up against the rocks pretty badly. You’re now soaked and have a badly injured knee.</div>
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4. You’re crossing a creek when a large wave surges up the beach and into the creek - You’re knocked down and get tumbled around between the two forces of water. You get a good dose of reality as you're now soaked and scraped on your arms and legs badly. </div>
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5. Gale force gusts of wind tear the rain-fly off of your tent, leaving you out in the rain and forcing you to hike out in the night - if tides permit - miserable, wet and dangerously cold. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Several
weeks ago we received a call from a concerned mother - her daughter was out on the Lost Coast
Trail, solo, and was somewhere on the beach apparently trapped from the cliffs
and the ocean. The hiker had a satellite phone with her that she was using to
make frantic calls to her mother. Thankfully, she eventually made it out of the
impassible zone and to the safety of Randall Creek area. By this time it was
well after sundown and she was wet and cold from the ocean. She had already
made the wise decision to remove her wet clothing and get into her sleeping
bag. To further help prevent hypothermia, I advised her to eat any available food
she had and to heat water for a warm drink; she could also fill her water
bottle with the hot water and keep it in her sleeping bag with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The young
lady was unnerved and worried about how and if she should continue with her
journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">She had
come a long way for this trip and had been planning and looking forward to it
for a long time – although she was shaken up from the day’s events, she didn’t
want to quit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I admire
the perseverance and courage. However, I encouraged her to head back the way
she came – to the Mattole Trailhead. My reason being that 1. The conditions
were not conducive to traveling on the coast that week due to higher than
average tides and large ocean swells. 2. She already knows what to expect if
she were to go back the way she came 3. The section of trail south of Miller
Flat, especially near Shipman Creek, can be very hazardous to travel 4. She is
traveling alone, which is even more dangerous for a novice
backpacker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Understandably,
she was concerned about how she would get back to her vehicle if she turned
around (she parked at Black Sands Beach Trailhead where took a shuttle up to
Mattole). I reminded her that she had a satellite phone and I encouraged her to
call the shuttle company as soon as possible to explain the situation. She was
also very concerned about not “completing” the trail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It’s this
tunnel vision that people sometimes get into - adventurers of all sorts - that lead them
down the path of no return. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The most
important goal of any journey is getting home safely – nothing is more important
than that. Don’t think of a trip as a failure just because you didn’t complete
the trail – rethink what your goals of the trip are and what benefits and
experiences you hope to come home with. There are no rules that say you can’t
redesign those goals as you go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Flexibility
is key. See the problems and think of solutions – don’t just trudge on through
the hazards just because you made up your mind long ago that that is what you
were going to do or because you have to keep to a schedule. What’s more
important: getting home a day late or getting home in one piece and alive? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Have a backup plan. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">What if you get to a creek and it's too high to cross?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">What if everything in your pack gets wet? </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Plan for the worst case scenario and do the necessary preparation to avoid getting yourself in those situations to begin with. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For more about the specifics of traveling in the King
Range, and the Lost Coast Trail, during the winter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">First, read
<a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/09/rescue-on-lost-coast.html">this blog post</a> for lots of information about how to travel through the "impassable at high tide" sections and a real story about a group backpacking on the Lost Coast who ran into serious trouble (learn from their mistakes!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Second, be sure to read <a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-conditions-prepare-for-worst.html">Winter Conditions: Plan for the worst, hope for the best</a> for specific information about planning a trip in the King Range during the winter. Also check <a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2014/03/conditions-and-other-updates.html">this post</a> - scroll about half way down for more tips on winter travel in the King Range<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<b>The creeks are deep and difficult to cross.</b></div>
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<b>The waves can be huge and make passage on the narrow sections of coast very hazardous. </b></div>
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<b>Conditions change rapidly on the Lost Coast. </b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Look up, look around and pay attention! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Get yourself out of the situations you put yourself into! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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Send me a message or give me a call with any questions. </div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger,</div>
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Paul</div>
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lostcoastranger@gmail.com</div>
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707-986-5405</div>
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p.s. It's best to give me at least a week to get back to you. </div>
Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-52011367826034047472015-11-13T08:42:00.001-08:002015-11-13T08:42:09.790-08:00Careful of Sneaker Waves Use caution when traveling on the beach.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxXADTQeBseqmP5G-9fc6_EtnjepwiZ1YaRXTkgI1xTdoXNEi6v6MvJrbZxrydA7jXZQuvbEvieDzpZ_ZIqnOhorFaySxCywiJ1L2vHTZsQ2ccoGtXarY2_vjCg6cfKfcgoKeko3JK3Q/s1600/wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxXADTQeBseqmP5G-9fc6_EtnjepwiZ1YaRXTkgI1xTdoXNEi6v6MvJrbZxrydA7jXZQuvbEvieDzpZ_ZIqnOhorFaySxCywiJ1L2vHTZsQ2ccoGtXarY2_vjCg6cfKfcgoKeko3JK3Q/s320/wave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lostcoastoutpost.com/2015/nov/12/its-gonna-be-sneaker-wave-friday-humboldt-says-nws/">There is high chance of sneaker waves today in Humboldt. </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2013/12/24/sunshine-and-calm-sneaker-waves">Sunshine and Calm = Sneaker Waves</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/sneaker-savvy/Content?oid=2131888">Sneaker Savvy</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-3078942870136405532015-10-28T16:19:00.002-07:002016-04-16T13:16:13.328-07:00Thanks to Volunteers, Campfire Restrictions Lifted and Other NewsThank You to the King Range Wilderness Ranger Volunteers who
dedicated their summer here in the King Range. They spent lots of time and energy
helping to keep your wilderness clean for your enjoyment and to preserve its
wilderness character. Below are a <i>few</i> stats of what we accomplished out there
this year:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZBleBG6OBkkoXVfeGuaUdr7WvuSwwRbfGLWyYtdvm_-PkjD19sdn4xtlvxnaacLHRl9afteLwVG2DqyXIO8-eKu_byIP_TYymK_YyJTn8S2CMXNIk59ts1MwR3qm3kfuRTy3Pioy1Po/s1600/PA100039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZBleBG6OBkkoXVfeGuaUdr7WvuSwwRbfGLWyYtdvm_-PkjD19sdn4xtlvxnaacLHRl9afteLwVG2DqyXIO8-eKu_byIP_TYymK_YyJTn8S2CMXNIk59ts1MwR3qm3kfuRTy3Pioy1Po/s320/PA100039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We turned fire rings like this</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23ofxbCcdvFYdtRouTbAFGnwKTAZkh4gUwzsN2Fyf1kKfadIpbZ4yW_I6-OCs_WRUXDvJH265DzuRqmmSwe9yPJbTDvUSv9cjvOfH7N3dfRgcezY6b53_9J7YUYasGthMryclIIrpeCc/s1600/PA100040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23ofxbCcdvFYdtRouTbAFGnwKTAZkh4gUwzsN2Fyf1kKfadIpbZ4yW_I6-OCs_WRUXDvJH265DzuRqmmSwe9yPJbTDvUSv9cjvOfH7N3dfRgcezY6b53_9J7YUYasGthMryclIIrpeCc/s320/PA100040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Into this, 275 times</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBerSaIjz94jLMrJDtsfeHGNz19kGVnVnZQ5awFW6gqAbbPBAqPvEvKGV2Sa1SuCF24EZ76tcPfFjhKD7_22sMFfeOBVjQsiTjJ376ulaEWmIpMpTcqWK1UjeufARRmehRuMDZv_nn0s/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBerSaIjz94jLMrJDtsfeHGNz19kGVnVnZQ5awFW6gqAbbPBAqPvEvKGV2Sa1SuCF24EZ76tcPfFjhKD7_22sMFfeOBVjQsiTjJ376ulaEWmIpMpTcqWK1UjeufARRmehRuMDZv_nn0s/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We made 123 toilet paper piles disappear and buried 55 exposed turds (ET)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Toilet paper and ETBs continue to be an issue. Please read this blog post regarding <a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2014/07/waste-in-wilderness.html">human waste</a> disposal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The bottom line is that we ask you to completely BURY your waste, including your toilet paper. Even better is to pack out your toilet paper - carry a zip-lock bag with you specifically for this purpose. I’ve seen folks cover the zip lock with duct tape which seems to be an effective way to keep the gross factor down. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1f2elHmeQKJ0Z_eZbNXGfMElxUnwnvYutlrFDQEFzJCzIm3nz2H-3kNakSILo1owG9uSbDCyQ1wKHJ5Yk3GIUfKsy1-qOeVAOdoVJuyIBvBl0DZQmJF-hEj_pq-FD2AGpUG5yIB-2Xo/s1600/PA110042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1f2elHmeQKJ0Z_eZbNXGfMElxUnwnvYutlrFDQEFzJCzIm3nz2H-3kNakSILo1owG9uSbDCyQ1wKHJ5Yk3GIUfKsy1-qOeVAOdoVJuyIBvBl0DZQmJF-hEj_pq-FD2AGpUG5yIB-2Xo/s320/PA110042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We removed 172.5 pounds of trash left behind from visitors. The above picture is the trash hiked out of Big and Miller Flats last week. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Removed 488.5 pounds of Trash
