Among the coast redwoods

Wandering the trails I’ve found all along the Mendocino coast never fails to make me feel good. I’m sure there are many more paths to be discovered, and I may never get to hike them all. But even returning to one that’s already familiar, it’s impossible to feel bored, surrounded by all this natural beauty.

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Mendocino meandering

When I arrived at my chosen trailhead on this mid November morning, the “steam” vapor was still rising at 10:30 a.m. I was eagerly looking forward to exploring an unknown path; I’d actually checked this spot out on an earlier trip but only managed to get a short way before time forced me to turn back. Today I had plenty […]

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In the Pygmy Forest

The loop trail through the Pygmy Forest forms a huge contrast from previous sections of the Ecological Staircase at Jug Handle State Reserve. Leaving behind the deeply shaded coastal redwood path and soft forest floor, I found myself on a narrow boardwalk in full sunlight lying above highly acidic, poorly draining soil. I was surrounded by a profusion of trees […]

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