Boy Scout Camp Noyo and Northern California's Skunk Train

photodoug · November 20, 2006

A group of leaders took 20+ scouts to Camp Noyo on the Noyo River out of Ft. Bragg, CA. A very curvey, 25+ mile car ride up the northern California coast. Three scouts lost their breakfast but only two made it into plastic grocery bags!

The Skunk Train

open air car ride

our gear came up via a converted van

camp noyo's logging-cable and wood bridge

logging cable anchor point

the swimming area was clear...but bone-chilling cold, so no takers of the rope swing

had a coleman propane lantern fail...no injuries. We allowed it to burn out. One of our assistant scoutmasters is a sheriff's dept sargeant and bomb squad expert. His recommendation was to allow it to burn as the safety valve in the propane bottle eventually released all the gas and avoided any chance of explosion. Interestingly, if we'd put the fire out with water the continued escaping gas could have collected enough and posed an explosion risk.

our ride back from camp to Ft. Bragg used a more modern diesel puller

Thanks for looking. Entire album here, including a short video of the lantern fire

Jeffro · November 20, 2006

Looks like a good time. A little tmi on the barf bags though....

a110p0 · November 21, 2006

Childhood reminders
Nice pictures. Reminds me when I was 12 and rode the
Skunk Train with my family.

Thanks for sharing.

Alvin

Angelo · November 24, 2006

great shots and travel log. Can you tell us more about this "skunk" train?

photodoug · November 24, 2006

Angelo wrote:

great shots and travel log. Can you tell us more about this "skunk" train?

It runs across the coastal mountains from Ft. Bragg 40 miles at 39 miles per hour (and slower) from to Willits on Hwy 101....has since 1885. It began as a logging route and now services tourists and homeowners along the route. Towering redwoods, creeks and rivers along the way. Original lumberjack shacks still exist along the line and old lumber moving gear can be seen everywhere....even old springboards sticking out of giant redwoods.

The run is called the Redwood Route. In 1925 little gas-powered cars were put into service that "you could smell before you could see 'em"....hence the resulant name. Halfway along the route the train stops at Camp Noyo Boy Scout camp. Scouts pile off with their gear or pile back on to head home.

It's a great way to spend a day if you're in Northern California. Remember to bring a grocery bag or two.

Angelo · November 25, 2006

photodoug wrote:

It runs across the coastal mountains from Ft. Bragg 40 miles at 39 miles per hour (and slower) from to Willits on Hwy 101....has since 1885. It began as a logging route and now services tourists and homeowners along the route. Towering redwoods, creeks and rivers along the way. Original lumberjack shacks still exist along the line and old lumber moving gear can be seen everywhere....even old springboards sticking out of giant redwoods.

The run is called the Redwood Route. In 1925 little gas-powered cars were put into service that "you could smell before you could see 'em"....hence the resulant name. Halfway along the route the train stops at Camp Noyo Boy Scout camp. Scouts pile off with their gear or pile back on to head home.

It's a great way to spend a day if you're in Northern California. Remember to bring a grocery bag or two.

You've really piqued my interest. I'll have to look into this trip sometime soon. Thanks Doug.

jen_asmirian · December 4, 2006

that looks like a lot of fun...& a good photo op. I like the perspective of the shots . very nice.

Boy Scout Camp Noyo and Northern California's Skunk Train

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