originating from the ocean.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf689wxihlvNkWP8h5BCi3-ljPaLJuu3r_Dgr6aD0ANT5mMGoOQR5ahaA137EOoLNqoKn3-GSryvb5rmtGCNTez1q40UH2ivkZtoYCislmEAT_EXisOMscFxhRjCVgnPKQk6zuJTVW0k/s1600/IMG_6036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf689wxihlvNkWP8h5BCi3-ljPaLJuu3r_Dgr6aD0ANT5mMGoOQR5ahaA137EOoLNqoKn3-GSryvb5rmtGCNTez1q40UH2ivkZtoYCislmEAT_EXisOMscFxhRjCVgnPKQk6zuJTVW0k/s320/IMG_6036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Removing fallen trees from Rattlesnake Ridge Trail</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zoxGeFH9Hm7bTSII150zGKmQ2em_mCsAVtWOdepArjugat9iHuj6Rl4lXRWi7-lXvQ23CYLCiEsvyUGfjQNAEBcXr-QnYz7UUPtgM7RM8ddWnzE_04bfi3LiRQJob_7sSpMBfPi4pNs/s1600/P6090055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zoxGeFH9Hm7bTSII150zGKmQ2em_mCsAVtWOdepArjugat9iHuj6Rl4lXRWi7-lXvQ23CYLCiEsvyUGfjQNAEBcXr-QnYz7UUPtgM7RM8ddWnzE_04bfi3LiRQJob_7sSpMBfPi4pNs/s320/P6090055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dismantling a driftwood shelter</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Many
hundreds, and possibly thousands of people will be camping at the same places
that you camp after you leave them behind. Which would you rather come to at
the end of a day of backpacking on the Lost Coast:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Campsite 1: A clean site with a small, well contained fire
ring and no trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Campsite 2:
You see wrappers and cans littered throughout the site; Large fire ring that is
spilling out ash, rocks and half burnt logs; Several wads of toilet paper poking out of the
soil and from underneath rocks just feet from where you set up your tent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Overnight
visitation to the King Range Wilderness has doubled in the past 3 years. There
are more and more of us discovering this amazing and beautiful landscape and it
will take all of us to help keep it as pristine as it should be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I’d also
like to thank the American Conservation Experience trail crew who spent several
months maintaining the trails in the King Range. They spent most of their time
cutting back the encroaching vegetation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Saddle
Mountain Trailhead to about half way down Buck Creek Trail<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Most of the
King Crest Trail between Saddle Mountain Trailhead and the Rattlesnake Ridge
Trail junction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">They worked
their tails off out there while the majority of the time in sweltering heat. This
is slow, hard and grimy work. From their efforts now you can enjoy waking on
these trails without having to swim your way through the bushes. If you ever
see a trail worker during your journeys be sure to thank them for what they do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr3F-aKYlfK6wgi5LUf1U-PUSrrXX47lS3ZthJnFNq41q8wVbpRI4bceKJMCVAfltTgLQlSurju5GxnuIUTpO1JEOhZwjM0d3pLbYow43KGNAc84GjDiGXyycVYmsx3IXAc2mrwJoQs4/s1600/DSCF1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr3F-aKYlfK6wgi5LUf1U-PUSrrXX47lS3ZthJnFNq41q8wVbpRI4bceKJMCVAfltTgLQlSurju5GxnuIUTpO1JEOhZwjM0d3pLbYow43KGNAc84GjDiGXyycVYmsx3IXAc2mrwJoQs4/s320/DSCF1198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Crew</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV6WPlHA_pn_z0RStqx1PKMus6qUtXJINkQqpeMUicgpWPaKAjBhl5xZYNlJJ5N2J_3usRZb7qltnCoclk7hHQm2RtUa0wQH3yAiwvEHb-M345BhGWPseRpvYYF2K_CyIgeBpn32Raz8/s1600/DSCF1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV6WPlHA_pn_z0RStqx1PKMus6qUtXJINkQqpeMUicgpWPaKAjBhl5xZYNlJJ5N2J_3usRZb7qltnCoclk7hHQm2RtUa0wQH3yAiwvEHb-M345BhGWPseRpvYYF2K_CyIgeBpn32Raz8/s320/DSCF1267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lopping on the King Crest Trail</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7EFfKfPN9oiOSJHz1sF8MLesRinIx_zllD74j-7KVo2y7H9voofzmhyphenhyphenvNeXdRKtoqfrNJibXCC3WQKG4dCO9pc_SBo6tePGb_KgU8oBeB57zl8j4mZA1c9V3JmLrDtMcrRQ5WaGFc4E/s1600/DSCF1273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7EFfKfPN9oiOSJHz1sF8MLesRinIx_zllD74j-7KVo2y7H9voofzmhyphenhyphenvNeXdRKtoqfrNJibXCC3WQKG4dCO9pc_SBo6tePGb_KgU8oBeB57zl8j4mZA1c9V3JmLrDtMcrRQ5WaGFc4E/s320/DSCF1273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before 1a. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfAOz73BfOa_Xa4LsRWJT-twv2jzcPVxsedN_RpzPqHBg8Z3A27S_Q8rFNCr1sg19dXRqGKxp9hRN6C43jjmm88Jd3LdYQ4Y3rzboNK42N2GWlV78UonZOBgUzoumZcRe2kEzO1Av_Tk/s1600/DSCF1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfAOz73BfOa_Xa4LsRWJT-twv2jzcPVxsedN_RpzPqHBg8Z3A27S_Q8rFNCr1sg19dXRqGKxp9hRN6C43jjmm88Jd3LdYQ4Y3rzboNK42N2GWlV78UonZOBgUzoumZcRe2kEzO1Av_Tk/s320/DSCF1274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After 1b.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq54Rq4_nCuKCZKbPeRNRe6T2M5dUff4NyOI9oWjzhqKSIPccru7mmPpkF20PePLvrayb86hqKyqtdK5aDY4910yMYZBXkHejMVwul8NHbf-uxaCr_mDUcP85jtdTC1paQUXBMrWxtEI/s1600/DSCF1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq54Rq4_nCuKCZKbPeRNRe6T2M5dUff4NyOI9oWjzhqKSIPccru7mmPpkF20PePLvrayb86hqKyqtdK5aDY4910yMYZBXkHejMVwul8NHbf-uxaCr_mDUcP85jtdTC1paQUXBMrWxtEI/s320/DSCF1275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before 2a</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUkfci8B-KyQM9p2QiPB9IZp7TJo8vJBVEFLRxu17G2o6qDtI__e_z97KnHRCktomzXJTtnhDb4bDLHw_oCjnS5IdwzNBaVbgW15cwKu-kFaOj7kmwuA-HYLxr-4ls-00zjWOhFp9cY/s1600/DSCF1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUkfci8B-KyQM9p2QiPB9IZp7TJo8vJBVEFLRxu17G2o6qDtI__e_z97KnHRCktomzXJTtnhDb4bDLHw_oCjnS5IdwzNBaVbgW15cwKu-kFaOj7kmwuA-HYLxr-4ls-00zjWOhFp9cY/s320/DSCF1276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After 2b</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnI7fF-YNvAiD_qzron0gMjciU-x8vx6xTHmMWifJ8dpCch7tRBEZAhtrm-LanDkWw3-zs2yju1equlV3XkOA5id1__f4eIzydVtDSG_4kGZP6PH1Ad-zCwjUVXz0T7pZmq5ZSC1EoMM/s1600/DSCF1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnI7fF-YNvAiD_qzron0gMjciU-x8vx6xTHmMWifJ8dpCch7tRBEZAhtrm-LanDkWw3-zs2yju1equlV3XkOA5id1__f4eIzydVtDSG_4kGZP6PH1Ad-zCwjUVXz0T7pZmq5ZSC1EoMM/s320/DSCF1277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before 3a</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsxSS1pT_-XNra6DvI8M1yarQbDH3kGHMGSLplVIAoUriEAOQ2LsI_l0yXyMyRJlwMKlAWLcK3o-rq35s68y0IWn0_4qmhQcyBqAwuw6smVgmWnvjiHTpwCn9aLDxUga3TxsEDgoATg/s1600/DSCF1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsxSS1pT_-XNra6DvI8M1yarQbDH3kGHMGSLplVIAoUriEAOQ2LsI_l0yXyMyRJlwMKlAWLcK3o-rq35s68y0IWn0_4qmhQcyBqAwuw6smVgmWnvjiHTpwCn9aLDxUga3TxsEDgoATg/s320/DSCF1279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After 3b</div>
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Other News</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The King
Range National Conservation Area has lifted the restrictions on campfires. If
you do decide to have a campfire please enjoy it responsibly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">1. Use fire
rings that already exist before building anything new<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">2. Burn
only dead and downed wood that you can easily break by hand and that fits into
the fire ring. Burning large diameter/lengthy pieces of wood breaks down the
fire ring and spreads rocks and ash all over the site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Below are
examples of fire rings that broke down due to the burning of wood that is too
large. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgDVQWzbKRhOMizyu5d1ubiR36x_5TBesRnd7_o7uB6nIMuiNo8T56hE7Lwig6IgtHGxGH4Bdk12uoJZ4APxytg5jZWSXH6hpj-pPHlz6cbYzzI9ZdXHYKIMZtahO3UIuzyQwaSrxuUU/s1600/LCT_march13+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgDVQWzbKRhOMizyu5d1ubiR36x_5TBesRnd7_o7uB6nIMuiNo8T56hE7Lwig6IgtHGxGH4Bdk12uoJZ4APxytg5jZWSXH6hpj-pPHlz6cbYzzI9ZdXHYKIMZtahO3UIuzyQwaSrxuUU/s320/LCT_march13+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTxwAbjvkdYffVbiImYpJdEGjkxnlWykdyL5KPYIUgEZGdViWeUcjSoGNmafOTEvUEgYIdKeK-wpztufYn6F7kaPgCmLXY0YeoCoryXRkYsc_9dzsrgKTfh5xQtNvMJBwtW87w5EqtOs/s1600/LCT_march13+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTxwAbjvkdYffVbiImYpJdEGjkxnlWykdyL5KPYIUgEZGdViWeUcjSoGNmafOTEvUEgYIdKeK-wpztufYn6F7kaPgCmLXY0YeoCoryXRkYsc_9dzsrgKTfh5xQtNvMJBwtW87w5EqtOs/s320/LCT_march13+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unsightly, isn't it? </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">3. Foils
and cans do not burn. Only put items into the fire that will completely burn in
one sitting and pack out all other trash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlTvR1pgD3rGaINlQ6NwnB-Kaan193ZBe_VlX8mn-1gONqUKDgaRIQU0OVKu9mHbZx-PssOOoPsjQItz96zn0wwuzYKscpvs6uMgE3x2Lwnn5NX6ewXu8pCImU5yZHnEgfx0cuZm1Iik/s1600/IMG_5195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlTvR1pgD3rGaINlQ6NwnB-Kaan193ZBe_VlX8mn-1gONqUKDgaRIQU0OVKu9mHbZx-PssOOoPsjQItz96zn0wwuzYKscpvs6uMgE3x2Lwnn5NX6ewXu8pCImU5yZHnEgfx0cuZm1Iik/s320/IMG_5195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fire rings are not trashcans</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjS7LrJ0s__Baxv6i_-3XFNRR-Ih1DG9yKX8weiiSaeJoTqbeK6uqH1XNUNRg0BOrRLeSVXGCrH6oKY9G104x9csDbgeDkPXHabssE7CMI0bF-Yh2qGQeWDo9UJc49QtcXvhge8X2jTcw/s1600/PA100033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjS7LrJ0s__Baxv6i_-3XFNRR-Ih1DG9yKX8weiiSaeJoTqbeK6uqH1XNUNRg0BOrRLeSVXGCrH6oKY9G104x9csDbgeDkPXHabssE7CMI0bF-Yh2qGQeWDo9UJc49QtcXvhge8X2jTcw/s320/PA100033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fire rings are not trashcans </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zqYlNglHbZGQML9KLcvyEh3FvkuqLss4Ud5gdFk7ku9y0PFFB7ZDVfFiFsQZgPiMT-GbDohT81d-bFgqlHI0RMqpzZo9badi6YBBHdlkIvtbA0xH5d7g5PniadkS6VKxwkh2bhx6JT4/s1600/poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zqYlNglHbZGQML9KLcvyEh3FvkuqLss4Ud5gdFk7ku9y0PFFB7ZDVfFiFsQZgPiMT-GbDohT81d-bFgqlHI0RMqpzZo9badi6YBBHdlkIvtbA0xH5d7g5PniadkS6VKxwkh2bhx6JT4/s320/poppies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The wilderness is not a trash can. Please pack out your garbage. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">4.
