California, Here We Come

After seeing several of Oregon's highlights, it was on to the Golden State of California. The parts of California that I visited were quite remote and not at all in line with the crowded stereotype previously held (though I do think I found one of the epicenters of hippiedom).

The Northern California coast (see above) turned out to be just as spectacular as Oregon's coast. However, the real attraction was the giant redwood forests, home to the tallest trees on our planet. There are several state parks and one national park in the region of the giant redwoods encompassing the oceanfront to the nearby mountains. It was here that I was able to camp beneath 200-300 feet of fragrant canopy (see below).

Some of the most famous attractions are on private land. I found that there were equally large trees all around, so consequently, I didn't bother to pay the fee in order to see the "drive through" tree. Besides, I'd rather be hiking over the forest floor, spongy from the accumulation of cedar needles. Unfortunately because of the dense shade, ground cover was sparse offering no private place to relieve a full bladder (there's nothing like getting discovered behind a tree in mid-stream).

In addition to the gorgeous scenery, I was thrilled by the abundance of wildlife. I got to see many elk, including a few who were sunbathing on the beach (see above). In fact, the elk were everywhere, almost oblivous to passing cars. I imagine this could be dangerous during the rut. Unfortunately, despite signs warning of their presence around the campsite, I did not get any visits from Yogi's relatives.

Several hikes started from the "elk beach". My favorite was the serene and aptly named Fern Canyon (see above). This damp cool canyon always seemed to have a feeling of mist in the air even though the sun was shining brightly somewhere beyond the shadows. The green walls muffled all sounds other than the trickle of water over smooth stone, allowing the peaceful silence to be interrupted only by the occasional cry of a bird.

It was hard to leave the northern coast of California. The next couple of days would find me driving across the vast inter-mountain basin of Nevada and Utah on my way to more familiar places...