Gauging Interest: Return to the Lost Coast

[LandRonB]

Sasquatch and family, and my family had a great time last time we explored the Lost Coast: http://nclrclub.org/forum/showthread.php?820-Last-Min-Gauging-Interest-Lost-Coast

 

Looking at October or early November date.

 

Post up if interested. Keep it simple and let me know if interested in going and which wknd doesn't work for you and your family. Will finalize trip date by the end of month based on interest.

 

General plans are to:

- Leave the Bay Area in the morning Friday

- Camp in the state campground on Usal Rd Friday night

- Prepare to BBQ your favorite and have a camp fire night

- Prepare for cold weather

- Believe it's Elk mating Season (very hostile) so beware to pets and people

- Continue on Usal Rd on Sat and make it to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

- Camp Sat night

- If time permits on Sunday explore Bear Harbor or make it down to Glass Beach

- Head for home Sunday after lunch

 

Adventure story here: http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=183236

 

Post up if interested

 

_ _ _ _ _

 

Return to the Lost Coast Trip Dates Nov 12, 13 & 14th and Details

Ok, now that the NCLR annual gathering event was completed last week; I can help focus on this trip.

 

Attendees (updated 11/10/10)

- Ron/family 1 LR vehicle (confirmed)

- Kevin/family 2 LR3s (confirmed)

- Enrique - 1 LR3 (confirmed)

- Sasquatch/GF - 1 LR3 (confirmed)

- Drafdog - 1 LR vehicle (waiting to hear back)

- Jen 1 LR3 (confirmed 90% yes)

- Michael Beaver 1 LR Vehicle (90% chance of not going)

- Antonio - 1 RRC (waiting to hear back)

- Nigel/family - 1 (mabye 2) vehicle (confirmed)

- Brenton/GF Dixie - 1 DII (confirmed)

- Mark Petersen Perez - 1 DII (maybe)

- Rupert - 1 LR3 (confirmed)

 

Here's a draft trip sheet.

 

General plan is leave the Bay Area early Friday morning and leave Sunday.

 

Last trip after camping out near Usal Beach, we checked out Sinkyone Wilderness Park on Sat; great place to explore but limited camping area. The Barn sleeps 2 family and first come first serve; we are expecting serveral family so the Barn even if avail will not accommodate all of us. There is ground camping but you have to haul all your gears (no parking next to the site) and you gonna have to deal with Elk roaming around, and Elk droppings on the ground.

 

I suggest we check out Sinkyone Wilderness Park early morning (let the kids explore) and head out to Shelter Cove for camping, or skip Sinkyone and head out further (areas that we have not been to from prev club trips); we just need to research group camping.

 

Sunday after breakfast, head out and shoot for lunch @ Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.

 

Draft Trip Details/Sheet

• Date/Time: Friday Nov 12 thru Sunday Nov 14, 2010

• Brief Description: Lost Coast

 

• Maps/Links: provided @ drivers meeting first day of the trail run.

 

• Trail Description (from Guide to California Backroads): Usal Road along the coast is subject to deterioration and can be rutted and muddy so avoid when wet. Usal is also narrow and steep in places. Be careful in the soft sand. Drive improves north of Four Corners. Last part of the trip is paved.

 

• Weather: 60% rain is expected Thursday that could make Usal road muddy for us Friday and Saturday. Sounds like a Land Rover day for us! 20% of rain Friday morning. Party cloud Saturday and "bring on the sunshine" Sunday - expected to be clear and sunny! Temp: Mid 30s to Mid 50s (cold)

 

• Meeting Location (Options)/Time:

1) 9am Fri Nov 12 @ Circle K Gas Station in Hercules. 828 Willow Avenue, Hercules, CA.

 

2) 12-12:30am Fri Nov 12 @ Gas Station in Leggett 67670 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA (707) 925-6099

 

3) Arrive Usal Beach State Camp Ground by 2pm

 

4) For late arrivals (Jan/Rupert), pls confirm you are meeting-up @ the gas station in Leggett between 5-5:15pm, and entrace to Usal Rd @ 6-6:15pm. I would not mind meeting you two (and another LR to come with me) and guide both of you back to camp.