Extinguish your campfire with abundant water and stir with a stick. Please do
not put the fire out with sand – this fills the ring and makes it unusable
for other visitors, which prompts them to build a new fire ring, multiplying
the impacts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">5. Gargantuan
fire rings are a tremendous eye sore. If the fire isn’t warm enough for you –
GET CLOSER to the fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Below are
examples of gargantuan fire rings. These fire rings are unnecessary and take a
<u>lot</u> of effort to rehabilitate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxcnL8xhG97Rj8-qKVgRCvMtqWz7vKpnDj0yTStfsHDs1i63Z31v5X3JUxM9HcJUkYEcuNr7k9BqsfHNGxc_5od-O8uqG_uGAz0P-mlLFVjQfW7nON-o9gqUujJ8EN1wqNoySaUtTYlo/s1600/42+Randall+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxcnL8xhG97Rj8-qKVgRCvMtqWz7vKpnDj0yTStfsHDs1i63Z31v5X3JUxM9HcJUkYEcuNr7k9BqsfHNGxc_5od-O8uqG_uGAz0P-mlLFVjQfW7nON-o9gqUujJ8EN1wqNoySaUtTYlo/s320/42+Randall+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxefj4nRsmivHTLLYYRfZ1wpeGWeQBXFJAI33rfk0x73j3a22Fb8KmArh1dWqgfPMh8Txky7dz3jAXKhqKOdrdduZjqAg_vgeVIveXV1R5lsf9qtHNmmBNmEHf977sFqZbrIrdFvopzpU/s1600/PA100037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxefj4nRsmivHTLLYYRfZ1wpeGWeQBXFJAI33rfk0x73j3a22Fb8KmArh1dWqgfPMh8Txky7dz3jAXKhqKOdrdduZjqAg_vgeVIveXV1R5lsf9qtHNmmBNmEHf977sFqZbrIrdFvopzpU/s320/PA100037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, this is what a fire ring should look like: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJD_WvQJONbUqMm_PscMGzCt8S9aIuwg4kunuLVnI4wVIk_2hfjfxhsLiFAYt6Fskj-Lv1WvqzNKIsE96-x8wK_WDQRf_TBk4X7hLrTMIYTgQ_lFhCS5gk7LU9F78czFQw9brEtbILMA/s1600/PA090302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJD_WvQJONbUqMm_PscMGzCt8S9aIuwg4kunuLVnI4wVIk_2hfjfxhsLiFAYt6Fskj-Lv1WvqzNKIsE96-x8wK_WDQRf_TBk4X7hLrTMIYTgQ_lFhCS5gk7LU9F78czFQw9brEtbILMA/s320/PA090302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Small and clean - Please help us keep them this way</div>
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I was at out on the coast not too long ago and came across these items at one of the campsites:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflS88Iv5160-8PKp0CpBX72OPOu2OaAIQYTpaVck19yfunvgc3Hlm5JXWClVc4MoQol_3-u7JZBkrtD7Le_uNlLZgm778DwW6LNnh3Gme70M1ozJ0_W45aCqBGMtqzHnJaHaSMhEfnqw/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflS88Iv5160-8PKp0CpBX72OPOu2OaAIQYTpaVck19yfunvgc3Hlm5JXWClVc4MoQol_3-u7JZBkrtD7Le_uNlLZgm778DwW6LNnh3Gme70M1ozJ0_W45aCqBGMtqzHnJaHaSMhEfnqw/s320/IMG_6371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A 4-person tent, Surf board wax and 5 empty food cans. </div>
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This time of year, when people head out here to ride the waves and camp out on the coast I find A LOT of abandoned property. Tents, tarps, household pots and pans, sleeping bags, food items, etc. </div>
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It's always the same type of gear that folks leave behind: cheap and heavy. They haul it out here and then decide that it's too heavy to hike back with them. To justify leaving their junk behind they say that they are either a) going to come back for it and/or b) leaving it for others to use. </div>
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The truth is this: abandoned property is the result of laziness. </div>
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Over the past 7 years we've removed enough abandoned gear (all from the surf spot) to fill a dumpster. </div>
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Inside of the tent (pictured above) there was a note that read, "for the next campers that need it." </div>
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Are the five empty food cans that were scattered around the site also for the next campers that need them? It all looks like a bunch of garbage to me that someone was too inconsiderate to pack out. </div>
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now, that's the end of my rant. Let's end on a positive note. </div>
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The second <a href="http://www.pleinairatthelostcoast.com/">plein air painting event</a> recently took place in Shelter Cove. </div>
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Peter McNeill won the "<a href="https://blmca.sites.usa.gov/2015/10/16/walnut-creek-artist-wins-blm-kings-choice-award/">Kings Choice</a>" award for best capturing the life, spirit, natural and cultural qualities of the King Range. </div>
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As always, if you have any questions give me a call or send me an e-mail (give me at least a few days to get back to you)</div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger</div>
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Paul Sever</div>
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707-986-5405</div>
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lostcoastranger@gmail.com</div>
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PS, back in March a journalist went out hiking with me and he wrote up this great <a href="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/paul-severs-wilderness/Content?oid=2865092">article</a> about what I do out here - in case you haven't read enough already you should check it out. </div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-19623040696419287182015-08-18T10:07:00.001-07:002015-08-18T10:07:37.565-07:00VEGETATION FIRE NORTH OF SHELTER COVE<a href="http://kymkemp.com/2015/08/18/vegetation-fire-north-of-shelter-cove/">http://kymkemp.com/2015/08/18/vegetation-fire-north-of-shelter-cove/</a>Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-83235968171655737632015-07-21T11:43:00.001-07:002015-10-19T12:08:12.782-07:00Status of Springs and StreamsMany of you may be interested in hiking in the "upland" trails in the King Range (King Crest Trail, Cooskie Creek Trail, Rattlesnake Ridge, etc).<br />
<br />
What you need to know is that there are limited water sources once you leave the beach on the Lost Coast Trail. With the drought, many of the upland water sources are at a lower flow compared to what they would normally be at this time of year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3grxg8WqKm94RUS_UbGQZTMjFL8NfKiS_cd0UgqLIo0MLUMdFw1tmW17hGGw-hjrvMnH232NFdRbe27GMII_sAoVJ25-4xBujhSybMf6xuVQ-tcz49DdSn9Zr49eU4CjiACeA03oMC8/s1600/Maple+Spring++%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3grxg8WqKm94RUS_UbGQZTMjFL8NfKiS_cd0UgqLIo0MLUMdFw1tmW17hGGw-hjrvMnH232NFdRbe27GMII_sAoVJ25-4xBujhSybMf6xuVQ-tcz49DdSn9Zr49eU4CjiACeA03oMC8/s320/Maple+Spring++%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Maple Camp</b>: (above) low flow; <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">dry
along some stretches of stream bed; shallow pools</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Miller Camp</b>: Water difficult to find. When you get to the bottom of the switchbacks, head west for a few minutes and you should be able to find some small pools of water among the rocks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Bonus Spring </b>(on the Miller Camp loop): DRY</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6DwUimcCPb8l67avJRzRPdUiEk8FiHKrTvlrtbN-_lbJOhFYgrlnokhlpMPmmVgI1ymJUysAJqNW4azBS0l4GFsfcB0XIMfAJ_eskyQ5SklWiKtV7aP5fEgEhSfAo-rRhgEb7Wfc1E8/s1600/NicksCampJuly7_2015+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6DwUimcCPb8l67avJRzRPdUiEk8FiHKrTvlrtbN-_lbJOhFYgrlnokhlpMPmmVgI1ymJUysAJqNW4azBS0l4GFsfcB0XIMfAJ_eskyQ5SklWiKtV7aP5fEgEhSfAo-rRhgEb7Wfc1E8/s320/NicksCampJuly7_2015+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Nick's Camp</b>: (above) Abundant; you should have no problem finding water in this small stream</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuxQeujPCdORBNXsDt-Q5pkMXSyfI61yhCtA8G97UJSWLQlm_i3HWlxzLLEnDE-OIMygPTpxogfwDpT2HrnJG1SAuFezTAJys0ELzG6uaUoqHfvd56g1bG5VuUbXa-pBKW0QlQZR5geQ/s1600/P8130252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuxQeujPCdORBNXsDt-Q5pkMXSyfI61yhCtA8G97UJSWLQlm_i3HWlxzLLEnDE-OIMygPTpxogfwDpT2HrnJG1SAuFezTAJys0ELzG6uaUoqHfvd56g1bG5VuUbXa-pBKW0QlQZR5geQ/s320/P8130252.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Bear Hollow Spring:</b> (above) Slow trickle; small pool of water ~ 3" deep. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWixhgst2NROKnxfq1bWjQEXGFqxNb_QzpId9rM2HqJIiQlrowlHDX5414bnjUxwOEur1wYMWgXO_xbJKWSofyZegNhMBxQomn1OttcI-K6aZKtIJ7sMfX_pmH7OMwp9xdeNL7fAMMwk/s1600/Telegraph+Spring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWixhgst2NROKnxfq1bWjQEXGFqxNb_QzpId9rM2HqJIiQlrowlHDX5414bnjUxwOEur1wYMWgXO_xbJKWSofyZegNhMBxQomn1OttcI-K6aZKtIJ7sMfX_pmH7OMwp9xdeNL7fAMMwk/s320/Telegraph+Spring.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Telegraph Spring</b>: 10/11/2015: Flowing @ 10 min/Liter </div>
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More information as it comes in but that's the info as of now. Be sure to bring plenty of water if you are hiking on the upland trails - it's hot up there. </div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-75834142033665601092015-07-08T14:25:00.001-07:002015-07-08T14:27:59.076-07:00Campfires Currently Prohibited <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtkzDmfvyQUNtfxwjoVC4IymfLiSIEX5PzBA3B8TiiPKjI54wihzgoGsvKb4aeNYwUkiRrDhfFhcc-M2BPCnyI5Dr5v7JYiN91e_KHgupa5UChNwKz0xDt4VbvhAuEZ1TpTg9YqzU_cM/s1600/img01426.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtkzDmfvyQUNtfxwjoVC4IymfLiSIEX5PzBA3B8TiiPKjI54wihzgoGsvKb4aeNYwUkiRrDhfFhcc-M2BPCnyI5Dr5v7JYiN91e_KHgupa5UChNwKz0xDt4VbvhAuEZ1TpTg9YqzU_cM/s320/img01426.jpeg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Do to the
extremely dry conditions campfires are currently prohibited in the King Range
National Conservation Area outside of developed recreation sites: Mattole,
Honeydew, Wailaki, Nadelos, Horse Mountain, and Tolkan campgrounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It is very
<b>DRY</b> and often very <b>windy</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Even if
it’s foggy the vegetation is still very dry. Also, conditions change frequently
and rapidly here on the coast. I very often see the weather change from calm
and foggy to hot and windy in an hour or less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">If you are
backpacking in the King Range Campfires are prohibited <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">If you see
a fire ring such as this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr821sAfJDsJk3C1cFDuqBdn5zz0NP4_y3ZUIMqywEIqI6ywKOPFNpJv8qTrQ4FiIvPWYoqqNtvA4PgPwo3QzuCz6I2dCQrJcmiTRb0wMHx2Oi4CzgdvARF1AxYWYeBgJ0TTUZxRRqUs/s1600/PA090302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr821sAfJDsJk3C1cFDuqBdn5zz0NP4_y3ZUIMqywEIqI6ywKOPFNpJv8qTrQ4FiIvPWYoqqNtvA4PgPwo3QzuCz6I2dCQrJcmiTRb0wMHx2Oi4CzgdvARF1AxYWYeBgJ0TTUZxRRqUs/s200/PA090302.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This does
<u><b>not</b></u> mean you are permitted to have a campfire. The Bureau of Land Management
did not build these rings. We maintain and dismantle these fire rings but never
build them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Every year
since I’ve been here we have had an escaped campfire or fire started from a
camp stove. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><u>Use extreme
caution with camp stoves – be well away from dry grasses. </u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The
instructions for the Whisperlite stove Mountain Safety Research says to, “keep
combustibles 4 feet away from all sides.” MORE than 4 feet would be a VERY good
idea, especially in the extremely dry and windy conditions of the Lost Coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/the-fireball/Content?oid=2185621">The NorthCoast Journal</a> published an article on February of 2013 by a backpacker who
accidentally started a fire on the Lost Coast. The article is well written,
eye-opening and very educational. Here is an excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Right
then, a gust of wind hit, and this ball of flame took on a life of its own,
jumping maybe 10 feet to my right and landing on a steep bank of dry grass. In
seconds, the entire hillside was a crackling wall of fire. And that's all it
took. It was out of control.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Also in the
North Coast Journal:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Advice for
Backpackers (Novice and Veteran)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">BY BARRY
EVANS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I started
backpacking and camping when I was 13, and I'm now 70. I'm a 57-year wilderness
veteran, Queen Scout (U.K. equivalent of an Eagle Scout), Sierra Club member,
champion of outdoor ethics, and I don't like open wood fires (too dangerous).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So how do I
explain the fact that I burned down almost a square mile of wild grassland? And
what can I say that might help prevent this from happening to anyone else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">1. Think
"fire." When we picked our campsite, I was thinking flat area, water,
beautiful view. In my over-confidence, I barely gave a thought to what should
