California's Lost Coast

California's Lost Coast Log (2008-07-10 --> 2008-07-29)

Leaders: Meg Miller and Clay Kennedy

Students: Tucker Bulleit, Cheney Gardner, Janie Hannon, Zach Josey, Tate Mabon, Chelsea MacGriff, Becca Manning, Jack McIntyre, Anne Trammell Newton, Loren Shealy, Genna Spears, Taylor Wallace, Cole Woodall

Trip Update 7-15-08

We had a great 4 days on the lost coast-- we may have been the only ones in California feeling cool and breezy despite the fires and heat wave going on throughout the state. We spent the first day getting ready at our trailhead at Mattole Beach where we learned how to pack solid packs, set up a stove for cooking, and how to layer properly in both the heat and cold. Meg and Clay taught some solid Leave No Trace lessons followed by some skits to illustrate major points like scouting good camp sites, not disturbing people or animals on the trail, and packing out whatever you take in. We had our first Moonup on the each that night and shared our ultimate rock star moments by saying what song we would like to perform in concert- everyone had a unique take with some highlights including Dave Mathews, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blind Melon. The next day we set out for our first campsite at Cooskie Creek. The group performed so strongly we got there before 3 P.M. with enough time to unwind before dinner. Cook crew that night dazzled with a meal of chicken fried rice with Chelsea handling the frying pans and Jack doing a great job with digging the all important sump hole for our dishwater. The next morning we awoke to a great breakfast of oatmeal and set out for day 2 with Tucker and Cheney leading the way as our Leaders of the Day. Tucker set the pace for the team, and Cheney hung out in back with Becca, Janey, Genna and Taylor. We passed the Spanish Flats where we broke for our one and only lunch on the coast of P.B. and J torts- we had G.O.R.P. the other times- there was so much enthusiasm we had to play a game of "Big Booty" to determine who would get a second half! Jack, Chelsea, Zack and Cole emerged victorious and were pleasantly rewarded!

Camping at Big Creek that night we enjoyed our first official beach front property, pitching tents in between drift wood. Everyone was tired after a long day but rallied to pitch tents with enough time to relax for a couple hours and enjoy the breezy afternoon. Our 3rd day proved to be the toughest hike, 8 miles with a 4.5 mile stretch of rocky terrain. Taylor and Genna were tag team for L.O.D. and they handled both the front and the back of the group very well, making sure to break at least every 30 minutes. Loren and Jack enjoyed a rock skipping break along the way, with some great pictures that captured the moment. Everyone got fired up with their first introduction to "YEE-HAW" with Tate and Becca lasting until the very end. That night we were all saving up for our final huuurah and celebrated with a Jell-O no bake cheese cake expertly chilled and prepare din the river by Loren. After feasting on chili with black beans and veggies the cheese cake got everyone fired up enough to finish the night with yet two more rounds of yee-haw and big booty, this time Ann emerged victorious in Yee-haw and it was a 3 way tie in big booty. Today we are off to the Redwood forest to see the ancient trees tomorrow before heading inland to the Klamath River for our rafting section. Everyone is in great spirits and ready for another adventure.

Until then-

Lost Coast 2

Trip Update 7-19-08

We just finished up a great 2 nights and 3 days rafting on the Klamath River. Despite some light smoke in the surrounding mountains, we still enjoyed a great rafting trip floating about 20 miles downriver. The first morning we set out on 2 big paddle boats and 4 duckies, with some ducky enthusiasts like Cole, Chelsea, Becca and Taylor taking the lead on the kayaks. Our first big class 3 rapid was tough but everyone made it through just fine. Having a beach picnic of turkey sandwiches with all the fixins we settled into life on the river very quickly. That night the cook crew helped prepare a great meal of chicken burritos and we all enjoyed our new river front property! Everyone laid out tarps together and slept out in the open under a full moon. As we set out the next morning we felt even more confident in our capabilities. Loren proved to be quite the water rat as she went after and successfully flipped over nearly every single duckie. . . with a little help from Clay and Cole. Jack and Tucker took their turn on the duckies and did really well on the next big rapid. While the paddle boat loaded with Becca, Ann, Tate, Janie and Cheney kept spirits light joking with their Josh Hartnett look alike river guide (Google him.) We set up camp on a smaller beach the second night but that didn't stop anyone from taking some evening swims, Genna and Taylor were daring enough to go in after dinner. We finished the day with a Moonup about where we will all be in 10 years, there were some interesting predictions, some obtained higher degrees in education while others went less practical routes, there were jokes of hippy communes, guess life in Northern Cali has gone to our heads a little. Now we are full speed ahead to the Trinity Alps with one more day to prepare for our backpacking section and get into shape for Shasta. Until then- all is well on the rather hot and hazy California Coast!

