Western Railroad Discussion > NWP from Willits to Eureka

I know it is a long hike, but has anyone done it? Are there photos of the line between here? If you did hike it, would you make it alive to the end?

Its 134 road miles, so even if its the same via RR thats 5 1/2 days at 25 miles a day.

Having walked abandoned portions of the Tillamook branch, 2 miles an hour is about average with stopping to see the scenery and me walking fairly fast. Old RR tracks are not the smoothest terrain to walk on.. Might be slower with a pack.

I think the "make it alive to the end" refers the the illicit agriculture that part of California is notorious for, and the growers who guard their crops rather aggressively.

Some time ago, I was talking to the Bear, Jim Mahon, he indicated he had walked the NWP twice, looking at every inch of the track and right away. I will see him Either Saturday or possibly Tuesday. I will ask him how far he walked and where he started and finished. I always look forward to talking with him. He is a great person and a gentlemen.
Dave

More like walking with someone behind you in the hy-rail. Don't think he took off with a pack on his back, camping out each night.

And don't forget about mountain lions. They're out there, especially up there.

Mountain lions? The turkeys around Dos Rios are bigger than the mountain lions and more aggressive.

There is local debate about the pro's & con's of establishing a trail along the NWP ROW...

One of the con's is emergency access...if a hiker was injured, and weather prevented a medivac via a chopper, they'd be screwed...

Another issue is trash, trespassing, and fire danger...

Very few roads actually go down to the Eel river and the NWP ROW, and most have several gates blocking vehicular traffic, so getting injured hikers out, or fire equipment in, is very problematic...

Land slides abound, and is the reason the line was abandoned to begin with...

WP707 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is local debate about the pro's & con's of
> establishing a trail along the NWP ROW...
>
> One of the con's is emergency access...if a hiker
> was injured, and weather prevented a medivac via a
> chopper, they'd be screwed...
>
> Another issue is trash, trespassing, and fire
> danger...
>
> Very few roads actually go down to the Eel river
> and the NWP ROW, and most have several gates
> blocking vehicular traffic, so getting injured
> hikers out, or fire equipment in, is very
> problematic...
>
> Land slides abound, and is the reason the line was
> abandoned to begin with...

Really?

Are those dangers ANY different then a normal back country hike? No.

Interesting idea about "exploring the top end" of one of the
country's more offbeat, unusual Railroads. I did have a bit of
a personal connection to the NWP; worked as "5th man helper" on
the Electrical Gang out of Petaluma late 70s. One time we delivered
some tools to Island Mtn tunnel, when those fires were going on.

Wild interesting country, kind of a hidden jewel part of NorCal.
I couldn't walk the ROW due to some chronic physical limitations
these days-- > but I would LIKE to!

Old Porter out-