 

• Directions to Meeting point Friday Nov 12:

1) Gas station in Hercules: Circle K Gas Station. 828 Willow Avenue, Hercules, CA. From I80E, take the Willow Ave Exit, follow the turn for about 100 yards, when you come to a stop light, gas station is across (easy in/out). Freeway entrance is across the gas station. Continue on to 80E, 37W, and then 101N.

 

2) Gas station in Leggett: 67670 Drive Thru Tree Rd. From 101N, take 614 exit towards Leggett, right on Drive Thru Tree Rd.

 

• GPS Cordinates:

Start of trail (Hwy 1/Usal Rd): Lat 39 46 50.0 Long 123 49 49.2

Next Marker (Usal Beach): Lat 39 50 5.4 Long 123 50 33

Next (Entrance to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park): Lat 39 58 24.5 Long 123 57 54

Next (Shelter Cover): Lat 40 2 19.9 Long 124 1 52.8

Exit to 101: Lat 40 21 19.7 Long 123 55 23.8

 

• Contact Info:

Will PM my cell tonight to all, and if you can do the same.

 

Agenda

 

Friday

• Get settled for the night and camping @ Usal Beach

 

Saturday

• BYO Lost Coast breakfast

• Let's roll @ 9am - Usal Rd

• Sinkyone Wilderness State Park including Bear Harbor or head up to Shelter Cover

• Lunch

• Depending on how far we, we check out Steel Bridge on Mattola and could camp @ beach again or Mattole Campground

• Campfire dinner

 

Sunday

• BYO breakfast

• Let's roll @ 9am

• Horse Mountain Road/Kings Peak Road to Wilder Ridge Road to Honeydew, then over the mountain to Rockefeller Forest

• Avenue of the Giants

• Lunch/find a place to eat on 101/say our good-byes or optional to check out Glass Beach @ Fort Bragg.

 

Add'l Info

• Radio Requirements: CB 7 or FRS 7

• Entrance Fee’s: Usal Beach (details soon)

 

Vehicle Requirements

• Stock vehicles welcome.

• Required Safety Equipment and trail items: Fire extinguisher, and first aide.

• Required Recovery Equipment: Strong recovery points (front and rear), and strap

• Misc equipment: metal shovel, repair tools and spare parts (to suit your vehicle) and optional sand ladder

• Expected Trail conditions: wet/muddy

• Clothing Suggestions: Cold/rain weather clothing

 

Property Information

• Lost Coast: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Coast

• National Geographic Adventure: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ad...ure-guide.html

 

Services

• Public Safety Agencies with Telco numbers for the trip area: fill

• BLM: fill

• Nearby Towing and Repair Services info: fill

• Gas/Service Station Locations in the area: fill

 

Other Info

• Bring your camera and extra batteries

• Tent/sleeping bag

• Extra garbage bags

• Emergency food/supplies

• Sun-block/sun-screen/hat/glasses (protect your skin/eyes expected to be sunny)

• GPS Unit optional certainly map of the area and compass

• Drinking water during camping/trails

• Nights might be cold - bring extra blanket and warm clothing

• Pit toilet @ Usal Beach State Campground, and Sinkyone State Park - but suggest bring portable toilet/wag bags

• Firewood

[HMBRover]

I think we'd be interested but I have some things going on in that time frame which might preclude so can't make any promises. Oct 15-17 is the only thing blocked out at this point. I've been wanting to do this trip ever since someone first brought it up.

[sasquatch]

Definitely in! A bit of weather could sure make a big difference on this trail.

[LandRonB]

Will have poss dates for this trip after this labor day wknd!

 

So far we have me, Brian, Dave, Graeme, and Dan interested in this trip from the club; and Granville aka Granny, Mike aka Disco X and Ron aka Rocky as guests.

