Spring: The Season of the Tick

These nasty little creatures feed by attaching and sucking blood from their host. Below is the magnified mouth parts of a tick – amazing (Pictures from the California Department of Public Health).


The King Range is abundant with ticks around the spring and summer months. The main problem with these creatures, besides the fact that they give you the creeps, is that they transmit disease. The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, transmits the bacteria that cause Lyme. There was a great article in the North Coast Journal from April 2011 Titled, “Repellant,” that said:

Deer ticks don’t jump or leap onto their hosts; they crawl and “quest” by positioning themselves on leaves or blades of grass, then raising their clawed forelegs. Aided by carbon dioxide sensors on their legs, they anticipate approaching animals and grab onto their furry coats as they pass by. Or, in the case of people, they grab onto pant legs or shirt tails.

Well said, and there are plenty of grasses along many of the trails that serve as great places for ticks to position themselves. Now that you’re aware of this you can take the necessary precautions and actions.

It is recommended that you:

Stay in the middle of the trail and avoid grassy areas, contact with logs, tree trunks and
fallen branches or tree limbs in forests. This may be impossible to avoid on sections of the Lost Coast Trail so check yourself often (hair line, armpit, back
of knees, groin) for ticks during and up to three days after your trip in tick infested areas.

Tuck pants into boots or socks, and shirt into pants.

Wear light-colored clothing and long-sleeved shirts so ticks can be more easily seen.

Use a repellent registered for use against ticks. Repellents with DEET are effective
and can be applied to the skin. Repellents with permethrin should be applied only to
clothing. Always follow directions on the container and be especially careful when
applying to children.

To remove a tick:

Grasp the tick’s mouthparts as close to the skin as possible.


Gently pull the tick straight out, using a firm steady motion.

Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic to the
bite site.

Prompt tick removal can prevent transmission of infection because an infected tick must be attached and feeding for at least a day before it can transmit the spirochetes (the bacterium that causes Lyme disease).

Consult with your physician if you develop any symptoms, especially a rash, within
30 days of the tick bite.

According to the California Department of Public Health:

Lyme disease can affect many body systems. Lyme disease can start as a mild flu-like illness and, over time, develop into severe chronic health problems. The early stages of the disease can include a red, expanding skin rash (called erythema migrans or EM), chills and fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, weakness of some muscles in the face, and heart irregularities. The EM rash appears up to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick. One or more EM rashes can occur, not necessarily at the tick bite. The rash can precede, accompany, or follow flu-like symptoms. The rash may not be noticed in some instances due to skin tone or occurrence on the body in locations difficult to see. Occasionally, an allergic reaction to the tick bite can occur on the skin and may be mistaken for an EM. The allergic reaction is different from an EM rash because it happens within minutes to hours after the tick bite and does not spread. If left untreated, arthritis or nervous system signs can develop in some Lyme disease
patients. Arthritis is most likely to appear as bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one
or more large joints, especially the knees. Nervous system abnormalities can include
numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms and legs, or difficulties in memory and the ability
to concentrate.Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, especially in the early stages. The potential for long-term complications increases if the disease progresses untreated.

I don’t think this is something to cancel your trip over but you should definitely be aware and take precautions. Visit the CDPH web page for a wealth of information about tick-born diseases.

Hope this helps,

Give me a call if you have any questions about hiking the Lost Coast.

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul

707-986-5405

lostcoastranger@gmail.com

Plan To Visit The Lost Coast This Spring Break?

A few things to know and FAQ:

1. Although this winter is quite dry, are we likely to get soaked all week at the end of March? What is the weather like?

Being on the coast the weather can change rapidly. It’s not uncommon for it to go from clear and sunny to windy and rainy in a matter of hours. Be prepared for any and all types of weather conditions. I suggest checking the 14 day precipitation outlook several times leading up to your planned trip dates to get an idea of what may be coming our way.

The picture above is a clip for March 14 from the 14 day precipitation model from NOAA. As of now it is forecasted to be rainy all next week. This is unfortunate for you first wave of spring breakers but keep checking the forecast because you never know - something may change. This brings us to our second FAQ:

2. I heard that streams can become impassable in the spring months, what should I expect?

As of this moment, the streams are very much passable since we have had very little rain this year. However, if these new weather systems move through and dump several inches over the next few weeks you should be ready for difficult stream crossings. 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, this also means that 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, wait it out, or take an upland trail (which will add considerable mileage and time to your trip). General rule of thumb says not to attempt a creek crossing if it is deeper than your knees. You’ll need to assess your own skills/level of confidence and that of your group when it comes to deep and swift moving creeks.

3. There are sections of trail that are impassible at high tide, right?

That's correct. There 4 “impassable during high tide” sections on the trail:

1. Punta Gorda (I personally have not had trouble passing this spot unless it is a very high tide and/or swell)

2. Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek

3. Miller Flat to about one mile south of Buck Creek

4. 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.

How high of a tide is too high to pass? It’s difficult to say exactly but, all other factors aside, somewhere between 3.5 to 4.5 feet. Watch the ocean condition predictions, especially during the winter months, because large waves can impede and make travel potentially dangerous - even during low tides.

