Orleans Ranger District Trails Update

June 22, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Spring 2019

Chris Valle-Riestra is an exceptional volunteer and trail steward–with a particular fondness for the Klamath Mountains. He has been spearheading trailwork in the Orleans Ranger District for many years and knows the trails well . He has updated conditions of trails on the forest for summer 2018.

The Orleans Ranger District has administrative responsibility for recreational trails in three designated ranger districts. These include portions of the Marble Mountain Wilderness, the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and the Siskiyou Wilderness.

Chris’ Trail Updates:

Find a Park and Find Our Books

June 6, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Support the non-profits that support the parks

It is almost summer and that means visiting our natural wonders. We wanted to highlight a few of the organizations that carry our books so that you might consider supporting them this summer.

Find a Park and Find Our Books — Find a park, and find our books!

Lassen Association

Over 75 Years of Support

The Lassen Association has been supporting Lassen Volcanic National Park since 1939. Your purchase from the Lassen Association goes to support of the educational, and interpretive programs at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

LA is a membership-based co-operating association with over 200 members. Membership fees along with revenues from the Lassen Association Bookstore at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and the Loomis Museum support programs and projects at the park which cannot be funded with tax dollars.

Crater Lake Natural History Association

The Crater Lake Natural History Association (CLNHA) is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, established for the benefit of Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve under a memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service. A board of directors governs the operation of bookstores at Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. The board sets policy and authorizes the expenditure of profits back to the park and monument for NPS approved projects that increases the knowledge of the natural history of Crater Lake and Oregon Caves or aides in their interpretation for the benefit of visitors. An Executive Director oversees day-to-day store operations and is responsible for all aspects of CLNHA, including personnel management, sales, ordering, accounting, and product development. The director works in close contact with National Park Service personnel, and is aided by a sales manager and sales clerks who often act as unofficial park interpreters.

Redwood Parks Conservancy

Redwood Parks Conservancy (RPC) is the non-profit partner for your public lands along the North Coast. We were established to foster understanding, enjoyment, and stewardship of your public lands through educational outreach, visitor services, and support of our partners entrusted with the care of these wonderous public lands.

Yosemite Conservancy

Thanks to your support, we provide grants to Yosemite National Park based on the highest-priority needs of the park. Your dedication has funded the restoration of the trail to Lower Yosemite Fall, electronic bear-monitoring equipment to keep bears safe, life-changing youth programs and so much more.

Discover Your Northwest

Discover Your Northwest promotes the discovery of Northwest public lands, enriches the experience of visitors, and encourages stewardship of these special places today and for generations to come.

We envision more residents and visitors as active stewards who understand and care for the unique natural and cultural heritage of Northwest public lands.

Western National Parks Association

WNPA is a nonprofit education partner of the National Park Service. WNPA supports more than 70 parks across the West, developing products, services, and programs that enrich the visitor experience.

Report Poaching

May 7, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Click to download and print a 8.5 x 11 flyer.

Dudleya Farinosa are being poached along the California Coast.

Recently, it was announced that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife caught folks poaching Dudleya farinosa from coastal Mendocino and Humboldt counties. Report Dudleya poaching!

The Southwest Dudleya Dilemma

The genus Dudleya is in the family Crassulaceae which survives in areas that see dry and/or cold periods, often coupled with water scarcity. In California, Crassulaceae is well represented by charismatic genera like Sedum and Dudleya. Both genera have an uncanny ability to store resources, either in leaves or in the root-and-stem-like caudex, to survive sub-optimal climate variations. The succulent perennials in the genus Dudleya(about 45 species) are restricted to southwest North America and are highly prized in the succulent horticultural trade.

Nature lovers have been long-fascinated by natural rock gardens decorated with Dudleya and Sedum. These plant are often locally abundant, highly charismatic, and easy to transport so it is understandable why they are popular with collectors.

Here are some ideas for how we protect California’s unique flora:

Watch beaches for poaching activity and report it to CalTIP.
Promote leave no trace ethics.
Encourage collectors to purchase plants from certified nurseries.
Obscure geoprivacy settings on databases like iNaturalist and Calflora.
Report poaching! From CalTip: Anyone who believes they are witness to unlawful poaching or pollution activity is encouraged to call CalTIP, CDFW’s confidential secret witness program, at (888) 334-2258 or send a text to tip411. Both methods allow the public to provide wildlife officers with factual information to assist with investigations. Callers may remain anonymous, if desired, and a reward can result from successful capture and prosecution.

