Spring on the Lost Coast and King Range

The alder trees are budding and columbine are in bloom along the Lost Coast this week.

I hiked, March nine and ten, into Big Flat from Black Sands Beach. All of the creeks are up, but only Telegraph, Shipman, and Big Flat were high enough that I needed to remove my boots. Never did I go into water greater than knee deep--all of these crossings were safe. Gitchell and Horse Mountain Creeks were shallow enough or had enough stepping-stones that I was able to cross without removing my hiking boots.

Big Flat Creek has obviously been very active this winter. Two of last year's shelters and a clump of bushes have been completely obliterated by the creek's action. The watercourse has straightened itself on the beach, abandoning the bend around the vegetation that it had last year. There are a number of abandoned channels and a couple of small oxbow ponds in the delta, right now, which tell stories of big storms in February. There are a couple of shallow crossings on Big Flat Creek, utilizing an island and a couple of large logs to cross the deepest portion of the stream.

Keep an eye out, though, as these streams can change suddenly. I camped at Shipman Creek, which dropped nearly six inches overnight. There is rain forcast for this weekend--it could easily regain those six inches and then some in no time at all.

No new hazards to report on the southern portion of the Lost Coast.

The reroute we completed on Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, in September, is still holding up. There was a small slide on the west approach to the timber structure. This can be passed safely, though it will be a maintanence issue later in the season.

The King Crest still has snow in places. The snow was visible from Big Flat. Be prepared for this if you plan to hike the Upland Trails this week.