Vent: I keep seeing people plan 20-mile days for the Lost Coast Trail without checking the tide tables first.

I watched three groups get stuck last month because they didn't realize you can only pass certain sections during a 4-hour low tide window, so what's a realistic daily mileage plan for that route?

3 comments

3 Comments

laurac961mo ago

My friend Jake spent six cold hours on a tiny rock shelf last year.

the_adam1mo ago

So @laurac96's friend waited six hours, but was he actually in danger or just bored? Real planning means reading those tide charts to avoid the wait, not just picking a big number for miles each day.

the_adam1mo ago

Okay but "stuck" is a strong word. Did they just have to wait a few hours for the tide to drop? I've done that section and the tide tables are more about timing your hike, not some life-or-death blockade. A realistic plan is just matching your miles to the low tide windows, even if that means some short days.