have been my No. 1 priority: a safe area for a fire, clear of any vegetation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">2. Think
"wind." The wind blows down the Lost Coast hard, which is why everyone
hikes north-to-south. We'd been seduced by the previous half-hour lull, instead
of assuming that the next big gust might be seconds away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">3. Think
"stove safety." Hundreds of safe, non-eventful lightings of our stove
led to a sense of complacency. Stoves are not foolproof. They can leak. Fuel
left in the bowl does evaporate -- fast, as we found out. A Coleman-fuel stove
like ours sometimes blows out in wind. If it does, it should be allowed to cool
before re-lighting, to prevent flare-ups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There have been many escaped campfire or fires started from camp stoves the past several years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">See
pictures below of these incidences: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK6sbwvp_qSuuDWn1KfivWUljVUsbeQ4GGE_XSPNkXFOwGIe7YO9UQt3jFg2-yqv4TSxASvVNyQKDYnSV9mooNEJJi7YUu5i2V2ULL0zu8zXhWimhrGLQ78lgN913a_gC6FeqISiO_SA/s1600/Berry+Evans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK6sbwvp_qSuuDWn1KfivWUljVUsbeQ4GGE_XSPNkXFOwGIe7YO9UQt3jFg2-yqv4TSxASvVNyQKDYnSV9mooNEJJi7YUu5i2V2ULL0zu8zXhWimhrGLQ78lgN913a_gC6FeqISiO_SA/s320/Berry+Evans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"> Photo courtesy of Barry Evans and Louisa Rogers </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDFPduK6uCwjMnCE6QfsPCEQ5Ltsi6-Fz5blGum2lP_ociMgbkjlnH8BFGr2QmcqaVHdOXa0JH44WN9gyTlsfuLLogIp0rFuecTIxZ5wFi0mP5di-G7ZHYjj5kSEtGY4KPxCnF14HPhY/s1600/spanishfire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDFPduK6uCwjMnCE6QfsPCEQ5Ltsi6-Fz5blGum2lP_ociMgbkjlnH8BFGr2QmcqaVHdOXa0JH44WN9gyTlsfuLLogIp0rFuecTIxZ5wFi0mP5di-G7ZHYjj5kSEtGY4KPxCnF14HPhY/s320/spanishfire.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spanish Flat, escaped campfire</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdGwK2LuH3NZRsrABD1QM-rrtN9XGgffxeu3Cn1mMDBmSnp8eGjE1vb4ldFTlxW9Gd_1Gp-FTvZ7b6bJ7xLpJUfigl8vZcAW76V0a_DIn5CkI82OuFX4x__Vod3gu0ZTyFWi1N5JoAp4/s1600/Kinsey+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdGwK2LuH3NZRsrABD1QM-rrtN9XGgffxeu3Cn1mMDBmSnp8eGjE1vb4ldFTlxW9Gd_1Gp-FTvZ7b6bJ7xLpJUfigl8vZcAW76V0a_DIn5CkI82OuFX4x__Vod3gu0ZTyFWi1N5JoAp4/s320/Kinsey+2014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kinsey Creek, escaped campfire</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfwjmIEeR7CcOeYSPJXURM-lFy9h_CIZB-Vls70u8G-gPayRMCy0DAEfM-Sc54xKLGgllLRU-A1zsPy9Ae58wKCfHbuuT_GrMEg33y3XVCsELHYM4P1W8CXtta-32fHURU61Gc6tIgZE/s1600/Cooskie2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfwjmIEeR7CcOeYSPJXURM-lFy9h_CIZB-Vls70u8G-gPayRMCy0DAEfM-Sc54xKLGgllLRU-A1zsPy9Ae58wKCfHbuuT_GrMEg33y3XVCsELHYM4P1W8CXtta-32fHURU61Gc6tIgZE/s320/Cooskie2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cooskie Creek, escaped campfire</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FJ26Cihds8bgF35nj3px2GlJGez6g6sT5R2y3WVzn_CXGVaozLOXxsrGwLfBbQlchLxmUHZ4Esv3Hte5bpzKA29X4k8anW64OnQsLUakHH8XcIsxlyxTh1V5SdzWYGYNKHvKk7vi0io/s1600/shelter%252C+spanish+flat+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FJ26Cihds8bgF35nj3px2GlJGez6g6sT5R2y3WVzn_CXGVaozLOXxsrGwLfBbQlchLxmUHZ4Esv3Hte5bpzKA29X4k8anW64OnQsLUakHH8XcIsxlyxTh1V5SdzWYGYNKHvKk7vi0io/s320/shelter%252C+spanish+flat+2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spanish Flat, escaped campfire;</div>
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The high winds threw a small ember into a large structure of driftwood, igniting it nearly instantly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmW_U-yD90aFIW1l0WuoLue0KAi5VggX9poOOPygK6MHhB6JEWkRp2IvNcaTI83FfaVEcFPml1CDjCFr6yMmd2Lq8-ZnPP8Dbmw8ev2xDnukIU8j2-9tNGVDc2vjDgeTuz-PKFPpiEaA/s1600/Cooskie+shelter+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmW_U-yD90aFIW1l0WuoLue0KAi5VggX9poOOPygK6MHhB6JEWkRp2IvNcaTI83FfaVEcFPml1CDjCFr6yMmd2Lq8-ZnPP8Dbmw8ev2xDnukIU8j2-9tNGVDc2vjDgeTuz-PKFPpiEaA/s320/Cooskie+shelter+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cooskie Creek, escaped campfire;</div>
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It was fortunate that this did not catch the adjacent hillside on fire</div>
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If you have questions don't hesitate to contact me</div>
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(give at least a few days for a response)</div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger, </div>
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Paul</div>
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707-986-5405</div>
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lostcoastranger@gmail.com</div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-17472718388825770472015-06-11T15:08:00.003-07:002015-06-11T15:08:52.152-07:00Fascinating Creatures of the King Range #2 This past week while out on patrol of the King Range Wilderness I witnessed quite the spectacle. What appeared to be a large fly/wasp was carrying a caterpillar underneath it as it scurried along the ground next to where I was eating lunch. It eventually reached a small hole in the ground where it dragged the caterpillar down into. The insect came back out empty handed then proceeded to shovel soil and debris into the hole to cover it up - much in the way a dog would cover it's bone.<br />
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I have no idea what this insect was so I contacted an entomologist named Eric who identified it as:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"cutworm hunter wasp in the genus </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Podalonia</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">, family Sphecidae"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
Eric also says of the cutworm hunter wasp:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">"Cutworm wasps are named for the habit of the solitary females to hunt for soil-dwelling caterpillars (“cutworms”), paralyze them, and store them as food for the wasp’s offspring. The wasp digs her burrow </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">after</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> she procures the prey, which is the opposite behavior sequence of most wasps in the Sphecidae family. Only one caterpillar goes in the bottom of each burrow, and a single egg is laid upon it. The opening of the tunnel is then sealed and the wasp begins seeking another victim to repeat the process."</span><br />
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So There you have it! Very fascinating.<br />
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For more about Eric and insects visit his blog at:<br />
http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2011/06/wasp-wednesday-podalonia.html<br />
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On another note, I was at the Punta Gorda Lighthouse this past week and noticed some new graffiti and trash left from visitors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGMV14OxFHAfmuGX_gUR5VltwkUPvVdI23RFQEKYx0Z0GAT0VNEuGR-7PZxffPRdGFO1rUiqS7YvGQ21qOUVc6D4uSeMrFKjwGi3HCmO-UfQDxBApIRA8OGzhxjwYOE_3C8eF6xLR-qM/s1600/P6080032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGMV14OxFHAfmuGX_gUR5VltwkUPvVdI23RFQEKYx0Z0GAT0VNEuGR-7PZxffPRdGFO1rUiqS7YvGQ21qOUVc6D4uSeMrFKjwGi3HCmO-UfQDxBApIRA8OGzhxjwYOE_3C8eF6xLR-qM/s320/P6080032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The graffiti says, "Evarything is still good! Don't want to bring back coffee cream sugar and TP."</div>
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Not only did this individual litter but they also graffitied a historic building. Please, pack out all of your trash and leave your graffiti out of the wilderness. YOU ARE NOT DOING A PUBLIC SERVICE BY LEAVING YOUR UNUSED ITEMS (aka, littering). </div>
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A sad sight. And yes, they spelled everything wrong. </div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-19042306858898520452015-05-27T15:46:00.001-07:002015-05-27T16:26:11.099-07:00American Hiking Society and Wilderness Volunteers Visit the King Range <br />
From May 4th-8th six individuals with the <a href="http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/">American Hiking Society</a>, a national organization that organizes and coordinates volunteer vacations on public lands, joined me on the Lost Coast Trail to perform campsite and trail maintenance, and to restore wilderness character.<br />
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30 campfire rings maintained (cleaned of all ash and trash, and made smaller)<br />
35 campfire rings destroyed (removed fire ring and rehabilitated impacts)<br />
4 driftwood shelters destroyed<br />
153 pounds of marine garbage removed<br />
10 pounds of visitor garbage removed<br />
300 feet of trail rerouted away from steep cliffs (~ 1 mile north of Big Flat Creek)<br />
4 piles of toilet paper buried<br />
1 exposed human waste buried<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Sv6fbrG4OYlYBMGv8GOwvXrn0SORYERfen2uT8zNbQGkNyezSR8nX7kAIW1h_NQFyIhrAr0zeDizWKRjravmjmBtduVWGVVeTdypWIqpo0DCCWH_3sEr7r_lx-VyCEzVMd3hL1ozBY/s1600/P5050061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Sv6fbrG4OYlYBMGv8GOwvXrn0SORYERfen2uT8zNbQGkNyezSR8nX7kAIW1h_NQFyIhrAr0zeDizWKRjravmjmBtduVWGVVeTdypWIqpo0DCCWH_3sEr7r_lx-VyCEzVMd3hL1ozBY/s320/P5050061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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a) Campfire ring before</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B0Cdj0m3yduP9Xsndo-pF1GL3QCtlrN_b_oryf-C0eX_3rYVylWZeNgase8zZKqcpwg5rCkX_czF7Xl2H3NcVHiKuZXdzgn6O_itvdgCZzUfOT1nY5LkgRXVMOl96eZQI1gm5yVSbT0/s1600/P5050062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B0Cdj0m3yduP9Xsndo-pF1GL3QCtlrN_b_oryf-C0eX_3rYVylWZeNgase8zZKqcpwg5rCkX_czF7Xl2H3NcVHiKuZXdzgn6O_itvdgCZzUfOT1nY5LkgRXVMOl96eZQI1gm5yVSbT0/s320/P5050062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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a) Campfire ring after </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZxwNegFIegZ_RU6oUG5g_BlabESFRSBT5ptSIgxkpmd2e4sia6LHvv4zvbckHJMwinJTOwBezGE6vOsrB-X3x4T-zOuUycmW3UrlEVY145NX-3WcOfwLyj9FkHy8aUbpNhtanfeJ6MQ/s1600/P5060120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZxwNegFIegZ_RU6oUG5g_BlabESFRSBT5ptSIgxkpmd2e4sia6LHvv4zvbckHJMwinJTOwBezGE6vOsrB-X3x4T-zOuUycmW3UrlEVY145NX-3WcOfwLyj9FkHy8aUbpNhtanfeJ6MQ/s320/P5060120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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b) campfire ring before </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RYaEOYH4xAZDjARmH4tqZ1oV7hGUiVDpbDR2L7mz5D0POnv-n5r2s646d4GxtAjPA74Nb7hCkVX4vj8bAuryWbRCS_ySh5K1MAcNqLuYoBQ8ExUBVnvopWMnO2NYbSDB4ZYC2f4y7XU/s1600/P5060122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RYaEOYH4xAZDjARmH4tqZ1oV7hGUiVDpbDR2L7mz5D0POnv-n5r2s646d4GxtAjPA74Nb7hCkVX4vj8bAuryWbRCS_ySh5K1MAcNqLuYoBQ8ExUBVnvopWMnO2NYbSDB4ZYC2f4y7XU/s320/P5060122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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b) campfire ring during maintenance </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsums9X5a1743ozEITgD6WHZiBoNhE-NMObLxhuwNWZsQRW_x675UksLMrnSZ6JKUndYJYlkHXsWR4k3l-mPM01UxzXoU5Mzc06NAV4dy1S6p3sRBdu5TZDqVkKXHA72WrKhyNaoGUAnM/s1600/P5060123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsums9X5a1743ozEITgD6WHZiBoNhE-NMObLxhuwNWZsQRW_x675UksLMrnSZ6JKUndYJYlkHXsWR4k3l-mPM01UxzXoU5Mzc06NAV4dy1S6p3sRBdu5TZDqVkKXHA72WrKhyNaoGUAnM/s320/P5060123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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b) campfire ring after maintenance </div>
