The day before my friend Lars and I had planned to explore a section of the California Coastal Trail, a storm system swept through that was cold enough to blanket Kneeland, Liscom Hill and the entirety of the Coast Range with a thick coating of snow. Squalls buffeted our house into the early morning. I […]
Get Out
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Crab a la Kayak
It was a perfect winter day in Trinidad — blue skies, bright sun and ocean breezes. Just right for hauling crab pots around on a kayak. Yes, a kayak. While they may not be the most conventional crabbing vessels around, kayaks have a growing fan base, according to Greg Mounton, who helps coordinate the […]
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Break out the Crab Pots
For newbies: For those looking to learn the sport of kayak crabbing, Mouton offers free classes through Pacific Outfitters. Class schedules are posted at the Eureka store and on the LCKA Facebook page. He also organizes several species-specific charity tournaments a year. The Trinidad Rock Fish Wars in October draws 70-100 participants and raises […]
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Star Struck
For the grand finale of a Sierra hiking trip this past August, we got up at 2:30 a.m. and left from Guitar Lake to summit Mt. Whitney for sunrise. There was a new moon that night, and the neon and incandescent civilization was far away. With no competing light in this rarified air more […]
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Stand Up and Paddle
It’s raining again. After a glorious September and early October, the fog is rolling in and the days of peek-a-boo sunshine are back. For me, this means my running season is over, and my climbing is going mostly indoors. But there are still a few ways to enjoy Humboldt that do not include whining about […]
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Do It
Last year, my willpower sputtered out at mile 23. A runner behind me wept as she shuffled along. That 26.2 miles is long way. “One foot in front of the other,” I told myself. This was awful. But 20 minutes later, the announcer was saying my name as I crossed the finish line a […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
A Slow Trip Down the Avenue
Sometimes there are things in our lives that we pass by so often we forget just how special they are. Over the years my family has made the long drive down to the Bay Area enough that we have reduced the trip to a series of bathroom stops with a refueling in Willits. The […]
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Outfit Yourself
Kayak: Borrow a kayak from a friend or rent one from Bigfoot Rafting Co. in Willow Creek or Pacific Outfitters in Arcata or Eureka. I prefer inflatable kayaks for this kind of short expedition, because they pack up small and light. In your dry bag: A chain bike lock (for locking up your kayaks while […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
An Urban Kayak Adventure
I am not an adrenaline junkie. If the idea of hurling yourself through icy waves under gray skies appeals to you, then you’re lucky to live in an area where you can kayak year round. All you need is the right gear (dry suit, booties, gloves) and a bad attitude, and you can paddle […]
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Reserving a Lookout
Six Rivers National Forest as well as the other available lookouts in southwestern Oregon and Northern California use ReserveAmerica (www.reserveamerica.com) for bookings and payment. Some national forest lookouts can also be booked by phone at 1-877-444-6777 or online through www.recreation.gov. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance, and can be made up […]
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A Room with a View
What is it about fire lookouts that gives them such an aura of romanticism? The isolation? The simplicity? Gary Snyder, who spent a couple of summers as a fire spotter high above the upper Skagit River in the North Cascades, celebrated the ascetic nature of the lookout: “fewer the artifacts, less the words slowly […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Extreme Endurance
I am a fair weather athlete. The longer days and returning sunshine have dramatically improved my attitude about training. Even on rainy days I keep my shorts and running shoes close by, ready to put in a few miles during a cloud break. I registered for a half marathon at the end of September, so […]