Women and the Majesty of the California Redwoods

The Trip

Imagine standing in front of a tree and not being able to see the top. This tree could be 1,000 or 2,000 years old, and taller than the Statue of Liberty, a Saturn V rocket, or a 30-story building. There’s an ecosystem -- invisible, but audible to us -- in the treetops. A carpet of green envelopes the forest floor. Animals ranging from 1,200-pound Roosevelt elk to tiny banana slugs thrive in the forest and its surrounding ecosystem. Nourishing these ancient giants is the fog-swept Pacific Ocean with its rugged coastlines and desolate beaches. We’ll explore all of this and more in our trip to the California coast redwoods and some of the parks dedicated to their preservation -- Redwood National Park, Jedidiah State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, among others. Only 5% of old-growth redwood forest remains in the world; our trip will visit much of it.

Late spring in the redwood forest brings the emergence of wildflowers, rushing streams, and warm dappled sunlight. The lush surroundings invite us, and envelop us in their silence. We’ll camp in the redwoods at night and by day hike amongst these giants. We’ll explore the coastline by hiking and kayaking near its shores. We’ll discover together: What’s a banana slug look like? Why are the elk called Roosevelt elk? Why are dams being removed from the Klamath River? How many shades of green are there in this forest? In addition to our own exploration, we’ll engage with naturalists and conservation groups to appreciate and understand this diverse ecosytem.

Until commercial logging and clear cutting began in the mid-1800s, the coastal redwoods, or Sequoia sempervirens, occupied over 2 million acres in coastal northern California and southern Oregon. These trees are the tallest trees in the world. Heavy winter rains and coastal fog provide an environment in which they thrive. Logging practices in the late 1800s and 1900s decimated these ancient forests and altered the surrounding ecosystem. In the early 1900s, conservationists began to recognize the uniqueness of, and risk to, these magnificent, primeval forests and began preservation efforts, which continue today. Our trip provides the opportunity to explore this unique ecosystem and understand the preservation efforts ongoing -- oftentimes with collaboration by groups with disparate interests -- to protect and restore it. We’ll begin to understand the challenges that these preservation efforts still face and hear the stories of conservation efforts that make an impact.

The Project

Day 1: After meeting at the designated location in Medford, we’ll head out in two vans for our 3-4 hour drive south to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. We’ll stop for a break along the way and take lunch when we arrive at camp. After getting our campsites set up, we’ll explore the beauty of the trails near our campsite and see what flowers are already in bloom. After dinner, we’ll walk to Elk Meadow in search of the resident Roosevelt elk herd eating their dinner.

Day 2: Our morning hike will take us up from camp to our first immersion in old-growth forest. After walking among these giants, we then descend to the lush environs of Prairie Creek. This morning allows for a leisurely stroll with a naturalist of the surrounding old-growth forest in Atlas Grove, exploring more of the environmental history and rich biodiversity of the area. We’ll visit Uluvatar, a 20-foot-diameter, 320-foot-tall giant, the third-largest coast redwood. After lunch, we will continue to explore through the old growth forest at our leisure

Day 3: We begin the day with a trail that offers us a variety of scenery in just a few miles. We start in old-growth forest, and descend to the windswept Pacific Ocean. At the conclusion of this longer hike, we will enjoy some time on the beach before proceeding back to camp for dinner.

Day 4: Today we’ll explore the diversity of the area’s waterways. We’ll kayak near Trinidad, CA (complete with kayaking lessons as needed) and see what wildlife we can spot. We’ll learn about the massive ecosystem that exists in this area. We’ll cap off the day with a short hike to a nearby waterfall and watch the sunset from our vantage point on the beach. 

Day 5: On this day, we will drive to the mouth of the Klamath River, where our hosts from the Yurok Nation will provide a boat tour of the river. After spotting what wildlife we can see, we will proceed to the beach on the reservation to enjoy the scenery of the rugged coast.

Day 6: This morning, we will break camp and head a short distance to Jedidiah State Park. This area is known for the famous Grove of Titans for a few short hikes and a few meditative moments with the Redwoods. We will conclude our trip with a farewell dinner at Seaquake Brewery in Crescent City before heading back to Medford, OR. We will arrive by early evening.

While leaders will make every attempt to follow this itinerary, all hikes and programs are subject to change depending on a variety of factors, including trail conditions and the weather.

Getting There

We will meet at a designated spot in Medford, Oregon at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Then, we’ll travel the 3-4 hours by vans to our campsite near Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, which will be our home for the duration of the trip. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will camp at Elk Prairie Campground near Redwoods State Park for the duration of the trip. The campsites have flush toilets and potable water. All trip meals from lunch on Sunday through lunch the following Friday (as well as snacks) will be provided. There will be one meal after the trip not included before dropoff back in Medford, OR. We will plan healthy, vegetarian meals, and following Sierra Club Outings customs, all participants will assist by taking turns with the meal preparation and clean up.

Trip Difficulty

This trip has a moderate rating. We will be hiking 5-8 miles most days. Trails are mostly forested and could be wet and muddy. Altitude gain could be as much as 1,200 feet. We will hike at a pace that will allow us to embrace the silence and majesty of the redwood forest. Some portions of trails may be on beach sand. In addition, we will kayak or canoe at a beginner level on one day.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring all of your gear, including a sleeping bag and pad, tent, daypack, water bottles, headlamps, hiking boots, personal first aid kit, and other personal gear. The trip leader will provide a detailed packing list to registered participants.

References

Books:

• Hill, Julia Butterfly, The Legacy of Luna. Harper One.
• Preston, Richard, The Wild Trees. Random House.

Videos

• Video from the 2019 trip
• TED Talk, Richard Preston - Climbing the Tallest Trees
• It Takes a Forest, Save the Redwoods League
• Camera Lucida Films Luna, Sanctuary Forest

Conservation

Only 5% of the world’s old-growth forest remains, much of it in the California parks we’ll visit. Conservation elements will be incorporated throughout this trip, including tours by conservation agencies. We’ll learn about collaborative efforts between conservation organizations, The Yurok Nation, and government agencies to restore salmon habitat through the Klamath Dam Removal project. The impact that individuals can make on conservation will be evident during our visit. Such individuals were the catalysts for organizations such as Save the Redwoods League and the Sierra Club.

Your leaders are volunteers and Sierra Club members with a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We hope to impart to you our love for the area and an understanding of the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club's Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. While on this trip you will be encouraged to share environmental issues, stories, and practices you’re familiar with back home so we’ll be learning from each other.