Spring Break Preview

It is spring break season for many schools in the state which means backpacking and the outdoors for many of you. If you are thinking about making your destination the Lost Coast this week or next you should know that the conditions are wet, cold and rainy with possible hazardous seas. If this doesn’t sound like miserable conditions and I haven’t discouraged you then read on.

If you hike the Lost Coast in the current conditions BE PREPARED:

1. Be prepared to wait if you can’t continue due to high wave activity that blocks the trail. This Friday, March 18th, has a forecast for a 17 foot swell (this is huge). Wikipedia defines swell as the, “average height of the largest 33% of waves in a set, measured from the highest point of a wave to the lowest point.” You need to be aware that there are 2 sections along the trail that are impassable at high tide and with a large swell these areas may be difficult to pass at a low tide as well. The rest of the trail (which is supposedly passable at any tide level) can be difficult to pass at or near a high tide with a large swell as well. Click this link to watch a 15 second video I took near Black Sands Beach on Monday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWyPfc1xSSs This is about an hour and a half after peak high tide with a large swell. Note that this area is not marked on the map as, “trail impassable at high tide.”

2. Be prepared to wait due to high rain activity that may make creeks impassable. With heavy rains the creeks along the Lost Coast trail can rise rapidly. I touched on this a bit in my last blog post but, in general, you should not attempt a creek crossing that is over knee high. Use your best judgment: If you can’t cross and the rains continue you may want to consider going back or taking an upland trail.

The good news is that we have AM minus tides for Monday March 21 through Friday March 25.

Starting on Monday, the morning low tides are as follows:

Date Time Tide
21 7:41 -0.8
22 8:33 -0.9
23 9:26 -0.8
24 10:23 -0.5
25 11:26 -0.1

The ideal travel times are within a few hours before and not more than a few hours after the peak low tide, especially in the sections of trail that are impassable at high tide. Use caution traveling after peak low tide because the tide will be on the rise.

Don’t let me discourage you from visiting the Lost Coast for your break. But, use your best judgment/senses and be prepared. Check local weather and ocean forecasts before your trip (conditions could change for better or worse from what I have posted here). http://www.noaa.gov/ and www.weather.gov/eureka Call me or send me an e-mail if you have any questions. My personal line is 707-986-5405. If I'm not in you can call our front desk at 707-986-5400.

Your Wilderness Ranger,

Paul

lostcoastranger@gmail.com