TWOLOST: Scouting the North California coast

[CJ]

TWOLOST, I agree the LOST COAST area is great, charlie56 and pjpvi best describe it. Pics are ....well you know.

added a few more to my gallery....enjoy

Have a great trip

[twolost]

I have been doing a little research around the Lost Coast area and the roads do sound interesting. One comment was something like... "that is whey they call it the Lost Coast, because it is nearly impossible to get to." Another comment was something like "this was the steepest, windiest, road I have ever traveled." This is going to be fun.


CJ - I checked out the Lost Coast pics in your gallery too!


Many Thanks,
---TWOLOST---

[BC]

TwoLost, we will expect copious notes and the usual stunning photos and trip reports.
curious too...what's the superSMB goin' back to Fresno for?

[twolost]

Hey BC, it is too late for me to change now (so expect the full run-down). As for the van, nothing is horribly wrong... I was hoping to have SMB West repair some minor systems issues and then give my van a thorough checkup and evaluate it based on what they have seen with other similar vans that have many more miles than mine.

Thanks,
---TWOLOST---

[oclv]

A few years ago my wife and I spent 4 days hiking and exploring about a 15 mile stretch of the coast. It was between Bodega Bay and Jenner (where the Russian River hits the Pacific). It was beautiful and we had a blast. There is a blacktop road that goes behind Bodega Bay up to a scenic parking lot that over looks the Pacific. Great spot for Bird watchers and whale watchers. There are lots of hikes along this stretch. April will be low tourist time and you should have the run of the place. We went the first weekend in May and there were very few tourists around. oclv

[charlie56]

In case you are interested:

Here is a map to the King Range BML wilderness area.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcat...rnca_maps.html

I drove the King Range area over the weekend. It was pouring rain and snow so the views were not that great, but I did check out some campsites. All are BML, pit toilet, running water, fire ring, table.

Wailaki is right along the main road so there is little privacy. No one was there on Saturday.

Tolkan is a few hundred yards off the main road and is a little more private. Wooded area, $8/per night, It was empty on Saturday.

Horse Mountain is ½ mile off the road. It is set up as a horse campground. $5 / night It was empty on Saturday.

Honeydew Creek is a tent campsite. It is little more than a wide spot in the road. It was empty on Saturday.

Mattole is right at the mouth of the Mattole River. It’s a beach Campground, $8 / night. (We stayed there) 13 spots, 4 were used. Nice beach.

KMZ file of locations available.

Cheapest Diesel is in Willits at the Safeway. $1.99 /gal

[twolost]

Awesome, thanks Charlie!

I have been doing quite a bit of research on the Nor Cal Coast and have started to put together some loosely based plans. Here are some areas that I am thinking about spending some time during my return journey north…

San Francisco -> Westport along the Pacific Coast
Lost Coast
Avenue of the Giants
Shelter Cove, Mattole, Ferndale
There is just too much to list between Orick and Oregon…
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Redwood National Park
Six Rivers National Forest
Del Norte Coast Redwoods Park
Klamath National Forest




Some advice I received on what to avoid:
-------------------------------------------
Traffic, any traffic (hwy 99 for example).

Usal Road, beyond Usal Beach (unless I want serious racing stripes down each side of my van and I want to travel at the same pace as my winch).

Any road within the Lost Coast that just dead-ends. I don't want my Ford E350 FBI dark grey tank to spook the "farmers" who may be tending to their "crops".

College Cove Beach. I don't think that the one or two polar nudist would appreciate some dude dressed in full camo, lugging around long range photo equipment down their stretch of beach in order to capture close-up pictures of sea mammals. Although, I will be needing a bath around this stage of my trip and maybe I could sneak up on a few animals. Ummmm, look over there... doesnt that sea lion look quite a bit more pale than the others... (?)



Interests:
---------------------------------------------
First and foremost… getting a clean bill of health for my van
Wildlife (hooves, paws, and flippers)
Geography (coast, big waves, and big trees)
Sunrise/Sunset (if the clouds allow it)
Legend chasing (spotlighting Bigfoot after dark)



Thanks for all of the info... I think this is going to be a pretty good trip regardless of the expected wet weather conditions.

Cheers,
---TWOLOST---