 

Have a safe fun wknd folks!

[BEAR]

very, very interested. unfortunately i usually have to work on Saturdays. ill have to demand one off for this though. my schedule is already made through oct 2nd so it would have to be toward the end of October or early November so i could guarantee the day off. plus my wife's schedule goes through the first week in October too.

[NigelCowan]

Have any dates been decided? I'm interested and may bring my father-in-law and his two boys...

[LandRonB]

I was planning to take Friday Nov 5 off when I was reminded about my client call in Oregon that day. Sorry guys but we have to move the Loast Coast trip the 2nd wknd of Novebmer.

 

Update: news date selected Fri Nov 12 to Sun Nov 14

 

I am good for sure on this wknd; Dan, Sas, Granny, Ron, Enrique, Kevin and others; is this wknd ok?

 

Initial plans are to head out to the Loast Coast from the Bay Area on Friday. Camp near Usal beach first night Friday, and camp near Bear Harbor 2nd night Saturday, and return home Sunday. More details to follow. For starters, hope this dates work for folks interested. C yah!

[drafdog]

Ron, I will be following this post as there is a very very slight chance I will be able to make the trip.

[KSuttle]

Ron,

2nd weekend of November is actually better for us than the 1st. I also chatted with Enrique and 2nd weekend is good for him as well.

-Kevin

[LandRonB]

very, very interested. unfortunately i usually have to work on Saturdays. ill have to demand one off for this though. my schedule is already made through oct 2nd so it would have to be toward the end of October or early November so i could guarantee the day off. plus my wife's schedule goes through the first week in October too.

 

Hey Bear, will be the 2nd week and hopefully far enough in advance that you and your wife can make it. We have a few families like Kevin and Enrique coming and others as well e.g. Dave. Hope to see you there.

[LandRonB]

Ron, I will be following this post as there is a very very slight chance I will be able to make the trip.

 

That would be great Mark!

[LandRonB]

Hey Bear, will be the 2nd week and hopefully far enough in advance that you and your wife can make it. We have a few families like Kevin and Enrique coming and others as well e.g. Dave. Hope to see you there.

 

Excellent Kevin. And thanks for reaching out to Enrique in transit to S. Mexico. Good to hear 2nd wknd is better.

[Disco2Guy]

I'm thinking about joining this trip. I'm dog sitting for my mom in AZ. for a couple weeks (starting mid-October), so I'll opt for the 2nd weekend in Nov. for now.

[HMBRover]

I will not be able to make a November trip this year. Maybe next time.

[LandRonB]

That would be great Brenton. More details as wrap up the annual and get closer to the end of Oct detals on this mid-Nov trip to Lost Coast.

 

Sorry to hear Brian; will catch up with you later or the annual event.

[GriffSC]

I like the idea of this trip, but this year won't work for me. Too many full weekends through the end of November. Nov. 14th I'm scheduled for the bring-your-own-truck LRE at Quail Lodge, so at least I'll be getting some action that weekend (Steven's coming with me).

 

Will look forward to the trip report. And if Sas will be on the trip, try to keep him away from the elk...

[LandRonB]

Will look forward to the trip report. And if Sas will be on the trip, try to keep him away from the elk...

 

Lol. Will do.

 

Perhaps next Lost Coast trip Mark.

 

Ron

[stevenmd]

so at least I'll be getting some action that weekend (Steven's coming with me).

 

Hey wait a minute, you said there were no strings attached.

[LandRonB]

Hey wait a minute, you said there were no strings attached.

 

Lol. I read this post last night, and almost spat my dinner. Funny!

 

If we had an NCLR radio station, you guys can be Click and Clack from Car Talk: http://www.cartalk.com/

[Jen]

I would love to do this trip with the group and my two boys. I looked at the original thread and am not sure of this requirement: Strong recovery points, front & rear. My truck came stock, how do I know if it has 'strong' recovery points?