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Please, whenever possible, use existing fire rings. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We ask that you use existing fire rings and keep the fire small by using only small pieces of wood that you can break by hand. This helps contain the fire in the ring and also helps to keep the campsites clean for other visitors. Larger pieces of wood tend to spread ash outside of the ring and breaks down its perimeter. In turn, this leads to an eye sore for other visitors and encourages them to build another fire ring - multiplying the impacts. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">PLEASE help your friendly ranger by keeping your campfires small (if it's not warm enough just get closer!!) and contained withing the ring. Also, this will keep the area looking natural and undamaged for other visitors. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HYiSTHz4X7iP3_ZRnvx_3qEXFbr9g78WbffsbnRZg550m6RkZEqi49T95MMwreVJeT-VikqmyfHmayzm1WHWsd_wOMP6d2YzwBUfxuK96pqck8D1pX7rVVF1N-C3erq9fXwnDHFJL9o/s1600/P5040020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HYiSTHz4X7iP3_ZRnvx_3qEXFbr9g78WbffsbnRZg550m6RkZEqi49T95MMwreVJeT-VikqmyfHmayzm1WHWsd_wOMP6d2YzwBUfxuK96pqck8D1pX7rVVF1N-C3erq9fXwnDHFJL9o/s320/P5040020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mbm-oJ-rJdtg0dGYw_uqgxsfqqHWmEfEG8qxGmk4-mUHxf2nSpVAuK4TJcMggvQ99JbDX0F46eN2lMitbteCuMNPSHQU1_Ttxh2LeZ9DM_ZRklpg8DRpKNU4KCxDSvHXT8PUE-gmf2U/s1600/P5040025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mbm-oJ-rJdtg0dGYw_uqgxsfqqHWmEfEG8qxGmk4-mUHxf2nSpVAuK4TJcMggvQ99JbDX0F46eN2lMitbteCuMNPSHQU1_Ttxh2LeZ9DM_ZRklpg8DRpKNU4KCxDSvHXT8PUE-gmf2U/s320/P5040025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXlN61gVarx2c64IfMpj68CKfchH4d-xju4ubn4B6sFAe_07kYbnovmWI84fFHVrjVwOurGF1WupK-vi0Tolba2HypIliILyfMgZUoI8mNX-WcJY72puSbrjHWmhPiHGIQj2NI_2x9Mo/s1600/P5040024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXlN61gVarx2c64IfMpj68CKfchH4d-xju4ubn4B6sFAe_07kYbnovmWI84fFHVrjVwOurGF1WupK-vi0Tolba2HypIliILyfMgZUoI8mNX-WcJY72puSbrjHWmhPiHGIQj2NI_2x9Mo/s320/P5040024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ct0vLht36RhNwypV5tdmMQ9vsbbAshdz2WZBGWXe92_cdPufImNgEIeb-as4PAk9sBXPvrm3E_hErVO1uJygXs2dAurFPqeS-2noeLaW4anC9rXcYx7AspIP49x4nJDSBrfqi3WtE0k/s1600/P5040003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ct0vLht36RhNwypV5tdmMQ9vsbbAshdz2WZBGWXe92_cdPufImNgEIeb-as4PAk9sBXPvrm3E_hErVO1uJygXs2dAurFPqeS-2noeLaW4anC9rXcYx7AspIP49x4nJDSBrfqi3WtE0k/s320/P5040003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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what used to be the monstrosity in the above photo...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLLRTyB53K-hSVGKETsEKNM2bOWnAXDy8psVEWl8OwvYN2RqUOxt-RWSNpOL0Fd6F-refLWLDleXnnVd-oVYQBEmESuBMoaYKtcDGR8cRWtyPxxDFUB2k2WZ-rOe6DK04trWcmiEjqS4/s1600/12+Gorda+Fort+5-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLLRTyB53K-hSVGKETsEKNM2bOWnAXDy8psVEWl8OwvYN2RqUOxt-RWSNpOL0Fd6F-refLWLDleXnnVd-oVYQBEmESuBMoaYKtcDGR8cRWtyPxxDFUB2k2WZ-rOe6DK04trWcmiEjqS4/s320/12+Gorda+Fort+5-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now looks like this! </div>
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This is the most undeveloped and natural I have ever seen this site. A huge success for restoration of wilderness character. The entire section of the Lost Coast Trail that the BLM manages is within designated wilderness. Wilderness areas have very specific mandates that must be managed for: untrammeled, natural, undeveloped, and solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation, in addition they may have unique supplemental or other features. </div>
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I admit, when I first hiked the Lost Coast Trail I thought these structures were fascinating. But, the more I learned about wilderness and <a href="https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles">Leave No Trace</a> the more I understood that these structures are really not that great and actually a nuisance. Let me explain: </div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Driftwood structures don’t fit with wilderness characteristics that we manage for. <a href="http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=legisAct" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: initial;">Section 2(c)</a> of the 1964 Wilderness Act states that: </li>
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" A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which</div>
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(1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint</div>
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of man's work substantially unnoticeable…”</div>
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<li>Leave No Trace teaches:</li>
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Leave What You Find</div>
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<li><span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><u>Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.</u></b></span></li>
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<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Additionally: </span></span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Wood structures are great habitat for small rodents, especially structures that bring in a new supply of food every night. The one time I stayed in an established structure I had rodents scurrying all over my gear and sometimes me! Also, keep in mind that rodents attract snakes.</li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Large structures made out of dry wood are a fire hazard. We have had numerous incidents of driftwood structures catching on fire. This poses a threat to the forest, adjacent land owners, other visitors and YOU. Heavy winds, dry and densely packed fuels and fire are a recipe for disaster. It’s pretty easy for an ember to blow into the cracks of one of a driftwood structure and turn the whole thing into a ball of flames within minutes.</li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Below is a picture of a driftwood structure that caught fire. A father and his son were staying in it on a windy night, a tiny ember flew off of their fire and into the cracks of the driftwood. According to them, the entire structure was engulfed with flames in only a few moments. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fh5K2RD5E4HrAIL4Ap5i5TlhZcBlwksI_r5iqW-SkiM5D5kHFF5c8U3uzhNdkokokycBQRlPL-izmvFqsLrrjJ4bkaBDv1CpuADmGOYRrKzJ6ATF6nOG5jty77qEMhZLhSCeZaJHyNw/s1600/StructureFire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fh5K2RD5E4HrAIL4Ap5i5TlhZcBlwksI_r5iqW-SkiM5D5kHFF5c8U3uzhNdkokokycBQRlPL-izmvFqsLrrjJ4bkaBDv1CpuADmGOYRrKzJ6ATF6nOG5jty77qEMhZLhSCeZaJHyNw/s320/StructureFire.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It just so happened that I was camped nearby with a Leave No Trace class; One of our classmates saw the flames as he went out to the beach to brush his teeth. We spent the next 3 hours throwing bear canisters full of water onto the flames to keep it from lighting up the nearby grasses and driftwood. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFf52b9VGApveTMONfxshRZE8BSL3t4qGRu9ujTQEm6q6G6IzO2QwJ6b5WRr_cCL2EmDJkCzzBdyXsSJxGJQf88bXs9uQ7iJOWJtInwYoobvlgQ7ZL2KuHaw8l32LzriD_TGsZsBnh5U/s1600/FireBrigade1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFf52b9VGApveTMONfxshRZE8BSL3t4qGRu9ujTQEm6q6G6IzO2QwJ6b5WRr_cCL2EmDJkCzzBdyXsSJxGJQf88bXs9uQ7iJOWJtInwYoobvlgQ7ZL2KuHaw8l32LzriD_TGsZsBnh5U/s320/FireBrigade1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">I understand that it can get very windy out on the Lost Coast..if you make a wind break I ask you to please keep it small, don’t build onto existing structures, and PLEASE restore the site to its original condition by taking the drift wood back to where you found it. It is very easy for a small wind break to turn into a scene from Gilligan’s Island or Lord of the Flies as each visitor that camps at it builds a little more in an attempt to make some kind of “improvement.” <u>Better yet, find a way to deal with the wind without manipulating the site and degrading the wilderness. </u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">Now, where was I...</span></div>
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Hauling nearly 100 pounds of marine garbage </div>
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The site of a development, before we restored it to a more natural condition</div>
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The site after restoration </div>
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From April 19-25, seven individuals with <a href="http://www.wildernessvolunteers.org/">Wilderness Volunteers</a>, a non-profit organization created to organize and promote volunteer service to America's wild lands, joined me in the King Range to perform trail maintenance on Horse Mountain Creek Trail and undertake projects to restore wilderness character.</div>
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4.2 miles of trail brushed (cut back of encroaching vegetation) </div>
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4.2 miles of trail logged-out (trees and branches across the trail have been removed)</div>
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25' of galvanized metal culvert pipe removed and carried out for discard.</div>
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2 stream crossing improvements</div>
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726 feet of trail tread repair</div>
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390 feet of wire fence removed; 16 t-posts and 5 wooden posts</div>
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30 pounds of marine garbage removed from the beach</div>
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15 pounds of abandoned property removed</div>
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3 water bars installed</div>
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Brushing.</div>
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Brushing..</div>
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Brushing...</div>
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and more brushing! What a great crew to work with with positive attitudes the whole time!</div>
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Before</div>
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After</div>
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Removing the old culvert</div>
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.. and hauling it piece by piece 2 miles out to the trailhead</div>
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Just a small sample of the work that was accomplished by these amazing volunteers with AHS and WV for you and our public lands. </div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger</div>
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Paul Sever</div>
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707-986-5405</div>
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lostcoastranger@gmail.com</div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-78417138487936022102015-04-09T08:54:00.002-07:002015-04-09T08:54:40.880-07:00What's Blooming? Guest Post From The Lost Coast Interpretive Association <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wildflowers are blooming in the high elevations of the King Range. They are spectacular and so are the views! These plants love the rocky, well-drained soil that is characteristic of the King Range. One great place to find them is just down the western slope from the top of Queen Peak (about 2 miles up Paradise Ridge Road). While you’re there, don’t forget to look up! From Queen Peak you can see King Peak, Big Flat and the mountains to the east. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">California blue blossom, a low growing species of Ceanothus, steals the show with its clusters of tiny dark blue flowers. Coast whitethorn, another species of Ceanothus, is just starting to show its creamy white flowers. Both shrubs are abuzz with insects busily pollinating the flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also blooming is monkeyflower with its orange blooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blue witch, a relative of potatos and tomatos, has light purple flowers and yellow centers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also thriving is California milkwort, a small delicate looking plant that has deep pink flowers, and yerba santa with its pale purple flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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For more about the Lost Coast Interpretive Association visit lostcoast.org
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-63427242911767710052015-03-20T16:46:00.001-07:002015-03-22T13:00:36.272-07:00This Week In The King Range: Trail Conditions and Other News<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Are you planning to visit the King Range this spring break? Check out this <a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/02/spring-break-on-lost-coast-what-to-know.html">blog post</a> for a ton of useful information.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">This past
week I hiked from Lightning Trailhead along the King Crest Trail to Rattlesnake
Ridge Trail which I descended to Big and Miller Flats; from there I hiked out to
Black Sands Beach. Although windy, it was warm and sunny most of the time. These are a few of the things I discovered:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>1.</b> Along Big Flat
Creek I was lucky to see this Northwestern Salamander:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso3NfnznocdbULvZd20wQh7i31Aia1xs-6KCBHRz32YjLPXImujk24uhDWsSbv4oG3I1h4a7aSG0j9tnf0Lt1-TcJedeqnFxqOtDQE5bxMuSRRfII6EbUmHtTU0GJtGXidbo3ZJMxBh8/s1600/IMG_5146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso3NfnznocdbULvZd20wQh7i31Aia1xs-6KCBHRz32YjLPXImujk24uhDWsSbv4oG3I1h4a7aSG0j9tnf0Lt1-TcJedeqnFxqOtDQE5bxMuSRRfII6EbUmHtTU0GJtGXidbo3ZJMxBh8/s1600/IMG_5146.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you see it? Look a little closer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cUANWzOqknz9RypbYwTiAclmHLu3MmN6Yn0xf_SrwHV1yPTlMbymoR6Di_QCrzp2PuKeUGnUFl5ZBbU7wuSe38NVrzO8DpctRqHVGDQu4-7iYbYna9QQdZvJr3_UlNxXOZmS2IoDkGA/s1600/IMG_5143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cUANWzOqknz9RypbYwTiAclmHLu3MmN6Yn0xf_SrwHV1yPTlMbymoR6Di_QCrzp2PuKeUGnUFl5ZBbU7wuSe38NVrzO8DpctRqHVGDQu4-7iYbYna9QQdZvJr3_UlNxXOZmS2IoDkGA/s1600/IMG_5143.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>2. Trail Conditions:</b> This is
what you can currently expect on the trails in the King Range<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>There
