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Calling All Humboldt County Photographers

April 8, 2022 by Backcountry Press 7 Comments

We are working with First 5 Humboldt to develop a hiking guide for kids and families. We would love to feature your photos of these landscapes and people visiting these places!

We want your photos!

Both with and without people (kids and families).

Submit Photos Here With Your Google Account

Don’t have a google account? email mk@backcountrypress.com

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12 Wonderful Humboldt County Hikes

June 20, 2020 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Rees Hughes shares some of his favorite hikes from his book, Hiking Humboldt Volume 2. This was recorded in a ZOOM Webinar during sheltering in place for COVID-19.

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Zig Zag Trail

March 6, 2020 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

The Zig Zag Trail

Prairie Creek Redwoods National and State Parks

Map from Conifer Country

This area of California contains some of the largest redwoods on Earth and holds extensive old-growth forests, protected as a national park in 1968. This particular walk, using the Zig Zag Trails and Prairie Creek Trail, is entirely in old growth. It offers an enigmatic temporal departure into a rare forest type. In addition to redwoods, other conifer specimens like Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce are coupled with clandestine western redcedar and Port-Orford cedar—be sure to look carefully and learn your conifers well. Watch for grand firs that occur infrequently along the road, particularly at the south end of Elk Prairie.

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Trillium Falls Trail

January 25, 2020 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Trillium Falls Trail Map from Hiking Humboldt Volume 1. Map by Jason Barnes.

Description: It is amazing that, just a stone’s throw from Arcata Redwood Company’s Mill B, these old-growth redwood groves would survive. Much of the credit must go to the efforts of the Save the Redwoods League. A number of the leaders and benefactors are memorialized on the plaques on this walk. This trail passes 10-foot Trillium Falls and spends more time in the forest before gradually dropping back toward the wetlands along Prairie Creek. These wetlands are one of the most dependable locations for viewing Roosevelt elk. As interpretative displays in the Elk Meadow Day Use Area illustrate, from 1948 until restoration in the 1990s this was the location of Arcata Redwood Company’s Mill B and its massive 8-acre asphalt-covered log deck.

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Eureka Waterfront Trail

December 4, 2019 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

The route is now complete!

In mid-November 2019, the city of Eureka completed the Eureka Waterfront Trail by connecting a one-block section on 1st Street. This now allows bikers and walkers to hike from Tydd Street to Herrick Avenue — all on paved Trail!

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Rees Hughes and Humboldt Trails

November 12, 2019 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Learn about current and future opportunities with the Volunteer Trail Steward program and Humboldt Trails with this interview with Rees Hughes. For 10 years now Volunteer Trail Stewards have made it possible for the county and municipalities to expand our trail system. Maintenance and upkeep is always a concern, but volunteers have kept costs so low expansion is possible.

More opportunities available at Humboldt Trails.

Stream the Rees Hughes Interview
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2019 Humboldt County Trails Updates

November 12, 2019 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

Inland Mountains

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 fall 2019. Click through to the hiking descriptions and read his comments.

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Big Tree – Elk Prairie Loop

November 1, 2019 by Backcountry Press 1 Comment

Prairie Creek Redwoods National and State Parks

The most extensive accessible trail system in Humboldt County is in the Elk Prairie/Big Tree areas of Prairie Creek Redwood State Park and Redwood National Park. This trail system offers many ways to mix and match the trails that network this area. Included in the route are magnificent old growth redwoods, picturesque Prairie Creek, the open grasslands of Elk Prairie, a nature trail, and miles of accessible trail.

Big Tree – Elk Prairie Hiking Basics
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Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park

May 20, 2019 by Backcountry Press 2 Comments

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park

Hiking and wildflower adventures

Learn more in our book!

Description: Located on a bend in the Van Duzen River, Owen R. Cheatham Grove is a majestic patch of old growth redwoods spared by the founder of what would become the Georgia-Pacific Plywood and Lumber Company. The short hike loops through the grove. From the west side of the parking area two trails lead across the riverbed to the Van Duzen River. Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park offers a small network of trails on the north and south side of the Van Duzen River. A summer bridge crosses the Van Duzen to 1.5 miles of additional trails on the south side. The north side trails include a nature trail with interpretive signs, a meandering walk up and down the hillside east of Grizzly Creek, and a stretch of trail west of Grizzly Creek.

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Potawot Health Village

September 3, 2018 by Backcountry Press Leave a Comment

The natural and intentional landscaping has matured into something quite special at the Potawot Health Village in Arcata, California. A sinuous series of wetlands have been created, native grasses and other plants reintroduced, and an extensive food garden and orchard established. While none of the trails are particularly long, they can be combined for a pleasant walk. By parking on Janes Road or in the Mad River Hospital parking lot and walking on the marked shoulder of the entrance parkway into Potawot the walk can be extended. A self-guided nature tour is available with numbered stops on the trails. Seating and a picnic table are spaced around the grounds.

 

Getting there: Drive 10 miles north on US 101 and take Exit 716B (Giuntoli exit), proceeding on Giuntoli Lane to the west (follow the roundabout to the third exit). The route passes over 101, rounds a traffic circle and continues on west, veering left (south) and becoming Janes Road. From the initial turn onto Giuntoli Lane to the signed entrance to Potawot is about one mile. Turn left into the entrance parkway for 0.3 mile to parking. Several access points to the trail complex exist south of the parking lot and entrance parkway.

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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.

 

 

 

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)

Humboldt County WalksReady 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

#whatdadslike

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.

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.

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Nuggets of knowledge we soaked up from @sheriff_wo Nuggets of knowledge we soaked up from @sheriff_woody_pct on the Botany Road Trip to the Intermountain West:

1. Rare plants tend to grow in clusters with other rare plants.

2. When choosing to except a hitch or not, feel more comfortable if a couple is offering the ride. Couples, generally, don’t murder people.

3. If it looks onionish but doesn’t smell a onionish, don’t eat it. It may kill you.

4. Studying satellite imagery for interesting soil types and rocky outcrops is a great way to hunt for rare plant locations.

5. Look more closely at the tiny plants you step over.

6. Penstemon is the most diverse genus that is endemic to North America!

Part 2 of our 3 part journey featured 12  of them, including this gorgeous King’s Beardtongue (Penstemon kingii) from Utah.

This evening Part 3 takes us to the southeast to meet, among others things, loads of carnivorous plants. Sundews, flytraps, and pitcher plants — oh my!

#botanyroadtrip #botanizing #botanist #nativeplants #rareplants #carnivourousplant #penstemon

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
✉️These envelopes are ready to roll! If you ✉️These envelopes are ready to roll! 

If you preordered your copy of CALIFORNIA DESERT PLANTS we’ll be sending it off this week!

Books arrive from our favorite printer tomorrow — printed in the good ol’ U S of A, of course 🙌

We’ve extended our Preorder Sale until then! Check it out at our link in profile… just one more day to get the eBook for free with your paperback 📕 

#independentpublishing #desertplants #californianativeplants #naturenerds #botanizing #fieldguide

https://backcountrypress.com/product/california-desert-plants-paperback-ebook/
We have 2 winners for our Botany Road Trip! 🎉 We have 2 winners for our Botany Road Trip!

🎉 Congrats to @jordankwalkerart & their tagged pal @epooleart! Many thanks to all who entered!

There’s still a spot for you if you’d like to join us this evening when @sheriff_woody_pct takes us on a plant tour of California’s 3 Deserts!

The virtual tour is rich with hiking tales (you find weird things wandering around in the desert), floral eye candy, astounding biodiversity and copious tips for plant ID, and features 137 species!

🚘 Find your pass at our link in profile

Featured desert flower: Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setoissima ssp. punctata)

#botany #roadtrip #rareplants #biodiversity #mojavedesert #sonorandesert #greatbasindesert #joshuatreenationalpark #anzaborrego  #desertplants @californianativeplantsociety #californianativeplants 

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
🏵 G I V E A W A Y 🏵 @sheriff_woody_pct & @ba 🏵 G I V E A W A Y 🏵
@sheriff_woody_pct & @backcountrypress are teaming up for a Botany Road Trip – and you’re invited!

If you love Botanizing and Road Trip Adventures (& the legendary stories no one saw coming when they set out on said adventures), then this virtual plant-centric road trip is for you!

Hear Matt’s captivating tales as he introduces you to a TON of fascinating plants he encountered on an epic year long road trip in this 3-part webinar series.

🏵 We’re giving away FREE PASSES and copies of our new book “CALIFORNIA DESERT PLANTS” (featuring loads of Matt’s photos) for you and a pal!

THE DETAILS

• 3 evenings beginning April 30th | 6-8pm PT (All sessions will be recorded. Plant lists included.)

• $35 class fee, pre-registration is required

• 10% donated to the @californianativeplantsociety

💰 Limited Scholarships are available for BIPOC, students, and/or those experiencing economic hardship. We don’t want $ to be a barrier to participation.

THE LINEUP:

4/30 | All 3 California Deserts

5/7 | The expansive Intermountain West

5/15 | The swamps of the Southeast

🏵 W I N Y O U R S 🏵

TO ENTER:

1. Like this post and follow @backcountrypress & @sheriff_woody_pct

2. Tag one friend per comment below. Comment as many times as you like. Each is an entry.

3. Share this post in your story for an extra entry (be sure to tag us!)

4. We’ll pick a random winner at 9pm PT on Friday, 4/29. You and your tagged pal will both win passes & books!

If you just can’t wait and want to save your spot NOW, tap LINK IN PROFILE to find your way there -- and see all the details!

#botany #roadtrip #nativeplants #storyteller

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
We're late to the party 🥳 Apparently it's Calif We're late to the party 🥳 Apparently it's California Native Plant Week and, luckily, we have a brand new book of beloved #californianativeplants to celebrate with!

From Joshua Tree Woodlands,
to Palm Oases,
to Succulent Scrub,
to Alkali Sinks,
to Sand Dunes and more... 

This photo-filled field guide takes you through the Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin Deserts of CA introducing you to an incredible variety of plants and their adaptations to life in diverse desert habitats.

This beauty is currently printing and will be shipped out in mid-May. Pre-order yours by May 1st and we'll send you the eBook for FREE now!

🏵 Find it at our Link In Profile

#californianativeplantweek @californianativeplantsociety @latimesplants

#californiadesert #deathvalley #deathvalleynationalpark #anzaborrego #joshuatreenationalpark #greatbasin #mojave #mojavedesert #sonorandesert #cactus #biodiversity #botany #ecology

https://backcountrypress.com/product/california-desert-plants-paperback-ebook/
Join us right here on Sunday 4/10 at 6:30pm PT whe Join us right here on Sunday 4/10 at 6:30pm PT when @backcountrypress will be LIVE with plant explorer and botanical storyteller Matt Berger @sheriff_woody_pct!

For the last year Matt’s been hitting the trail and the road (hard, mind you) seeking out unusual plants in unusual places. 

He’s seen magnificent, fascinating, surprising, weird, grotesque, and even creepy things along his Botany Road Trip zigzagging the U.S.

❓What questions do you have for Matt?

💥 Comment with yours and we’ll be sure to ask him!

Hop on the Live at the 🔔 link above to catch the answers!

#botanyroadtrip #rareplants #botany #botanist @californianativeplantsociety
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Recent Posts

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  • MarineBio.Life Features Allison Poklemba April 27, 2022
  • Nature’s Archive features Michael Kauffmann April 26, 2022
  • Calling All Humboldt County Photographers April 8, 2022
  • Nature Nerd Protip: Cactus Compass January 9, 2022

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