Humboldt County Wildflower Hikes

February 22, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Michael Kauffmann spoke with Cliff Berkowitz on KHUM’s Happy Trails about places to visit–starting now–to explore spectacular Humboldt County wildflower hikes. Flowers start flowering early because of the temperate nature of the region. This means that you can find wildflowers starting in January near the coast, all the way to June and July inland in our mountains.

Humboldt County wildflower hikes by flowers

January-February Bloomers

Fetid Adder’s Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)

Russ Park in Ferndale
Rohner Park in Fortuna
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park (Cheatham Grove)

Trillium (Trillium spp.)

March-April Bloomers

Orchids

Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park (Cheatham Grove)

Lupines

Bald Hills in Redwood National Park

May-June Bloomers

chickweed monkeyflower (Erythranthe alsinoides)

Visit the Klamath Mountains

Highlights from 2017

January 3, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Welcome to a Brave New Year

Here are a few highlights from the world of Backcountry Press in 2017.
Happy Trails and other adventures in 2018 and thanks for your support.

Hiking Humboldt v2 Released
Rees Hughes and Jason Barnes teamed up to create an incredible guidebook to Humboldt County.

Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps Released
Ken DeCamp, Julie Kierstead Nelson and Julie Knorr teamed up on this ode to the Klamath Mountains.

Podcast with Ken DeCamp
The author of Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps discusses the history of the new book.

The Eclipse
On 8.21.2017 a once in a lifetime event occurred, witnessed herein on Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest.

Obi Kaufmann’s Favorite Books 2017
Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps makes Obi’s favorites list for the year, thanks Obi!

Mapping California’s Rarest Conifer
CNPS and Michael Kauffmann worked to map and inventory yellow-cedar in the Siskiyous.

Ken DeCamp Podcast

December 28, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Ken DeCamp, author of Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps, was born to parents who took him on his first backpacking trip when he was 4 months old into Glacier National Park. Since that time he has logged thousands of trail miles in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Carolinas, Georgia, Pakistan, Australia, and Switzerland. He has been drawing and photographing wildflowers for over 40 years and it is from this collection of images that this book became a reality. Though he has traveled widely, he has always considered the mountains of northern California his home and has, for 60 years, explored their most hard to reach places. He retired from the USDA Forest Service in 2008 after a 38 year career in Fire, Land Management Planning, and Public Affairs. He lives with his wife Pam in Shasta Lake where they spend time with their family and their only pet, a cardboard dog named “Flat fido,” gifted by a friend who thought that, someday, they might need serious protection from something. Ken is also an avid backpacker, trail runner, and mountain biker.

Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps has arrived!

December 9, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps ISBN 978-1-941624-11-1

Two thousand nine hundred pounds of wildflower bliss is now being distributed around the world from Humboldt County. We are excited to share this wonderful new resource crafted by Ken DeCamp, Julie Kierstead Nelson, and Julie Knorr. Buy directly from us, look for it at fine, independent bookstores across the West, or contact us to get it in your favorite store.

Preview the book

505 flowers in 10 seconds!

Heterotrophic Plants

Learn about the parasitic and Mycotrophic plants of the Klamath Mountains, featured in Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps.

Book Signings

Now available

PAPERBACK & EBOOK (immediate download) $39.95

PAPERBACK $29.95

EBOOK $19.95 (immediate download)

“Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps is a comprehensive guide to over 500 species of flowers found in this diverse and beautiful part of northern California. Organized by flower color for the enthusiastic amateur, the photographs and descriptive text tell each plant’s story to help with identification in the field. A nice touch is the author telling where he found and photographed many of the flowers.”

— Mark Turner, Photographer

Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Our Story

Michael Kauffmann and Allison Poklemba started Backcountry Press in 2012 to print and distribute our first book Conifer Country. At the time, we could not secure a publisher who would promise a book as we envisioned: printed in the U.S. with color images on recycled content paper. Print technology had changed enough by then that we decided to do it ourselves. Little did we realize at the time that this one book would mean the beginning of our small family business.

Since then, we have published eight books (with more on the way!), sold over 15,000 copies (thank you!), and received numerous smiles from folks that have taken our books for a hike or drive across the West. Our books can now be found in over 50 independent book stores across California, Oregon, and Washington. For all this and more we are thankful.

We hope our books continue to inspire and inform your next adventures. And please continue to share your stories from the field with us—they make this adventure in independent publishing so worth it!

In honor of Small Business Saturday, we thank you for your support!

Michael and Allison

ORDER ANY 2 ITEMS AND RECEIVE A 5% DISCOUNT,

3 OR MORE FOR 10%

(AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AT CHECKOUT)

Pre-order Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps

November 14, 2017 by Backcountry Press 2 Comments

now Available!

