October 21, 2015

Jones Beach Camp to Little Jackass Creek – 13 miles

Total trip thus far – 48.9 miles



First of all, I had a rough night sleep. It was amazing going to bed on the ocean again. It was really really windy though. There was also a constant fear of a bear attack. I woke up around 1:30 in the morning to a terrified person screaming. Then another scream very close by. Holy shit! All of a sudden my tent was literally being pressed sideways, things were very loud, and it looked like 2 hands or paws pressing my tent inwards. I screamed out loud OH HOLY SHIT! Then it stopped, my tent was put upright, and everyone was shouting to eachother – What happened?! Well, it turns out it got so windy, that a gust of wind had blown kamikazes tent pole into his tent, and pushed his tent over so he was almost flipped over. He thought it was a bear attack so he screamed. His screaming had woken me up, and in the dreamy daze I was in, noticed my tent going nuts and thought we were all under attack by a pack of bears. (I didn’t realize a pack of bears wasn’t a thing). It was friggin wind. WIND. So we ragged on Kamikaze for the rest of the trip. AHHHHHHH AAAAAHHHHHHH!

So I started my day very early, with not a lot of sleep. I had chosen to walk out by myself again. I loved the mornings, and being alone for a short period of time during my favorite time of day is like heaven. Also, my hip was bothering me again (IT band I believe) and I needed a longer time to go the same distance. The first mile, as you can see above, was beautiful shoreline and cliff walking, gentle slopes, no real hard work at all. And beautiful, did I say that?

I came to a visitor center which had free toilet paper, and spent some quality time there. Apparently I was supposed to check in and pay, but I thought my visit was pretty productive. The trail turned into a dirty road for a couple miles, and then into a very iffy trail, with lots of ups and downs! Elevation GAINS!

The views were beautiful! Awe inspiring. The scenery looked fake. Roc Doc and Goat had caught up to me at one of the campsites. There was a swimming hole, and we decided to wait for the others. This was the first campsite we were supposed to stay at, but it was like noon. We were flying. Roc Doc set up his tarp to protect us from the sun (we were in the sun every day all day, and our laundry was dirty and there was no gym). We took a very productive and long nap. An hour later, Gandalf shows up, says the rest of them are just behind him. It was HOT out.

We took off after a couple hours, and climbed the 1200 ft mountain that was in between us and our next campsite on the beach. Stupid mountain. Maybe it was because it was 90 degrees out, or maybe it was the sun that was bearing down on us, but that last climb was the most treacherous. Blackberry plants just ripping your shins apart. Burrs everywhere. I managed to somehow lose the trail and went down a wicked steep mountain, with Roc Doc and Goat behind me. They found the trail for me later on. Sketchy.

We finally made it to the next campsite – which was literally called little jackass creek. But it looked like THIS.

I mean, holy shit right? This trail is legit. The camping at little jackass is very peculiar. there are only enough spots for 5-6 people. We were 5-6 people, and a group ahead of us had set up camp at like noon because they were selfish and lazy. The only place to camp was on the beach, right about at high tide line. We talked amongst ourselves about where the high tide could come, as you could see debris from it, and where a potential high tide COULD go. Also, high tide wasn’t until 2-3 am. So we set up camp and went to bed with the fear of God in us. I must have woken up like 6 times when I heard waves crashing and looked outside. The water came up and over the sand a couple times, but never hit our tents.

Also it got super windy again in the middle of the night and Gandalfs tent stakes flew out. He was basically sleeping in the sand with a tarp over his face. Haha. Another good day on the Lost Coast!