July 4-7 2023. Gorgeous loop with exposure to many diverse landscapes that make up the Kings Range, but the trail conditions tested my sanity in several places.
Day 1: I camped at Gitchell Creek due to the high tide. Lots of water at all beach streams. Camp area here is on the beach & well exposed to wind and wet fog overnight. Very nice tide pools at low tide in the morning full of starfish.
Day 2: Gitchell to Maple Camp. The Buck Creek Trail was intense. It began in an overgrown trail of wet sword ferns and douglas fir before transitioning to a wider forested road, and then quickly becoming a hot scrubby trail. Overgrown sections were often double my height. Fortunately, the poison oak was mostly at leg level, which was covered by pants, but ticks and branches got onto the back of my neck and down my shirt. I stopped for regular tick checks and seemed to get all of them off before they bit. The ceanothus seemed to hold the most bugs, while the manzanita was the hardest to push through. I kept going by telling myself the next overgrown section would be my last. Finally I reached Saddle Mountain and Kings Crest Trail, which began as a wide road that was mostly shaded by douglas fir, but it was still hot. Half way to King Peak it returned to a small trail with necessary bushwacking. I was unprepared for the heat up here and conserving my 3.5 L of water was hard. By the time I reached King Peak, my clothes were drenched in sweat and my back and neck were itchy in small twigs, spiders, and pollen. My pants were torn in several places and my shins were bloody. I left my pack while I checked out the peak, which had a nice platform I would have loved to sleep on if I still had water. I quickly descended to Maple, which was a cute forested area, though still hot even through the night. The creek had ankle-deep pools to rinse off the plants and sweat. I only saw one campsite here and I took it. There were mosquitos here but manageable, and while I heard lots of animals at night none bothered me or my gear.
Day 3: Maple to Big Flat. The northern portion of Kings Crest trail was so much better. Slides were held up with rocks and branches blocked side trails. Bushwhacking only in a few sections, mostly around the Rattlesnake Ridge trail junction. I initially planned to take Rattlesnake Ridge down, but the Buck Creek trail conditions told me to take the trail reports seriously, and I was tired of bushwhacking, so I continued to Kinsey Ridge, which was a wide and easy road. I was so happy to see the beach again. At the bottom, Kinsey Creek had nice pools to clean off and hydrate. While I saw no one on the crest, Big Flat had many families, the one next to me with young kids that were loud into the night - but I was too tired to be bothered. Big Flat is very pretty and there are campsites in the trees. I also saw lots of waves that made me wish I had my surfboard, despite it being a small summer swell.
Day 4: Big Flat to Shelter Cove. The bluff south of Big Flat collapsed in several areas. A rock pile on the trail tells you when to turn off the trail and onto the beach. A couple rangers asked to see my permit and bear can somewhere south of Buck Creek. They told me the northern portion of Kings Crest trail was recently worked on, and the southern portion would be next.
Overall, I did not expect those lush forested mountains you see from the beach to be so hot and dry. I am glad I saw the crest but I wouldn't do it again. I much prefer the black beaches of the Lost Coast Trail. Next time I'll definitely bring a surfboard.
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