The Idiot’s rehab following spinal surgery ten weeks ago reached a new plateau when he painlessly hiked 16.4 miles in the California redwoods.

The six-hour walk took him on a loop from the Redwood Creek trailhead north of Orick, CA, to the Tall Trees Grove and back. He’s now ahead of schedule to be in good enough shape to return to the MedTrek in Gaza and Egypt in November.

The Idiot embarks on the 16.4-mile loop from the Redwood Creek trailhead near Orick, CA, to the Tall Trees Grove.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)

MedTrekker Liz Chapin crosses Redwood Creek.

The Redwood Creek Trail is not only an easy walk under shady tall trees but is, with the exception of one missing bridge, also in excellent shape this summer.

The Redwood Creek trail is in good shape this season. Though one bridge is out…

…fallen trees have been cut and….

…signs tell The Idiot when he’s almost reached the halfway mark on his 16.4-mile trek.

Naturally the walk is all about the towering and aging trees.

Redwoods are happy to admit their age.

Except for creek crossings, towering trees provide shade throughout the 16.4-mile walk.

The idiot reaches Tall Trees Grove and prepares to climb one of the world’s tallest redwoods.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)

During the return hike, The Idiot changes shoes and prepares for the next challenge on his post-op rehab: a hike up and down Mount Lassen during the full moon on August 18.

Changing shoes for the last two miles of the Redwood Creek Trail rehab hike.
(Photo: Liz Chapin)

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About Joel

Joel Stratte-McClure has been a global trekker since the 1970s. He lived in France for over 30 years, working as a journalist, before he turned his attention to a unique life-time-project of walking the shores of the Mediterranean. The first 4,401 kilometers are explored in his inspirational and entertaining first book "The Idiot and the Odyssey: Walking the Mediterranean." The next 4,401 kilometers are covered in the gods-filled sequel, "The Idiot and the Odyssey II: Myth, Madness and Magic on the Mediterranean,” published on Valentine's Day 2013. The last 4,401 kilometers will be discussed in the last book of the trilogy currently entitled "The Idiot and the Odyssey III: Alexander the Great Walks the Mediterranean."