Also, know that during high tide you can be camped at the major creeks (named on the map) that are in the middle of the “impassable at high tide” zones because the creek mouths give you plenty of space to move up off the beach.

Click here for a tide chart.

3. Is there a permit process? Why?

Currently, we have free self-service permits that you can pick up at any of the trailheads or at our office in Whitethorn (768 Shelter Cove Road). Please take a few moments before your trip to fill one out AND read it over front to back with ALL members of your party. The backcountry permit serves multiple purposes. On one hand, it is a way for us to keep records of how many people are out there recreating so we can better manage the King Range. It is also a tool to locate lost/missing hikers. For example, if we notice a vehicle has been sitting at a trailhead for an unusual amount of time we can try to find a permit with a matching licensed plate number. Based on what they indicated on their permit we can determine how many people are in their group, where they planned to go, and when they planned to come out of the backcountry (this information also helps to calm worried family members who occasionally call our office – it’s a good practice to tell someone where you’re going and the details of your plans).

For the King Range, this backcountry permit also serves as your campfire permit. When you sign the permit you,

“…agree to follow the guidelines for overnight camping in the King Range backcountry, especially regarding the use of bear-proof canisters, backcountry sanitation, and the use of fire.”

The permit serves as a way to get essential information to you and to ultimately reduce impacts to the fragile backcountry environment. Which brings us to our next topic:

4. I heard there are bears in the King Range. Can I hang my food or do I need a bear canister?

Bears are very real here in the King Range. People are often surprised that bears will come all the way down to the beach. But indeed, just about every morning I’m out on the trail I see bear tracks in the sand.

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). 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.

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.

We are really lucky here at the King Range that we don’t have any habituated bears. In large part because we initiated the bear can requirement early enough and people have been abiding by the regulation.

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 licensed (if you don’t return the bear can you will buy it). We are open Monday-Friday 8-4:30.

Other places to rent cans (call for availability, hours and prices):

BLM Arcata Field Office
1695 Heindon Rd. Arcata
707-825-2300

Shelter Cove General Store
7272 Shelter Cove Rd. Whitethorn
707-986-7733

HSU Center Activities
707-826-3357
http://humboldt.edu/centeractivities/rentalGear.php

Petrolia General Store
707-629-3455

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.

Lastly, there is one other animal that the bear can is good for: the raccoon. These little animals are a nuisance as far as your food is concerned. They are very active and will literately tear apart your backpack to get to your food. Do yourself a favor and help protect the animals in the king range by getting a bear can.

5. Can I have a camp fire this time of year?

Campfires are permitted right now. We ask that you use existing fire rings and keep the fire small by using only small pieces of wood no bigger in diameter than the size of your wrist. This helps contain the fire in the ring, helps to keep the campsites clean and reduces fire danger. 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.Please put your fire out with plenty of water with the soak and stir method. It should be cool to the touch by the time you’re done.

I haven't taken much pictures of campfire rings in perfect condition but we would like to avoid campfire rings that are in the conditions below:

6. I heard there was a unique method of human waste disposal on the LCT, what is that?

When you need to dispose of solid human waste on the LCT dig a hole 6-8 inches deep in the wet sand below the high tide line (or as close to the wet sand as safely possible), make your deposit, and then cover the hole with sand.

There are 4 goals with human waste disposal in the backcountry:

1. Minimize contact with water sources

2. Minimize contact with insects and wildlife

3. Minimize social impacts. This is the disgusting factor when you see a pile of waste right next to where you are camping.

4. Maximize decomposition (when we bury it 6-8 inches it maximizes decomposition by mixing with the soil and microbiological organisms. Putting a 6-8 inch rock on top of it is not burying it).

The steep and rocky cliffs along the trail and at the major drainages/camping areas make finding a place to go 200 feet away from campsites, trails, and drinking water sources (standard Leave No Trace practice) nearly impossible – therefore, we have found that the ocean is the most ideal place to dispose of human waste. If for some reason you absolutely can’t go down to the beach to take care of business PLEASE go at least 200 feet from campsites, trails, and drinking water sources and BURY your waste!

Lastly, to wrap up, please pack out your trash and do not burn trash in your campfire unless it can be completely burned in one sitting and you plan to do so. Examples of things that often do not burn completely in one sitting: Anything lined in foil (e.g. Mountain House packaging), metal cans, plastics, and food scraps.

Trash I pulled out of a campfire ring

I encourage you to visit the Leave-No-Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics website become familiar with their 7 principles.

There are many people that come to enjoy the King Range and the Lost Coast. Help keep the Lost Coast clean and enjoyable for your future visits and for everyone that comes to enjoy this special landscape.

Send me a message or give me a call if you have any questions

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul

lostcoastranger@gmail.com

707-986-5405

Sinkyone Road Failure

According to the Times Standard, the Bear Harbor Road between Needle Rock and Bear Harbor is impassible to vehicles but is still open to pedestrain access.

"...Walk-in access to Orchard Camp, Railroad Camp and Bear Harbor Campground will be the only way to visit these areas."