Trip Update 7-26-08

We made it successfully out of the Trinity Alps after a great 4 days! Everyone made it through even the toughest traverses and switchbacks and we proved that we are definitely ready to take on Mount Shasta. We started out early on Monday morning at Boulder Creek trailhead, which proved to be one of the trickiest parts of our hikes because of all the down trees that had fallen in our path. But even with our packs strapped to our backs we climbed over and around each giant log that stood in our way. Jack and Genna were Leaders of the Day for our 1st day out, and did a great job of setting the pace for the entire group. We broke for lunch once we had gotten through the toughest part and had some somewhat soggy tuna wraps, but no one complained. Making it to camp by 3 P.M. everyone was thrilled to have a lake to jump into after an intense first day. Taylor and Genna led the brigade into the water, soon followed by Jack, Chelsea and Cole. Tucker posted up on a rock to read as everyone took a few hours of downtime. Becca and Ann took the lead on dinner that night making a great chili dish with black beans and veggies.

The next day we set out for Foster's Cabin and immediately were challenged by an uphill scale of switchbacks. Taylor took the lead of the pack as L.O.D. with Genna by her side, and Janey, her co-leader, did a great job keeping the pace for the whole group in the back. The hike took us up and over a mountain pass and along a ridge. At one point, we hiked for about 2 hours straight before lunch, and Janie and Cheney kept us motivated the whole way through talking about all the wonderful spots they had eaten at while in San Francisco. Girabaldi Chocolate factory was way up there! We had our GORP and bars for lunch that day which didn't satisfy everyone's needs, which ended up with Cole and Clay challenging themselves to a grasshopper eat off- Chelsea has the pictures to prove it. But we still had plenty of food for everyone and that night experimented with introducing a new dish to everyone, Quinoa, a healthy protein grain that everyone really enjoyed. Loren took the reins in the kitchen and sautéed some excellent summer sausage to spice up the meal, who knew she had so much energy after leaving her pack on during most breaks to consult the map. We set out past fosters cabin the next morning, after making bets on who would have spent the night there we all agreed it looked a little too out of a horror movie for any of us to make the attempt, but it did add a certain ambiance to the trail. Becca led the group that day and did a great job of leading everyone through some beautiful meadows and up some steep and rocky creeks, must've been those basketball drills that gave her the strength! We had another great PB & J torts lunch and got to camp in time to write letters to self and a list of 20 things we would like to accomplish in our lives. That night we had a pasta feast, with Tate heading up the cook crew, and Genna and Cheney getting very involved with our festive Jell-O No-Bake cheesecake, adding a secret ingredient of the fan favorite Peanut Butter to keep it interesting.

We finished our last Moonup in the Alps discussing certain backcountry habits we wouldn't mind leaving behind; the bathroom was a general consensus, and ones we would like to take with us like conserving water and energy. The next morning we arose at 7 A.M. to set out early on our hike. We gained about 3200 feet of elevation in just over a mile and then soon descended another 4,000 all in one morning. Then we retraced our steps along the tough down logs of boulder creek trail to come full circle and return to our precious u-haul. Zach was Leader of the Day and kept the banter going in the back talking about fishing trips that he had gone on with his family. We all made it to the van by 3:30, having hiked 8 miles that day, and around 30 total for our trip. The group did great both collectively and individually, and really earned their trip to fast food that night, some setting records for consumption, namely Jack and Cole.

But now we are back on track staying hydrated and healthy in Mount Shasta town. Tonight we will pack our packs for the climb and have one final Iron Chef cook off to prepare us for our ascent, the theme is carbo loading of course with various pasta dishes abound. We're looking forward to meeting our Shasta Mountain guides in the morning and climbing to base camp starting at noon! We hope to be on top by around 9 A.M. on Sunday morning, noon, Eastern Standard Time! A great way to wrap up our trip and this great journey along California's Coast.

-CLC 2