 

Chuck from LRSJ said I don't need any skid plates or rock sliders, the truck is good as it came, stock. I tried to explain that I'm not the average driver and the truck might need some modifications but he said to leave it alone. (and just today, I got a lecture from my mechanic about my beater car, 98 Honda CR-V. Apparently I dented the oil pan. It's also a 4x4, how the hell did I do that?)

 

Also, I don't have a fire extinguisher in the truck, recommendations on what kind to buy?

 

Thanks!

[LandRonB]

Jen,

 

Hope you can make it; when my wife and two boys came with me on this trip along with Dave aka Sasquatch & his family, we have a great time, and following trip to the Lost Coast, Kevin, Enrique, David & their family/kids took their LR3s and had a great time with wild life and the great coast/ocean views; here's a video clip: http://www.kevinsuttlephotography.com/Land-Rover/Lost-Coast-April2010/11969081_F5c9e#851468012_FFFP9-A-LB

 

This trail is rated easy but when we get rain the night or days before, gets muddy; but you are in good company and our motto is "no man or woman left behind" and we don't like dents/damages on our trucks unless it's a difficult trail like the Rubicon which we don't recommend taking LR3s or LR4s on this trail.

 

But for the Lost Coast, bring it on LR3 and others.

 

You can see in the video, the front of one of the LR3 has a recovery point (yours should have one also) and rear with shackle (you might need to get this); for this trail, Chris LRSJ is right, you don't need anything, and your LR3 is plenty very capable stock for this trail. If you don't have the recovery strap, no worries, I have one and a few others. Good to have your own but this can come later as you figure out needs/wants and so forth.

 

I will post more details of this Nov trip after the annual event this wknd; right now crunch time in prep e.g. packing camping gears and also for the club raffle.

 

Talk to you soon!

[Jen]

ack! Thank you, the pictures show the recovery points quite clearly and I DON'T have those

The front of mine is just bumper, then plastic skid plate thingy, and then the metal skid plate. No metal loop or place to screw on in.

The back has a little removable panel, but it's held in with plastic screws that don't unscrew (? my screwdriver is stripping them, so I stopped). On the underside, it had a little red plastic tab thing that pops in and out.

 

Soooo...do I take it to LR San Jose to get these installed or is there a quicker/faster/cheaper place to take it to?

 

And don't worry, I might be clueless about my truck, but am an experienced camper. I used to live and work in a state park in college! Looking forward to camping with my boys, they have lots to learn.

[LandRonB]

ack! Thank you, the pictures show the recovery points quite clearly and I DON'T have those

The front of mine is just bumper, then plastic skid plate thingy, and then the metal skid plate. No metal loop or place to screw on in.

The back has a little removable panel, but it's held in with plastic screws that don't unscrew (? my screwdriver is stripping them, so I stopped). On the underside, it had a little red plastic tab thing that pops in and out.

 

Soooo...do I take it to LR San Jose to get these installed or is there a quicker/faster/cheaper place to take it to?

 

And don't worry, I might be clueless about my truck, but am an experienced camper. I used to live and work in a state park in college! Looking forward to camping with my boys, they have lots to learn.

 

Jen, I will let the LR3 owners here respond.

 

But if this gives you some comfort; I know for example, my prev LR 98 D1 didn't have a front tow point out of the factory; and I was able to purchase one on eBay (from 96 D1 parting his truck) for less than $20 at that time (sev years ago); easy to install; I am sure will be similar to your LR3.

 

Sliders are not needed on this trail.

 

Cool! Work in a State Park. You will feel like home @ the Lost Coast.

[stevenmd]

I'd take it to Cerrone's before I took it to a dealer.

[sasquatch]

Jen - don't worry - you have the recovery points. Send me a PM and I can shoot down to SJ to walk you through the rig. It would be great to have you and your boys along for the trip. Don't buy ANYTHING. You're fine. With all these kids, I was thinking about an official Lost Coast Super Bowl football game (touch). Plenty of room at the campsite and plenty of mud!