Flying the Edge of America:
Oakland to Crescent City, California
Lift off Oakland
On Monday, June 30, 2008, Julia and David (J&D) took off from Oakland at 10:00 AM, bound for Crescent City and the stunning Redwood National Park in Northern California. This was the first leg of their grand adventure, a flight around America, and their first camping stop of the journey. The entire West Coast was blanketed in thick cloud cover—Oakland's cloud deck stretched from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet, while Crescent City was engulfed in clouds from 500 to 2,000 feet.
Landing at Crescent City required intense focus on the aircraft’s instruments, as nothing was visible until they descended below the clouds. Julia, unfamiliar with white-out landings, displayed remarkable courage throughout the experience. Despite the tense approach, they landed safely, marking the first of many thrilling stops on this incredible journey.
San Francisco under clouds
J&D had packed everything they needed—except for an extra set of knives and forks—but considering all that could have been forgotten, they managed well. They set off on a breathtaking hike through the redwood forest surrounding their campground in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. After their hike, they returned to camp, cooked an excellent dinner, enjoyed fine wine, built a cozy fire, and settled in as the sun set.
Describing the beauty of a redwood grove is nearly impossible—it evokes the grandeur of a cathedral or an Egyptian temple, yet also conjures a prehistoric landscape where dinosaurs might have once roamed among towering trees and lush ferns. Standing amidst these ancient giants, Julia felt a deep reassurance that some things remain unchanged. These forests have endured for thousands of years, surviving despite humanity’s efforts to alter nature’s course. It was a peaceful, awe-inspiring refuge.
Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park
The park is home to countless species of wildlife, including black bears. Yet as J&D hiked through the forest, thoughts of danger felt distant—the sheer beauty of the landscape left little room for fear. History tells of Jedediah Smith's own encounter with a bear during his expedition into the Northwest. The beast tore his scalp from his head, leaving it precariously attached by only a strip of skin at his ear. One can scarcely imagine the horror of having it sewn back on by a fellow trapper—without anesthesia, deep in the wilderness. Smith survived the attack, only to later meet his end at the hands of Native Americans.
Inspired by the accounts of Lewis and Clark, Smith’s drive to explore resonated deeply with J&D. How had early adventurers navigated completely unknown terrain? Enthralled by their surroundings, J&D lost themselves in the moment, hiking 15 miles over the soft forest floor, weaving through irises, ferns, birds, and towering trees. For Julia, the magic of the redwood forest briefly eclipsed the reality of the journey ahead—tomorrow would bring another foggy flight, but tonight, she was fully immersed in the wonder of the wilderness.
Continue the adventure in my next article, Flying the Edge of America.