are lots trees down on most of the upland trails – This is what Rattlesnake
Ridge Trail looks like in several sections:</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1zhICztbvhBN-ZKGEJbzdHSK8zc2bl0n4unSoNsOpAiPIwK1pC317Xft8Yy-rP6_Z2bQlgx2dzNMQDlpXB9iRI9UBh3jhgou4cLG_Gx-3bQ-GqhHi0XX70dicdav15wmGQqg3GGrSbM/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1zhICztbvhBN-ZKGEJbzdHSK8zc2bl0n4unSoNsOpAiPIwK1pC317Xft8Yy-rP6_Z2bQlgx2dzNMQDlpXB9iRI9UBh3jhgou4cLG_Gx-3bQ-GqhHi0XX70dicdav15wmGQqg3GGrSbM/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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It is passable
on foot but makes travel more difficult at times.</div>
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<ul>
<li>The
lower portion of Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, where is meanders along Big Flat
Creek, can be hard to follow at times. The trail crosses the creek 4 times - Keep
an eye out for cairns on each side of the creek crossings to help you find the
trail.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjHqRAXzskLEadkcH_Y1ycM_sUInFwhMHtruyXqI0gTBzMw-elYQoxXpfZeT7Qd-put3SUA_5rmFQN87vMN4_2ysoOKqJbK3eM48adiNzUbVNel0AuZ59N3E2Vkz6g9E6CZXJTmGba-k/s1600/P3230074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjHqRAXzskLEadkcH_Y1ycM_sUInFwhMHtruyXqI0gTBzMw-elYQoxXpfZeT7Qd-put3SUA_5rmFQN87vMN4_2ysoOKqJbK3eM48adiNzUbVNel0AuZ59N3E2Vkz6g9E6CZXJTmGba-k/s1600/P3230074.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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FYI - the photo above is not current. I'm including it here to show you what a cairn looks like so you know what to look for. Also, please do not build <i>additional</i> cairns. </div>
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<ul>
<li>Many
sections of the upland trails are dense with vegetation..</li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aVQw6fT4h6eoZxEzaLjB3fIhzLvS38HoL73P63Ezl0nIEF42VyJ0YMNRM-k0zAyl6Nz1WprXQlyaiI61OWjRK5CJnFGgcFHGFS54a_neXAt8LSaSGJVNBBy25Db-qZL3Fs5SV_p3Qqw/s1600/KCT_Maple_Rattle+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aVQw6fT4h6eoZxEzaLjB3fIhzLvS38HoL73P63Ezl0nIEF42VyJ0YMNRM-k0zAyl6Nz1WprXQlyaiI61OWjRK5CJnFGgcFHGFS54a_neXAt8LSaSGJVNBBy25Db-qZL3Fs5SV_p3Qqw/s1600/KCT_Maple_Rattle+(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Particularly, the King Crest Trail, the top half of Buck Creek Trail and the top half of Rattle Snake Ridge Trail. </div>
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<ul>
<li>Cooskie
Creek Trail can be VERY difficult to navigate because the trail goes through a
lot of grass, it doesn’t receive a lot of traffic, and there are wildlife trails (and
cattle trails in some areas) that go on/over/adjacent to the real trail. It
would very much benefit you to have route finding skills.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZgelY0AAQ1XeMMOT-sasjkrtyFf9C-yAxdjRB-bV_L6cNOYvj4ybmsT-8FC6tT079cZkKr3adhfqSDJuyszFQoyFEJ1TI0sDhBtV7ev__OQB9jj183AbJybhOEmmR6NhEdzy26t4p3k/s1600/P5080324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZgelY0AAQ1XeMMOT-sasjkrtyFf9C-yAxdjRB-bV_L6cNOYvj4ybmsT-8FC6tT079cZkKr3adhfqSDJuyszFQoyFEJ1TI0sDhBtV7ev__OQB9jj183AbJybhOEmmR6NhEdzy26t4p3k/s1600/P5080324.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh592ZzmeanvCCGI5_bxD8m05cG0eyJTzfTPZLI_h2Gc4sIipk0_mb5YIBE3y_94lyjMHzqJyC-bnfWKhbZ09LoOK1iiix0YVc1THoT40VHl0JdxMtu3pEG2UVRXi0KMdHtcJSXR4Z9Zes/s1600/P7250461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh592ZzmeanvCCGI5_bxD8m05cG0eyJTzfTPZLI_h2Gc4sIipk0_mb5YIBE3y_94lyjMHzqJyC-bnfWKhbZ09LoOK1iiix0YVc1THoT40VHl0JdxMtu3pEG2UVRXi0KMdHtcJSXR4Z9Zes/s1600/P7250461.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>The Lost
Coast Trail is rocky and sandy – you will probably not be going much faster
than about 2 miles per hour. Many people tell me that the trail is much
more difficult than they expected.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg9rwkTieKEtF8uYWy6Q1vvBOmHVPlAXE8fW2B_nYxR_ip2ytO4nrUMlZEi9RN5I665CNwy0sYQWVHjxqjnXcDrsBvQr1_QATp7coLWL77JiQOjQ9ZYVEd66oJn263s2WZ2oUfOQS5E8/s1600/daniel+Hartmann+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg9rwkTieKEtF8uYWy6Q1vvBOmHVPlAXE8fW2B_nYxR_ip2ytO4nrUMlZEi9RN5I665CNwy0sYQWVHjxqjnXcDrsBvQr1_QATp7coLWL77JiQOjQ9ZYVEd66oJn263s2WZ2oUfOQS5E8/s1600/daniel+Hartmann+1.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Photo by Daniel Hartmann)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>3. </b>I packed
out close to 2 pounds of garbage between Big/Miller Flats and Black Sands
Beach. This is garbage left behind by backpackers! I know how easy it can be to
accidentally leave behind a wrapper – It’s good to get into the habit of
checking around your campsites, resting areas, lunch spots, etc., before you
leave. Once I get my pack on I always take a few steps then turn back around
and scan the site. You never know – this has saved me from not only forgetting
trash but also cameras, knives, and hats! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxShXUuXLEzNrTH2U5TgXkEXg54cT3D3KRebepqOpbCqzS7XUounG7QfEU3uJDlWLG1XCX8CvHRNPWofztsVo3cE2X6s85A0xSkM-I-4JYWCWbt7fVIeNXgoxFT8QQkty5o6ZrT_55eag/s1600/IMG_5208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxShXUuXLEzNrTH2U5TgXkEXg54cT3D3KRebepqOpbCqzS7XUounG7QfEU3uJDlWLG1XCX8CvHRNPWofztsVo3cE2X6s85A0xSkM-I-4JYWCWbt7fVIeNXgoxFT8QQkty5o6ZrT_55eag/s1600/IMG_5208.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. There's a possibility that I may be out on the trail so give me a few days to get back to you. If you need immediate assistance call 707-986-5400.</div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger, </div>
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<br /></div>
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Paul Sever</div>
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Lostcoastranger@gmail.com</div>
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707-986-5405 </div>
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Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-29678066932431406572015-02-04T11:10:00.004-08:002015-04-17T20:34:00.274-07:00Finding Yourself in the Wilderness: An Interview with Diana Totten, Expert Tracker <br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Diana
Totten grew up in Southern Humboldt County and is very familiar with the King
Range and the Lost Coast. She has been on many missing persons and search and
rescue cases in the past twenty years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Below is my interview with Diana in which I ask her about her experiences with search and rescue, her thoughts about why people get lost (and how to not get lost), and why the wilderness experience is so important for young people and all of us. </div>
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Diana has a non-profit: <a href="http://mountaintothesea.com/">Mountain to Sea Wilderness Camp</a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">How did you get involved with search and rescue
(SAR) and tracking?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I was the
oldest of 3 kids and I was always busy and always outside. To help relieve my
mom I was raised part of the summer with an Indian grandmother. This was a
perfect place to drop me off because there were a lot of woods for me to run
amok and my grandmother and I got along really well. One of the things Indian
grandmothers start to teach you when you start to show interest in Native ways is
tracking. I was 6 or 7 years old running around the woods all day without ever
having to check in - If I was able to be aware of the sights and sounds, what’s
on the ground and what’s around me - I’d never get lost. In doing this she
created awareness in me in which I’d start to see things that other people
usually don’t see very often – I’d start to see details. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When she
took it to the next level she’d have me start to track animals. She’d say to
me, “there’s 3 deer and I want you to track that small on.” I would spend the
day tracking it then come back and give her a report. She’d ask me specific
questions about the animal. By the middle of the summer I knew what it ate,
where it slept, if it was a boy or a girl and other nuances. This is how I
started tracking – being super aware of everything that is on the ground and
tracking animals. Eventually, I learned to track myself - meaning that I
followed my foot prints and studied them. My grandmother said that foot prints
will tell you everything you need to know about somebody. So I started looking
at foot prints differently. I could tell my father’s foot prints from the
others even if they were the same boots. The funny part is, when I started
studying foot prints – tracking people – I felt guilty or sneaky because I felt
like I was invading their privacy. But I learned so much about how somebody
moves because their footprints start to reveal, for example, their weight and
where they put their weight. Later in life I also took professional classes on
tracking to develop the skills I already had. I think some of the most awesome
things are that some of the skills that my grandmother taught me were identical
to what I learned in the classes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I started
working locally with the Sherriff’s office and having success finding people –
especially in Southern Humboldt and the Lost Coast. Often times the Sherriff
will look for only 24 hours because they don’t have the manpower or the time to
look any longer so a family will hire me or I’ll volunteer. Each time I track I
learn more about people’s minds and how they do things and my capabilities
become a little bit more honed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Do you talk with the family members to try to
figure out something about the missing person to help you in your search?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes. And a
lot of times – this is kind of strange – they tell you things that aren’t
really that accurate or that don’t have that much depth in who their family
member is. The biggest things I’ve learned is that when you’re looking for
someone that’s lost they’re not the same person [as they were before they
became lost]. When they become lost they’ve gone to their primitive
personality. The more you learn about what that primitive personality is the
easier it will be to find them because you’ll know where to look.
Psychologically, often times it’s a life and death struggle for them once they
realize they're lost. Most people don’t deal with life and death situations so
it’s a new feeling for them. You can assume that they are going to panic and
they are going to do things that are going to lead them to places that really
aren’t a good place to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">What do you think some of the main reasons are
that people get lost?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One thing
is that they rely too much on their electronics. I think GPS and cell phones
are things that people may use instead of preparing mentally and
physically. A lot of times, The people that get lost – the people on the Lost
Coast that we’ve looked for – just weren’t prepared. I think sometimes people
aren’t prepared for the ruggedness. Doing 2 miles on some of these trails is
like doing twenty on another trail that’s more level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
things I’ve noticed is a lack of common sense sometimes which leads people to
getting lost. One of the other things I believe is that in the older days we
were raised in the woods or around rural areas; people went camping more and
were more used to being outside. Even many kids that are raised in Southern
Humboldt that come to the Lost Coast are baffled about how to be in the woods.
When I say “be in the woods” I mean there are several ways to be in the woods.
You can be part of it or you can be separate from it. My goal [when teaching
kids about being in the woods] is to be a part of it, to become a part of your
surroundings so they aren’t so foreign. This is when you also feel comfortable
with yourself I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We’ve also
looked for people that have lost themselves on purpose and the Lost Coast is a
place that they feel like they can go and hide from the world. It [the Lost
Coast] is not that forgiving when you’re not in your right mind. Those are the
bodies that we find. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Do you think there are more people getting lost
now than when you first got involved with SARs 20 years ago? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, but
not always in the wilderness. In Humboldt Country there are almost 300 missing
people reported a year. Nationwide it’s about 2,000 people a day – according to
the FBI. Not all of them are lost in the woods, but they’re lost somehow –
runaways, for example. The highest rate of missing persons was in 2008 when the
economy crashed – that reverts back to the fact that some people go missing on
purpose because they’re overwhelmed with life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">To me I almost think that there is a
correlation with the disconnection with the natural world and the lack of
common sense that you’ve noticed and the ability to handle difficult
situations. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Exactly.