PAPERBACK & EBOOK $39.95

PAPERBACK $29.95

EBOOK $19.95

eBooks available for immediate download.

by Ken DeCamp, Julie Kierstead Nelson, & Julie Knorr

PREVIEW: Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps

“This gorgeous book is a visual feast for anyone with an interest in natural floral beauty, especially of some of northwest California’s most floristically diverse hotspots. Stunning color photos paired with engaging, straightforward descriptions and comparisons make this an indispensable guide to the rich diversity of botanical gems in the heart of the Klamath Ranges. It will be treasured both by those traveling to these premier wilderness destinations and those who prefer to indulge in their floristic highlights from afar.”

—Bruce G. Baldwin, Curator of the Jepson Herbarium, U.C. Berkeley

“This book is the culmination of Ken DeCamp’s life-long love of photographing and identifying wildflowers. He brings the Trinity Alps and their spectacular display of wildflowers to life in this richly photographed guide. A monumental achievement.”

—Matt Ritter, author of California’s Trees Among Us

10 Extraordinary But Little Known Humboldt County Walks

September 8, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Thursday, October 12, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
HSU Library Fishbowl (2nd Floor of the HSU Library)

Ready to find your new favorite place to go for a walk?

Hear tales from the trail as Rees talks about Humboldt County walks and shares images to inspire (and inform!) your next hike. All walks featured appear in the book Hiking Humboldt Volume 2: 101 Shorter Day Hikes, Urban and Road Walks.

These include walking the 0.4 mile long Loleta Tunnel, exploring Lacks Creek and Schoolhouse Peak/Lyons Ranch, walking the Ft. Seward Road or the Dyerville Loop Road, finding fossils on the Centerville Beach to Fleener Creek Loop, and more.

This is a free event. Please be in touch with questions: hughes@humboldt.edu

#whatdadslike

June 16, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

1. whittled stick
2. weather radio
3. nerdy mechanical pencil
4. Hiking Humboldt Vol. 2: 101 Shorter Day Hikes, Urban and Road Walks
5. external hard drive
6. power tools
7. bigfoot action figure
8. meat rub
9. heart rock
10. beach scores
11. Joe
12. custom Lego vehicle
13. crocheted woolen beer coozie
14. old tools
15. sentimental photo of dadding
16. kid art
17. badass binos
18. foolproof corkscrew

Humboldt Made

May 9, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

One of our main goals here at Backcountry Press is to work with business partners as close to home as possible. With recent shifts in on demand printing, were able to print both Hiking Humboldt Volume 1 and Volume 2 on recycled paper right here in Eureka at Times Printing.

The friendly staff at Times Printing in Eureka, California.

From their website:

Times Printing has a long and rich history in Humboldt County. A fourth generation, family owned and operated business, the company has enjoyed serving the region since 1854.

Before being renamed Times Printing in 1939, the company was known as the Times Publishing Company. Originally the print shop for the area’s first newspaper, the Humboldt Times, Times Publishing Company printed the newspaper and other jobs such as books, business cards and letterhead. In 1946 Arthur Smith bought Times Printing, thus cutting its ties to the Humboldt Times and becoming an independent company.

Thanks for supporting independent publishing printed in Eureka!

Hiking Humboldt book bundle

May 1, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Hiking Humboldt

Primeval forests harboring the world’s tallest trees. Sea cliffs, pristine beaches, and towering coastal sand dunes. Mountain prairies, meadows, and vistas. Rivers, lakes, lagoons, and bays. Bears, elk, seals, otters, and birds galore. And solitude – lots and lots of solitude. Humboldt County offers all this and much more to the intrepid hiker. Hiking Humboldt volumes 1 and 2 will take you to every publicly accessible corner of the county.

Pre-Order Hiking Humboldt V2

April 11, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Order now and get an immediate eBook download, books ship May 1st.

Hiking Humboldt Volume 2 by Rees Hughes presents walk descriptions, directions, maps, and photos of familiar favorites, hidden gems, and unexpected adventures.

Volume 2 introduces this region through:

Urban walks such as the Arcata Architectural Walk and the Eureka Mural Walk
Short hikes along some of Humboldt County’s most picturesque rural roads.
Opportunities to explore the Lassics, Horse Mountain or Cannibal Island.
Detailed written descriptions, maps, and photos including natural and cultural history notes.
Published and printed in Humboldt County, California.
216 pages, full color photos and maps.

Pre-order ended

ORDER HERE

Godwit Days with Michael Kauffmann

February 26, 2017 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Michael will lead two hikes at Godwit Days in Arcata, California. On these hikes, participants will explore the relationships between birds, conifers and manzanitas.

Price of the trip includes a book from the Backcountry Press catalog.

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