Pacific Coast Trip: Redwood National Park

Written By Jason Gray

Kamp Klamath was a great home base for us on this leg of the trip. Very friendly staff, a friend for the kids, and a special camp dinner characterized this site. We spent the next 2 days, exploring Redwood State & National Parks and the Northern California coast. Jason & I have been increasingly proud of our kids during our hiking adventures and this leg of the trip was no exception. They hike, tell stories, ask questions, and never complain. I can’t wait to take them on a backpacking adventure!

 
Ainsley and Travis pose at a round picnic table on a large deck area. Ainsley is sitting down with her elbows on the table and her head in her hands. She is wearing large green glasses and a paper green St. Patty’s hat. Travis is standing to the sid…
 

Ainsley:

Today, I earned another junior ranger badge at Redwood National Park. I’ve already been there, but I didn’t get a badge because I was only about 3 years old. I’m glad I finally got to earn a badge there. But first, I had to do my book. So, we went on a hike. There were lots and lots of Redwood trees. I really liked the hike. I went 6.0 miles on the Boy Scout Tree Trail. We walked to the Boy Scout Tree, took pictures, and ate almonds. We went to the falls, took pictures, and explored the area. I saw nursery logs. These are fallen Redwood trees that have plants growing on them. There was even an octopus tree growing on one. We could see its roots! I was very proud that I survived that hike! Yay! At the end of the hike, we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

 
Ainsley & Travis stand under a horizontal log and rest on their hiking sticks. The log is several feet above their heads. There are several plants hanging down from the log.
 
 
Close-up of Travis & Ainsley sitting down next to each other. Their heads are pointed straight up. There is a large Redwood Tree immediately behind them. The bark of the tree covers the entire picture.
 

Then, we went to Battery Point Lighthouse. It was very foggy there. I’m glad it was low tide. If it was high tide, we couldn’t go up to the lighthouse. We couldn’t go in, but could look in the windows. Someone was living in the lighthouse. This person works there too. I’m glad there is a lighthouse there for the boats.

 
Travis & Ainsley stand on the steps in front of the door of the lighthouse. The lighthouse has 2 vertical rectangular windows on each side of the door. There is a light within a cylindrical room on top, center of the roof. There is a metal raili…
 

Travis:

Today went to Redwoods National and State Parks. We went on a hike called the Boy Scout Tree Trail. The trees are really, REALLY, REALLY big. At the end of the trail there was a small but pretty waterfall called Fern falls. I got so close to the falls that I could touch them! And that's exactly what I did! When we finished the trail,we hiked almost 6 miles! That’s a first! After we were done hiking we had a delicious lunch of peanut butter and jelly!  

 
Travis & Ainsley sit on a horizontal, felled tree to the left of the picture. The tree extends over the waterfall on the right side of the picture.
 
 
Picture is taken from above. Travis is jumping across a narrow stream. His left foot splashed in the water. His right foot is extended toward the other side. Ainsley stands on the rocks on the other side and watches her brother.
 

After we were done with the park we went to the battery point lighthouse. It was closed, but we still got a picture. When we were driving home, the fog from the ocean looked we were driving above the clouds! What a fabulous ending to a wonderful day.

 
Several trees are lined up horizontally in the center of the photo. The sun is shining on the right side of the photo behind the trees. A thick blanket of puffy clouds are beneath the sun and behind the trees all across the horizon.
 
Jason Gray
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Pacific Coast Trip: Redwood National Park Day 2
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