Again, we rely a lot on the electronic world and we’ve learned not to rely on
our own instinct. You can learn common sense in a city if you learn how to
practice it or where it’s at. Just because you’re in a city doesn’t mean you’re
not going to have an awareness of your surroundings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">What do you think some of the benefits of experiencing the wilderness are – for an individual or for
society? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We live in
a hostile world. Cities are hostile. We’re surrounded by television and news
media that’s telling us everything that’s wrong and there’s death and
destruction and global warming and everything is just bad and we’re inundated
with that. When I’ve worked with kids from cities the scariest thing they could
think of was being lost in the woods - So there may be no refuge for them other
than a cell phone or a computer game. My goal would be to show them that the
wilderness <i>is</i> a place of refuge – a
place to find that peacefulness that is inside yourself because it’s there but
you just don’t know how to access it sometimes; the wilderness gives you that
access. You take part of that with you when you go home – that refuge. You will know
that it isn’t such a chaotic and destructive world that we live in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">What would be your advice to someone that is planning their first backpacking trip to the lost coast – or anywhere?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My advice
is to go really slow and to take only what you need. Walk without just watching
your feet – not just watching your boot laces for 4 days. There is a different
way to hike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Learn to
use your other senses - Not just your eyes. Learn to use your ears and your
smells. All the smells that the lost coast has to offer – coastal smells,
vegetation smells, mountain smells; it’s an amazing thing that you can take
home with you. It’s more that the pictures you take and the things that you
see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Go slow and
don’t take too many miles – don’t try to do 30 miles in 2 days. Take a smaller
trip and soak in the environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Do you think there is an appropriate time or
place or balance for technology in the wilderness?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My answer
is no. I go the farthest away from man-made stuff in the wilderness and I think
that is where you can truly find that peaceful place. I don’t even really like
cameras in the wilderness because that only captures a little bit of a picture
that doesn’t really make any sense because there is no smell or sound or
anything else with it. If you rely on that then that is all you get. But if you
go with a little more openness - with all your senses - you’ll be able to take
something more home with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
things I have done is to take a hike every month of the year on the Lost Coast.
So many people try to cram it into a certain period of time. I’ve been up there
in storms and it’s different – it gives you a different feeling. But it also
pushes your limit – to be comfortable when it’s storming and you find out a
little bit more of what you’re made of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After
you’re in a wilderness for a while you can have a real good sense of which is
which and where is where. I think in our lives these days we limit ourselves so
much. Until you’re cold, you don’t know what it’s like to be warm. Until you
walk in the dark you don’t know how great it is to have light - That sort of
thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">One of the things I think is important about the
wilderness experience is that the pace of civilization, of everything, is going
faster and faster and I think that all the technology around us is limiting
people’s ability to think – there’s just constant stimulation. What I find many
people are scared of is being by themselves. Very few people are truly ever
alone. Even if we’re by ourselves we have something to occupy our time - to
entertain us. Many people are scared to be alone with their own thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, Yes.
And being alone is so <i>awesome </i>and yet
it’s something people hardly ever experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">I think that if everyone had that experience –
especially at a young age – they’d be better people. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When you
look at the world as a hostile place it’s hard to find a place where you can
find that peace. And yet when you find it you’re able to take it with you
throughout life. That’s something that I think is the key ingredient. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Can you tell me the story about the person who
was lost in the snow?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">His vehicle
became stuck in the snow so he started walking and had gotten lost. He started
walking downhill and was eventually in the rain, so he was wet. He came across
a little line-shack rancher’s cabin that had been half fallen down but there was
still a stove in there and some supplies. Yet they found him dead in the cabin.
He had tried lighting a fire with 3 wet pieces of wood from outside. He had a
whole box of matches that had been used. No kindling or understanding of how to
start a fire which would have saved his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Just the
understanding of how to build a fire is huge. What I’ve always done with my
kids is one match – everyone gets one match. So you have to have everything set
up just right. Even now we could go walk in the woods [it’s raining out during
this interview] and I’d show you dry wood, but it’s not easy to find. It’s
using the same eyes to see the world differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Is there anything else you’d like to add?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When you’re
in the wilderness you have the ability to look at the world differently. Look
at the woods as a place of refuge – as a place of comfort – instead of as a
place of fear. Take that with you back to the city and use that feeling when
you get overwhelmed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I remember
when we got our first wet suits when I was a teenager. We used to fish all day
then go and swim around the bell buoy at Shelter Cove in the afternoon or
evening. We weren’t afraid. Why would we be afraid? We didn’t have televisions.
And after I saw Jaws I couldn’t even go waist deep in the water. When I was a
commercial fisherman I used to hit great white sharks the size of this table
with my oars just to keep them away from the boat because I thought they
were going to scare the fish. But after I saw Jaws when I’d even see a fin in
the water I’d go move to another part of the ocean. I think of when we were teenagers and when we
used to go swim around the bell buoy and of all the sharks that watched us go
by. Now I can’t even wade out past my belly-button without thinking, ‘was that
seaweed or was that a shark?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You see
this is what electronics do to you. Yet when I went to Universal Studios with
the kids I saw that the whole thing is fake – it’s just a machine. Yet, it
changed the way I go in the water. So can you imagine all these other images
that the kids are watching that are changing what <i>they</i> do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yeah, we
need to unplug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-52478139510570247672015-02-04T10:17:00.003-08:002015-02-04T10:28:44.501-08:00Filming in the King Range and Misinformation <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMdd8lSCaBsgnXcYMv9yPXbPhpGuCsX7mG3YL4jtU2bmO8aT9Mox-G8jEsllDktKN20GjKsEf0sHbf1c0k_a0qDZFIqpeCjzFHL5tCwzDJ7dssHdjmsGjaKLHR243SAu3l2vtrBCOEsg/s1600/Yak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMdd8lSCaBsgnXcYMv9yPXbPhpGuCsX7mG3YL4jtU2bmO8aT9Mox-G8jEsllDktKN20GjKsEf0sHbf1c0k_a0qDZFIqpeCjzFHL5tCwzDJ7dssHdjmsGjaKLHR243SAu3l2vtrBCOEsg/s1600/Yak.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Screen shot from video A</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhiAxnjF9n-xMeL6dT4hyVuJARA8NC_eHqQvCpKuf3SqlAi5kxr6VDl-lWO4crKExDJv-J7UPb2ptxIUyZD771VZsSQ3It0RUra3A1H80OvPrn3n5JvwmzvqtvrBNQ5QI4Ijp0nq5gjA/s1600/motion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhiAxnjF9n-xMeL6dT4hyVuJARA8NC_eHqQvCpKuf3SqlAi5kxr6VDl-lWO4crKExDJv-J7UPb2ptxIUyZD771VZsSQ3It0RUra3A1H80OvPrn3n5JvwmzvqtvrBNQ5QI4Ijp0nq5gjA/s1600/motion.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Screen shot from video B</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Every so
often we find a professional/commercial type video that has been shot in the
King Range – usually on the Lost Coast Trail. What I find most interesting
about these videos is how they choose to show themselves passing through the
“impassable at high tide” sections of the trail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">They show
themselves running through the surf, jumping on rocks and being hit by waves.
They are extreme and daring - Or are they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What
bothers me is that folks watching this behavior at home may be led to believe
that this is how one hikes the Lost Coast Trail and that this is normal. By
watching these videos one could then expect that their trip on the Lost Coast
should/would be similar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No doubt you
will get wet from time to time, but my point is this: With proper planning and
preparing for a journey on the Lost Coast it would be a rare circumstance in
which one would find themselves being <i>pummeled</i>
by waves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I believe
that the people in these videos deliberately put themselves in dangerous
situations in order to make an exciting and interesting spectacle for viewers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Example
one, the group in </span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;">video A</b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> is shown
entering one of the “high tide sections” and displays this on the screen:</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT_AWlE9qTaWy6qxaRGEeluIfVL6W3hAQA7_Cn1roWcsXs6F15CW5husde03iMOU9EXT9pN3RYE-eWSc4u752b3q8CTeagTPIeh9IsHo2EVQImq2JcQKtbNYNUcwAL48jfxuFHLsdsAw/s1600/830am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT_AWlE9qTaWy6qxaRGEeluIfVL6W3hAQA7_Cn1roWcsXs6F15CW5husde03iMOU9EXT9pN3RYE-eWSc4u752b3q8CTeagTPIeh9IsHo2EVQImq2JcQKtbNYNUcwAL48jfxuFHLsdsAw/s1600/830am.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Next, you
see them up against the rocks being hit by waves (see screen shot from Video A
above). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">Example
two, the individual in <b>video B</b> is
explaining,</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"The
tide is on it’s way up right now, we’re entering right away a five mile tidal
zone. And high tide is at 1230 today; it’s about 9 :00 right now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
And in another scene:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"We’re
actually at one of the notorious pinch points at high tide right now.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u> Entering
the impassable zone when the tide is on its way <i><b>up</b></i> is NOT the correct way to go about this.</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Example three: There is a scence of the individual running
around/between large rocks and through the water (see picture below). These
rocks are </span><i style="text-indent: -18pt;">not</i><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> in any “impassable
zone” on the Lost Coast. This must mean they chose to film the scence for
purely theatrical reasons. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVIkkqSh2A-olPAg21DwCm4VH21QDi7NJz0KAqfL72yZh1ZTsQ21mgRsD7SCEbCQ6JS102X_K6Zu3drhwNEPqaYMPyswea-O2NGwYyP2smMzBbZ0MJvV861y845X1zWOxn_t1AYa4UsU/s1600/motion2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVIkkqSh2A-olPAg21DwCm4VH21QDi7NJz0KAqfL72yZh1ZTsQ21mgRsD7SCEbCQ6JS102X_K6Zu3drhwNEPqaYMPyswea-O2NGwYyP2smMzBbZ0MJvV861y845X1zWOxn_t1AYa4UsU/s1600/motion2.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Going by
the advice/actions of the folks in some of these videos will lead you to
trouble.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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Below, I will go over the essential information for planning a trip to the King Range AND how to safely pass through the "impassable at high tide" sections of trail</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Weather</li>
<li> Tides</li>
<li>Creek
crossings</li>
<li> Human
waste disposal</li>
<li> Food
storage</li>
<li> Campfires</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">1. <u>Weather</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Watch the
weather closely for the days and weeks leading up to your trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There is no
guarantee for what the weather will be like in the King Range. It could be hot,
cloudy, windy, calm, rainy, foggy, misty, or pouring rain. Before your trip you
should check the weather but also plan for all types of weather events. Things
can and often do change rapidly out here on the coast. Bring a hat for the sun as well as a jacket and pants for the rain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">You
probably have your favorite source for weather forecasting but I like to use:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">NOAA</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Check this blog entry for more information about hiking in the King Range during the winter:</div>
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<a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-conditions-prepare-for-worst.html">Winter Conditions: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best</a><br />
<br />
and the second half of this post:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2014/03/conditions-and-other-updates.html">Conditions and other updates</a></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">2. <u>Tides
</u> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There three
“impassable during high tide” sections on the trail (you should have a map and
keep track of where you are and where these areas are located):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Punta
Gorda </li>
</ul>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Sea Lion
Gulch to Randall Creek</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"> Note: approximately a half-mile
south of Sea Lion Gulch the trail is impassable at all tide levels </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> and you will be required to use the overland
route. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Miller
Flat to about one mile south of Buck Creek</li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN-US">Additionally, south of Shelter Cove is Point No Pass. This
is impassable at ALL tide levels. Do Not Attempt. If you plan to hike from
Shelter Cove to the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park catch the Lost Coast Trail
at Hidden Valley. The trailhead is on Chemise Mountain Road, off of Shelter
Cove Road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>You need to pass through these sections on a RECEDING tide! </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Follow this
link for more information about planning your travel though the “impassable at high
tide” zones safely: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/09/rescue-on-lost-coast.html">Rescue on the Lost Coast</a></span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">3. <u>Creek
crossings<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">With heavy
rains the creeks in the King Range can rise rapidly and there is the
possibility that they will be impassable within a day or several hours of an
intense down pour. However, streams may recede to a safe crossing level within
a day or several hours after it has stopped raining. Of course, this depends on
how long and heavy it has been raining for. Have a backup plan to turn back or
wait it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I am
occasionally asked if one can take an overland route around the creeks if they
are too high to cross. In theory this is possible. Yet, to get up high enough
to actually find a place to avoid the stream crossing would add considerable
time and energy to your trip. Are you prepared for an extra day or two of
hiking? This is not a quick fix and most likely this is not something you would
want to attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">General
rule of thumb is not to attempt a creek crossing if it is deeper than your
knees. It may be tempting to cross a creek closer to the ocean where it is
often wider and a bit shallower rather than farther up the creek where often it
is narrower and deeper. If you do decide to cross closer to the ocean I advise
you to watch the wave behavior for several minutes before you decide to cross.
