Day 1 - Hike to Beach Camp
Day 2 - Hike along Coastal Ridge
Day 3 - Hike to Bear Harbor, Depart
Accomodations:
We'll hike along a beautiful stretch of wilderness coastline in the Sinkyone Wilderness known as the Lost Coast in Northern California. This area is rich in history and abounds in wildlife: deer, osprey, pelicans, bald eagles, seals and sea lions. It is a naturalist’s paradise! There's even a herd of Roosevelt elk that roam the area.
We will backpack from Bear Harbor through stands of redwood trees to Wheeler, an old abandoned logging town and camp near a black sand beach.Day 2 the group will day hike along the coastal ridgeline to gain amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and relax on the beach for lunch and exploring. Your guides will share their knowledge of the local flora and fauna while hiking, pointing out edible plants and animals unique to the Lost Coast.
This backpack is ideal for women looking for a wonderful weekend in the wilderness and beginners looking to learn more about backpacking. Join us on this truly unique women's only backpack adventure along the Pacific Ocean!
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Day By Day ItineraryMeet in Garberville, CA. From here we will drive to the trailhead at Bear Harbor. Along the way, we will stop at Needle Point, a century old cabin where you can take time to look at old pictures and read up on the history of the area. At historic Bear Harbor, which was the main shipping point in the area at the turn of the century, we'll organize our backpacks and then hike the 4 1/2 miles over the mountainous coastline through stands of redwoods and steep, open grasslands to Wheeler.
Wheeler has been called "the newest ghost town in the West." Established in 1950, Wheeler was a company logging town and lasted only 10 years. The town housed about 32 families who harvested the timber, worked in the sawmill, and trucked the cut lumber to Willits. The town had electricity, telephones and a water system; today only a few logging relics and the foundations of buildings are left. Wolf Creek runs through the deserted town, and domesticated plants grow wild in the lush habitat. One-eighth of a mile from the site is a lagoon and a black sand beach frequented by harbor seals and sea birds with high cliffs on either side. We'll make our camp near the beach, have a hearty delicious meal, and then enjoy an evening campfire.
Today, take an optional day hike farther south on the Lost Coast trail to Little Jackass, a valley with a sea cove bordered by picturesque sea caves and the towering Anderson cliffs. This is a steep 9-mile round-trip hike, but you will carry only your light daypacks. Sea lions are often seen playing in the surf and sometimes come up on the beach to sleep in the sun. We'll spend some time relaxing and eating lunch on the black sand beach here before hiking back to our camp. Back in camp we'll enjoy another excellent dinner and campfire. Tonight is the full moon.
Breakfast and return back on the trail back to our cars at Bear Harbor. We’ll enjoy the seaside views along the way and leave plenty of time for picture. Upon arrival back at the trailhead, we’ll say goodbye and depart for home.
