So, you’re itching to get outside and away from civilization. With fall quickly approaching and school starting, time is getting short for 2014. For the following package of stories, News & Review writers from Chico, Sacramento and Reno explored some not-so-distant reaches of California. Included are the Richardson Grove State Park, Mono Hot Springs and Desolation Wilderness. Don’t be intimidated by these destinations. We provide “pro tips” direct from nonprofessional outdoor enthusiasts. So, get out there and start exploring the wildernesses in your backyard.
Don’t forget the Spatula We wanted to feel insignificant. And few things dwarf us mere humans like the redwoods. The towering trees—as tall as a 35-story building—exist all over California. But Humboldt County is known for holding the grandest and oldest. We reserved campgrounds at Richardson Grove State Park, the southernmost option still technically within the county. Disclaimer: I’m not much of a camper. My parents weren’t very outdoorsy. My friends in college weren’t, either. My proud Eagle Scout of a camping partner chose the campsite, but I don’t think either of us expected such luxury. Running water, sure. But such impeccably clean bathrooms? With intense diagrams explaining how to flush the notcomplicated toilet? And recycling? Showers? Sure enough, the other campers seemed keen on the luxury. There were enormous, multiroom tents and elaborate stoves everywhere. And children. I overheard one adorable little boy tell his mom, “I think that tree is old.” We thought we were getting crazy by bringing a large cooler with beer and cheese and stuff. Alas, we forgot a spatula. Our burgers fell into the fire, and our calzones escaped their foil encasings. Luckily, the Eagle Scout was prepared with a backup supply of salami. Four meals later, I have zero interest in eating salami for the foreseeable future. The mosquitoes devoured me each night. We saw a rattlesnake. As we tried to fall asleep at 9:30 p.m.—don’t judge—we could hear what must have been a rave at a neighboring campsite. I felt old, lame. Another neighbor gave us a half-bottle of port that read “Dumpster Diver 2013.” It was sweet, syrupy and delicious. Wine aside, hiking through those glorious, 1,000-year-old Sequoia sempervirens easily
By JaNelle B itkeR , BRad ByNum aNd Nick m ille R IlluStratIonS BY BrIan BreneMan & haYleY DoShaY
OPINION
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NEWS
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GREEN
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FEATURE STORY
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ARTS&CULTURE
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ART OF THE STATE
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FOODFINDS
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FILM
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MUSICBEAT
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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS
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THIS WEEK
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saved the weekend from failure. The park’s visitor center sits in the middle of a cathedrallike grove of redwoods. Their stark uniformity gave them an air of nobility, with the late afternoon light creating lovely refractions in between. A 4-mile hike brought us through two more impressive groves and up an ear-popping 1,000 feet. I sweated disgusting amounts, but I don’t exactly hit the gym. I think most physically fit people would call it “moderate.” What was most astounding about that hike, and subsequent hikes, was the complete silence and emptiness. We came across one other couple on the trails over the course of the entire weekend. Later, we realized that the hundreds of campers were at the swimming hole on the Eel River. In this drought, it was more like a dipping hole, but still entirely pleasant in the heat. Though without children—or floaties— we quickly felt out of place. By day three, we were ready for a change of scenery. Since we were already so far north, an extra hour to loop around the coast felt more than worthwhile. Highway 1 wound through forests, rugged cliffs and 200-person towns. Cars frequently stopped to admire the impossibly blue ocean and mysterious North Coast fog. We ended our detour in Fort Bragg, at the Glass Beach. Legend has it that residents would dump bags of household garbage onto the beach in the early 20th century. After decades of waves crashing onto shore, the trash has broken down into sea glass. Lots of people come and collect the prettiest, brightly colored pieces of glass, to the point that white and brown dominate the current landscape. Still, that mandatory long walk on the beach feels way more epic when said beach is made of glass.
—JaNelle Bi t keR W h e R e : Northern California in Humboldt County, just south of Garberville, about a six-hour drive from Reno. W h at ’ s t h e c o s t : Reservations recommended, $35 a day.
R e s t R o om s , oR dig a hol e : Showers and toilets!
P R o t i P s : Of the 170 campsites, Oak Flat is the farthest from the highway and Madrone sits in the middle of a redwood grove. Trails and swimming holes abound. And while it’s a family-friendly park, it is also bear and rattlesnake country, so take proper precautions.
a dde d B oN u s : Nearby coastal escapes on Highway 1. Find out more at www.parks.ca.gov.
MISCELLANY
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AUGUST 14, 2014
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