Look to see how big the waves are and how far they are pushing water up the
creek. Large waves with high energy can race far up the beach without warning. Waves may be small for 10-20 minutes with a few minutes of larger wave activity that may seem to "come out of nowhere."</span> Unsuspecting hikers can be washed out to sea in an instant from these
occurrences.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Use
caution. Watch, Look and Listen. Be patient and take your time.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">You’ll need
to use your best judgment based on the conditions and the skills/abilities of
your group. Look up, look around, pay attention, study the waves and the
behavior of the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><u>4. Human Waste Disposal</u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2014/07/waste-in-wilderness.html"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2014/07/waste-in-wilderness.html">It's not as obvious as you might think and it's different than many other wilderness areas you may have visited</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-US">5. Food
storage and respecting wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_zmUSri4Ymgm09Bj-6FdR1O9oQDOjVKmgynRqpr-96ANxE6ncTCE1MaNKhVfs4-PPYup6Jeqicfc4IYFtOUc-qbBtgtylCZUDVfrz1ONs8DcCkW1mPqcwGbXp3EPIuSPbWZLnG0C7OM/s1600/Bear+Tracks+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_zmUSri4Ymgm09Bj-6FdR1O9oQDOjVKmgynRqpr-96ANxE6ncTCE1MaNKhVfs4-PPYup6Jeqicfc4IYFtOUc-qbBtgtylCZUDVfrz1ONs8DcCkW1mPqcwGbXp3EPIuSPbWZLnG0C7OM/s1600/Bear+Tracks+closeup.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></div>
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The bears DO come down to the beach regularly. If you keep an eye out there's a good chance you will see their tracks in the sand - especially in the morning hours. </div>
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<u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The number
ONE thing you can do to respect wildlife in the King Range is to have a bear
canister and to use it properly. The bear can is to protect the bears from your
food and the extra bonus is that you also protect your food from the bears. You
will notice on top of the Garcia Backpackers’ Cache it says, “Save the bears”
(it does not say, “Save your food”). So, what does this mean? When a bear
starts to eat human food and learns that humans can be associated with an easy
meal they will lose their fear of humans, come around campsites more often, and
become increasingly aggressive. This is what you would call a “habituated” or
“food conditioned” bear and they could eventually need to be put down if the
aggression gets out of hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Hanging
your food is NOT an option in the King Range and on the Lost Coast Trail. You
may be experienced with hanging food but there is a serious lack of sufficient
trees on the LCT. Requirements for hanging food vary from place to place but
generally 10’ high and 4’ from the base of the tree would be sufficient. You
are not going to be able to achieve this on the LCT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">All
overnight visitors must store all of their food, toiletries and scented items
(Including trash!) in a hard-sided bear-proof container approved by the Sierra
Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG). 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 drivers license (if you don’t return the bear can you
will buy it). We are open Monday-Friday 8-4:30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Other
places to rent cans (call for availability, hours and prices):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">BLM Arcata
Field Office (7:45-4:30)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">1695
Heindon Rd. Arcata<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">707-825-2300<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Shelter
Cove General Store<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">7272
Shelter Cove Rd. Whitethorn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">707-986-7733<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Petrolia
General Store<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">707-629-3455<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">HSU center
Activities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">707-826-3357<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">http://humboldt.edu/centeractivities/rentalGear.php<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">REI also
rents bear cans but the pricing varies from store to store so I won’t list it
here. They did tell me that it is substantially less expensive for members,
however.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Lastly,
there are two other critters that the bear can is good for the raccoon and the
mouse - they will tear into your pack for just a peanut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">6. <u>Campfires
<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The King
Range is now out of campfire restrictions for the winter season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7YftKzlfydQ8TNIML7RXdMrNw6dJprGOrMNBQ4sroKjwoBc6JwvigAnk7ZES-PK2__Oh6fvgG2VUBjqPLd0FjJ6LuRTYXankmuk9hluOL2XwnXaU9CeBR0Z3tNgsglNBy6cBPxuvTI8/s1600/LCT_march13+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7YftKzlfydQ8TNIML7RXdMrNw6dJprGOrMNBQ4sroKjwoBc6JwvigAnk7ZES-PK2__Oh6fvgG2VUBjqPLd0FjJ6LuRTYXankmuk9hluOL2XwnXaU9CeBR0Z3tNgsglNBy6cBPxuvTI8/s1600/LCT_march13+003.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We ask that
you use existing fire rings and keep the fire small by using only small pieces
of wood that you can break by hand. This helps contain the fire in the ring and
also helps to keep the campsites clean for other visitors. Larger pieces of
wood tend to spread ash outside of the ring and breaks down its perimeter. In
turn, this leads to an eye sore for other visitors and encourages them to build
another fire ring - multiplying the impacts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU81eY5fgWJ9eAcMZATEUzmWdYbCVuO4tl8aTDzhv6iCmr7mjkxMCOowdLlp4fwDMMNpaOO6CuAhCPQPBudiXD8CuZTl-ZZGKh-npyOQWVP9uBpSGUfAUqFMAx04Bc74v7H5nX0Zjp9I/s1600/Randall_Rehab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU81eY5fgWJ9eAcMZATEUzmWdYbCVuO4tl8aTDzhv6iCmr7mjkxMCOowdLlp4fwDMMNpaOO6CuAhCPQPBudiXD8CuZTl-ZZGKh-npyOQWVP9uBpSGUfAUqFMAx04Bc74v7H5nX0Zjp9I/s1600/Randall_Rehab.jpg" height="164" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The photo set above are an example of a campfire ring in very poor condition and the results of "naturalization."</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">PLEASE help your friendly ranger by keeping your campfires small (if it's not warm enough just get closer!!) and contained withing the ring. Also, this will keep the area looking natural and undamaged for other visitors. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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Why was this necessary? </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyhow, that's it for now. I hope you have enough information to safely plan your trip to the King Range and <a href="https://lnt.org/">Leave No Trace</a> of your visit. </div>
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<br />Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105229313108958373.post-26894710137778688072014-07-23T16:32:00.002-07:002014-07-23T16:49:29.463-07:00Waste in the Wilderness<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the things I enjoy about the wilderness experience is
that it causes us to think and reflect about things that we take for granted.
When we are at home in the urban setting our waste seemingly disappears:</div>
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Go to the bathroom, flush the toilet and your worries are
gone. </div>
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Just remember to take your trash to the curb once a week and
everyone is happy. </div>
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But, in the wilderness our waste becomes something that we
must take more of a conscious effort to dispose of because, of course, there is
no sewer system or a trash service. In fact, the Wilderness Act defines a
wilderness, in part, as a place that is undeveloped and is to be preserved as a
place that is free from the work of mankind. </div>
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Lately, I’ve been noticing an issue with human waste
disposal. That is to say, I’ve been finding exposed human and dog turds near
campsites, creeks and trails. This is extremely disgusting, has the potential
to be a public health issue and is completely unnecessary. </div>
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For example, the picture below is where I found an exposed
turd the other week. Notice it’s proximity to the camping areas and creek? This
is NOT acceptable. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKPrhWp7uTVt7eEWClw63lQg287z6qcBSBJkIeYuJMkTKjsMcWmCtj1JAsU-lF4fUbw9MnlaZgW7ZEAiZpV-GV5AfNFmjt0UYqUgumnyvTL-Z93Y-P6HYbKrOiPUji9SyDvoe_CWLmsE/s1600/site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKPrhWp7uTVt7eEWClw63lQg287z6qcBSBJkIeYuJMkTKjsMcWmCtj1JAsU-lF4fUbw9MnlaZgW7ZEAiZpV-GV5AfNFmjt0UYqUgumnyvTL-Z93Y-P6HYbKrOiPUji9SyDvoe_CWLmsE/s1600/site.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Or check out these turds – on the trail:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacMnn6R6EWpR6A45MRUWxDNI6cHDAaMr-bAKElQybJMFSn1TIOY340P0gSm4OclsG9IeaiJNZgfN6CvVjXh-dXqnZHQMsF2MpklbjODyyhUkfQyoyGUFX0OsztDZQue2EDobE5-I3exs/s1600/P6220357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacMnn6R6EWpR6A45MRUWxDNI6cHDAaMr-bAKElQybJMFSn1TIOY340P0gSm4OclsG9IeaiJNZgfN6CvVjXh-dXqnZHQMsF2MpklbjODyyhUkfQyoyGUFX0OsztDZQue2EDobE5-I3exs/s1600/P6220357.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 4 goals with human waste disposal in the backcountry
where there are no toilets available (i.e. all of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">King</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Range</st1:placetype></st1:place>
wilderness) are: </div>
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1. Maximize decomposition </div>
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2. Minimize contact with animals/insects</div>
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3. Eliminate contact with drinking water sources</div>
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4. Minimize social impacts</div>
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So, how do we accomplish these goals? </div>
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BURY YOUR WASTE <i>at
least</i> 200 feet (70 paces) from campsites, trails, and drinking water
sources (creeks, lakes, etc). </div>
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However, when you are on the Lost Coast Trail in the King Range NCA
you <i>will not </i>find a place to
accomplish this on about 90% + of the trail because of the steep terrain that
hugs the coast: </div>
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For this reason we ask that you <b>dispose of your solid human waste in the wet sand near the ocean</b>
(intertidal zone) or as close to the wet sand as you can safely get. Dig a hole
at least 6-8 inches, make your deposit, and cover it up. (The ocean is not a drinking water source). </div>
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Upon the next high tide your waste will be obliterated.
Problem solved. </div>
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Now, many folks may be a bit bashful about squatting “out in
the open” on the beach. But, in my years of doing just that I have found that
privacy has not been an issue. If I’m camped near a creek all I need is a few
minutes to walk north or south on the beach to find a corner I can go around
and usually a rock, log, or a dip in the sand to crouch behind. </div>
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You can put your toilet paper in the hole too but if you can
manage to pack it out then that is even better. ALL feminine hygiene products
(e.g. tampons, etc.) must ALWAYS be packed out. </div>
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Wherever you are – on the coast or inland – you must dig a
hole for your waste. Putting a rock on top is not burying it! Think about it
this way: you should feel comfortable sitting on top of where you just made
your deposit – it should be that well buried. Also, there is no need to leave
toilet paper exposed (I’m not sure what the reasoning with this trend is). If
it’s a warning you’d be much better off just BURYING your waste – <i>all</i> of it. No warning required. </div>
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Please keep in mind that you are not the only person
visiting these remote areas. In fact, on the Lost Coast Trail, there will be
people camping at many of the established sites nearly every night throughout
the summer. </div>
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So please, respect the
wilderness and respect everyone else that will be visiting after you. </div>
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There were people here before you and there will be people
here after you. </div>
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If you have any questions send me an e-mail or give me a
call:</div>
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<a href="mailto:lostcoastranger@gmail.com">lostcoastranger@gmail.com</a></div>
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707-986-5405</div>
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Your Wilderness Ranger, </div>
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Paul Sever</div>
Lost Coast Rangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00831757232048791937noreply@blogger.com1