Lost cost trail: like hiking on sand?

[jscott]

I'm thinking of doing this trail at long last. But I don't like hiking on loose sand. Given that this is the lost coast…but one person who's done this trail told me that it's mostly hard pack sand. His wife disagreed. She hated hiking on sand too. So I'm asking for input. I understand that about half of this trail is off the beach. I'm asking about the beach itself.

[Billy Ray]

"I'm thinking of doing this trail at long last. But I don't like hiking on loose sand."

Er… if you hate hiking on sand why on earth would you go for a hike on the beach???
If you hate hiking on sand you're going to hate this hike!

Billy

[Kattt]

The part on the beach is a combination of sand ( either hike closer to the water for a harder surface, but more sloped, or softer and less slope..) pebbles and cobbles. Not my favorite ground. The slope makes you work much harder on one side of your body than the other. It is beautiful and the cobble hopping must be good for your brain.

[Ken Thompson]

Hike the ridge trails or go to the Sinkyone. The northern half is about one third on real ground

[jscott]

Thanks Billy for pointing that out…have you ever hiked on this trail? or just spouting like a whale?

[Ken Thompson]

Was on my 15 at work when I posted. I've done the hike numerous times. I really like the section from Mattole to Big Flat. This section has the most hiking on the marine terrace as well. I enjoy the hour and forty five minute, 48 mile drive to the trailhead over the Wildcat too if the weather is good. Pick up a pizza in Ferndale on the way home. A good way to spend the weekend. You can PM me or post here if you have specific questions. Speaking of whales there is one onshore along the hike now getting real ripe. Don't see that everyday. I think the last one to wash up was in '08.

[USA Duane Hall]

I've only done the north section once. The "trail" is a combo of loose sand, firm damp sand, cobbles and some real dirt. You have to vary your route to select the best surface.
Duane

[jscott]

Thanks everyone. I do acknowledge that my question is slightly ridiculous; hence the subject line. I've read a number or threads about this hike and don't recall a lot of discussion about the horrible sand. I thought that maybe the surface near/on the beach was more cobble or firm earth, with stretches of sand mixed in. Ken, I saw video of that whale on the news. From experience I know that they stink pretty good. I'll look into your suggestions.

[W I S N E R !]

It's a question worth asking.

I was somewhat surprised by many stretches of it. The southern half has constant elevation changes….the northern half is surprisingly tedious in places; beautiful, but definitely can be a slog in all the sloped, deep pebbles/sand. You tend to take firm footing for granted until you have to do miles on stuff like this.

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