Hi! I’m looking into the feasibility of a Lost Coast Trail trip in June. The tide tables for the window I have look discouraging, and I would love to get some insight from more experienced people.
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I would like to start my hike on June 6, and hike out on June 8. For the tide tables, I’m looking at this tide chart: LINK.
High tide happens around noon, which seems about as inconvenient as it can get. I thought of a potential plan to work with it. The plan involves camping just before an impassible zone, and hiking out at 5:30 am when the tide is at its lowest point. Getting up that early doesn’t sound fun but I’m used to it for my job, and I figure I can take a nap when I stop for lunch.
Here’s my plan in outline form:
6/6
- Take shuttle to trail, arrive around noon
- Hike past Punta Gorda in afternoon during receding tide
- Set up camp at Sea Lion Gulch
6/7
- Get up at 5:30, hike through impassable zone as quickly as possible (would need to be past the zone by 11 if I’m reading the chart correctly)
- Take a break around noon for lunch/nap
- Hike to Big Flat, set up camp
6/8
- Get up at 5:30, hike through impassable zone as quickly as possible
- Take a break around noon for lunch/nap
- Hike out in the afternoon
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Is it unwise to hike during the rising tide like this? It seems like I would have 4 or 5 hours before it 3 feet, assuming good weather.
Am I being too paranoid? Not paranoid enough? Can you think of an alternative plan I could use? Would appreciate any insight anyone can offer.
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