Chinquapin Loop from a beginner

6/18/22 Chinquapin Loop

We got up Saturday morning and prepared for the hike. We thought we were doing a 6 mile hike with some elevation. It turned out to be a grueling 8.26 mile hike that was (with only a few exceptions) entirely uphill or downhill. NOT A BEGINNER HIKE. We basically climbed straight up the mountain, then down, then up again. There was a 2,400-ish elevation gain, twice. It took us 6 hours and by the time we were heading down the mountain for the last portion of the hike, Natalie and I were hobbling along slowly with aching knees, ankles and hips.

The signposts and maps were totally unclear. Without Koop we would have been lost and so I really need to learn how to navigate better. It turns out that there is cell service up on the mountain and so Koop found our route and navigated us back to the campground. Julie was full of tips and was a cheerleader the whole way.

We climbed to the ridge of a mountain, which was really cool (and hard.) Julie pointed out that there was nothing higher than the trees around us, we were literally at the top of the mountain and walking along it.

The trail did have some sketchy footing with slippery leaves, unstable rocky ground, and really narrow trail spots.

As hard as it was, and it was really hard - There was some truly beautiful scenery along the way - we saw wildflowers, ferns, and a lovely little waterfall where we took a long break for snacks and beer. The views from the Lost Coast Trail were great - for that short portion, the ground was stable, the sun was shining bright, and the view of the ocean was magnificent.

I intentionally wore a big heavy pack for practice and I did okay with it. I had water for both me and the dogs, the dog bowls, several cans of PBR and snacks. I also had my solar panel hanging from the back and it fully charged my phone while we hiked. I attached Jack's leash to my pack so I didn't have to hold it and that worked fine too.

We stayed at Nadelos BLM campground and it was really nice. The creek was there and made lovely babbling brook noises that were especially nice at night. We could use the creek water to wash our hands or body, and boil water to do dishes. The sites are big and clean, and for pit toilets, they weren't horrible. For $8 you just can't beat it.