Exploring the Lost Coast

The format for this post is for any ARCC leaders that might be reading. For everyone else on the trip we had to write in a daily log on all the comings, goings and minutiae of the day. (pictures were not included in the official forms)


Date:  Aug 27th - Aug 30th
Leaders of the Day: Steve & Greg

Sam, Greg, Steve & Jenna

Weather: Splitter blue skies
Distance Traveled: Drove ~4 hours and hiked over 30 miles with a few thousand feet of elevation gain and loss.
Meals:
 included pancakes for breakfast, banana nut bread, zucchini date bread and breakfast burritoes all coming in at or above 8 out of 10
Salami & aged gouda for lunches as well as fresh fruit and sandwiches again at least 8/10
Dinners included couscous tuna curry, sausages  and something else, all super delicious
Snacks were personal bars oodles of bitchin' blackberries and other edible greens foraged along the trail.

What happened:
We started at usal junction/campground and hiked in 10-11 miles to Wheeler creek/Jackass camp where we made base camp on a beautiful beach framed by steep hill sides and lush vegetation.

Base Camp


 The second day we went on a 5ish  mileday hike to bear cove or something (my memory fails me at the moment) and spent the day on the beach picnicking, playing in the water and having a generally good time. After returning to camp dolphins and sea lions were spotted at the beach, we attempted to dig for clams to compliment our tuna curry and learned to play pitch from Jenna. 
Jenna with her seagull friend

Day three we had an extremely leisurely morning packing up, eating, playing cards and spending more time on the beach. We left camp around 11:30 for our return hike along the Lost Coast Trail to Usal which was 12-13 miles long and crossed a number of drainages resulting in lots of El. gain and worst of all loss. We stopped at Little Jackass for a later lunch/picnic and played in the ocean which was freeeeeezing! We almost swam to a sweet sea arch but then hypothermia began to kick in.

We continued hiking, playing games and laughing (some more than others). We arrived at the campground at about 8:46pm after watching a fantastic sunset over the Pacific ocean and the newly found coast.

An awesome sunset from camp

Activities used: Pitch, expert and many trail games they were all fun and built on an already excellent group dynamic

Pulse Check: Wasn't sure what this was on the trip log and I'm still not sure what it is.

Group mood: So positive we were dancing among the stars...which were beautiful what with that milky way and all.


Suggested trip changes: more adult beverages. suggested ratio is 1 liter per person per 3 days.

A dead tree Steve enjoyed tempting fate in.

Trail time

Greg unknowingly striking a pose on the day hike

Day hike beach - bear cove?

Ow Ow!

Looking longingly back towards our base camp as we hiked towards the real world.