Your Wilderness Ranger,
Paul

California Conservation Corps on the Lost Coast

This week, February 13-17, a crew from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) will be out on the Lost Coast pulling Cape Ivy, an invasive plant species. According the the California Invasive Plant Council,

Cape ivy climbs over most other vegetation, forming a solid cover that blocks light and smothers other vegetation. The weight of the ivy mass sometimes causes trees to fall. Habitat for both plants and animals in protected natural reserves has been rendered worthless when large portions are occupied almost exclusively by cape ivy.

We greatly value the hard work the CCC puts into the King Range NCA to help restore Wilderness Characteristics. If you see them out there thank them for what they do.

And on another note, check out some interesting weather we were having.

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul

lostcoastranger@gmail.com

707-986-5405

Come Join Our FREE Public Lecture Series

Rescue at Point No Pass

This past Saturday a group of hikers were rescued on the beach south of Shelter Cove at Point No Pass. I’ll let you read the full details of the story here.
But, know that:

1. Do not attempt to pass Point No Pass (about 1 mile south of Shelter Cove). This is a dangerous spot and is impassable at all tidal levels. The Lost Coast Trail goes around this point along the crest of Chemisal Mountain from Hidden Valley to Needle Rock.

If you are backpacking the northern section of the LCT and want to continue south we recommend that you go up Horse Mountain Creek Trail and walk along King Peak Road. From there it’s less than half a mile on Shelter Cove Road to Chemise Mt. Road and the Hidden Valley Trailhead is 0.2 miles on the right. And, of course, you can do this backwards too if you are hiking the southern section and want to continue north.

2. We have great volunteer rescue groups here in Southern Humboldt (Shelter Cove Fire and Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue were involved in this incident) and we should all be proud. I’m glad that everything turned out ok for the hikers.

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul
lostcoastranger@gmail.com
707-986-5405

Photo courtesy of Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue

Winter in the King Range

Expect and prepare to be wet and cold.

Leave No Trace principle #1 is to Plan Ahead and Prepare:

“Poor planning often results in miserable campers and damage to natural and cultural resources. Rangers often tell stories of campers they have encountered who, because of poor planning and unexpected conditions, degrade backcountry resources and put themselves at risk.”

Watch the weather closely for the days and weeks leading up to your trip. We can receive 100+ inches of rain in the King Range during the winter months. I recommend having full waterproof/breathable rain gear for upper and lower body and several pairs of socks. Practice setting up your tent so you can do it quickly in the rain (easier with more than one person). The problem I’ve found with a traditional style tent is that you first set up the tent body while it fills with rain and then put your rain fly on last – welcome to your new wet home. You may be able to develop a system to avoid this problem but after much time spent camping in the rain on the Lost Coast I have discovered that I prefer a floorless shelter system. This allows me to avoid the problem stated above as the floor of the tent (I use a small, light tarp) is set up last so that it stays dry. You'll want to keep your wet rainfly/tent seperate from the rest of your gear. I recommend bringing heavy duty trash bags for your wet and dry gear. A pack cover is also a good idea (you can modify a trash bag for that too).

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, wait it out, or take an upland trail (which will add considerable mileage and time to your trip).

General rule of thumb says not to attempt a creek crossing if it is deeper than your knees. It’s usually easier to cross at a wide spot, where the creek tends to be shallower, rather than where it is narrow and deeper. On the Lost Coast, at low tide, this means that it is often (but not always) easier to find a place to cross closer to the ocean where the creeks tend to widen. However, the closer you go towards the ocean the more you need to keep a close eye on wave behavior. Large waves with high energy can race far up the beach without warning. Unsuspecting hikers can be washed out to sea in an instant from these occurrences. Watch this short video I took about 45 minutes after low tide at Black Sands Beach last winter.

Follow these links for information on tides, local weather conditions and local coastal waters forecast.

Also, there are very neat and informative graphical models of percipitation:

5 day graphical model

14 day graphical model

Know that there 4 “impassable during high tide” sections on the trail:

1. Punta Gorda (I personally have not had trouble passing this spot unless it is a very high tide and/or swell)
2. Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek
3. Miller Flat to about one mile south of Buck Creek

4. 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.

How high of a tide is too high to pass? It’s difficult to say exactly but, all other factors aside, somewhere between 3.5 to 4.5 feet. Watch the ocean condition predictions, especially during the winter months, because large waves can impede and make travel potentially dangerous - even during low tides.

Also, know that during high tide you can be camped at the major creeks (named on the map) that are in the middle of the “impassable at high tide” zones because the creek mouths give you plenty of space to move up off the beach.

With all of this, even though we still have warm weather predicted for the next week or so, you should be prepared for wet and cold conditions and have a backup plan.

As of now the creeks and trails are still very much passable since we have had very little rain. But, keep an eye on the weather and as conditions change I will post updated information on this blog. You can also call our office at 707-986-5400, which is open M-F 8:00-4:30.

There are still nice days in winter if you can plan between storms! Photo by Cornelius Graubner.

Drop me a line if you have any questions

707-986-5405, lostcoastranger@gmail.com

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul