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Cheryl Flory
01-27-2010, 11:00 PM
I would like to plan a trip out to see the coastal redwoods. Are there any suggestions on where or when? What time of year is the best time to go if you want to see the fog? elk?

Thanks!

Chris Hansen
01-29-2010, 04:39 PM
Cheryl,
Th fog here can occur pretty much year round here. The fog tends to be worse in the summer when the marine layer gets pulled in by the warm temperatures inland. Though depending where you are the fog can burn off before noon. There are a lot of micro climates here. In winter there is less fog after the winter storms for a day or two. Then you run the risk of the rain which can go on for days and days. As far as best time I prefer spring when there is still water in the streams and the rhododendrons and other wildflowers are in bloom. For elk the best season in my opinion is fall. If you want to get up close and personal one of the best areas to go is Bear Harbour campground in the Sinkyone Wilderness Area. The Sinkyone is well off of the beaten path and I would suggest at least a vehicle with high clearance. it doesn't have to be four wheel drive just not a little compact car.


http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=429


The elk there often go through the campsites. it is a little unerving to hear them clomp by when you are trying to sleep. There are more elk in any of the open areas around Orick right next to highway 101 but the backgrounds aren't all that great.

As far as locations for Redwoods there are plenty of locations and many beautiful groves all along highway 101 from Ukiah and Willits where I live all the way up to Crescent City. There are some great photo opportunities to be had in Montgomery woods west of Ukiah.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=434

Nice spot as there aren't too many tourists as it too is off of the beaten path.

Take the Avenue of the Giants off of 101 and you will pass through grove after grove of redwoods that were set aside by the Save the Redwoods League. these groves are right next to the Eel River.The avenue parallels the river and 101 so you can pop back onto 101 at the end of it. Don't miss the little victorian town of Fernadale south of Eureka or the mill town of Scotia.

http://avenueofthegiants.net/


Jedediah Smith Redwood SP is one of my favorite places to car camp as the Smith River is one of the best places to cool off in the summer.It is cold and clear.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413

I just threw out a few of my ideas here. Maybe Bruce Gove my neighbor to the south will chi,e in with a few of his thought as well. Keep in touch.

Good luck and God bless,

chris

Cheryl Flory
01-30-2010, 07:06 AM
Thanks, Chris for the wonderfully detailed reply!
What do you think of Fern Canyon?

Have you taken a lot of Redwood photos? do you have a site?

Cheryl

Chris Hansen
01-30-2010, 05:57 PM
Cheryl,

Fern Canyon is a pretty cool place. It is difficult to photograph and really get a sense of the place across to the viewer. At least I feel that I have never been able to. The canyon varies in width from per my poor recollection from about 75 feet to narrowing down to about 30 feet in places. The height of the canyon walls is around 10-20 feet. The majority of the walls as the name implies are covered in ferns. At high flows the canyon is inaccessible. In spring though people place boards and branches along the way so you can cross without getting your feet wet.
It is kind of funny that I live in the Redwood Region and I have a grove of Redwoods in my backyard but I really don't have that many images of Redwoods just by themselves. They are just usually a part of what I am taking an image of.

My blogsite is listed below my name

http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot.com/

but I am also a part of two other websites. One is down for reconstruction. They are Lost coast Photographers at

http://mendophotos.ning.com/


and Photomission which as I stated is down presently as it converts to a micro stock site.

http://www.photomission.com/servlets/imagebank

Attached is an image of "Sunrise Over the Redwwods" taken near my house.

God bless,

chris

Cheryl Flory
01-30-2010, 06:15 PM
Thanks, Chris!
I really enjoyed your sites and photos. I will email you more about the redwoods off list.