Redwood Adventures Announces Five Free Guided Hikes

ORICK, Calif. – July 14, 2007 – In honor of Lady Bird Johnson (former first lady, environmentalist and conservationist who died yesterday at age 94), Redwood Adventures today announced that it will hold five free guided hikes to Lady Bird Johnson Grove on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22.

“Lady Bird Johnson was such a great supporter of the redwoods, we felt it would be totally appropriate to recognize her work to preserve and protect this magnificent area by holding several memorial hikes in her honor,” said John “Johnny Redwood” Russavage, chairman and chief executive officer of Redwood Adventures. “We therefore invite any and all interested parties to join us in one of several free, guided hikes to Lady Bird Johnson Grove (within the Redwood National and State Parks) on July 21st or 22nd.”

Start times for the free, one-mile guided hikes will be at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, and at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 22. The 8 p.m. hike on Saturday is designated as a candlelight hike and candles will be provided by Redwood Adventures. (All times are Pacific Daylight Time.)

Interested individuals are invited to meet at the cabins at Redwood Adventures Vacation Village on Valley Green Camp Road at mile marker 124 on Highway 101, approximately three miles north of Orick, California. Hikers will then caravan approximately 4 miles to the trailhead (off of Bald Hills Road) before beginning the hike. Each hike (including drive time) is expected to take between 60 to 90 minutes.

About Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Nature Trail

Located near Orick, California in the Redwood National and State Parks (the youngest park in the National Parks system), Lady Bird Johnson Grove was dedicated at a proclamation signing by President Richard M. Nixon on August 28, 1969. (See http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2213 for the remarks of Pres. Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson and Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson at the proclamation signing.)

In addition to Pres. Nixon, Pres. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, other notable dignitaries present at the dedication of the grove included Governor Ronald Reagan; U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Walter J. Hickel; U.S. Rep. Donald H. Clausen (R, CA) and the Rev. Billy Graham.

The proclamation creating Lady Bird Johnson Grove occurred less than a year after the formal dedication of Redwood National Park on October 2, 1968.

To reach the trailhead to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, travel 0.5 miles north of Orick on Highway 101 to Bald Hills Road, then travel east approximately 2.5 miles on Bald Hills Road. The nature trail to Lady Bird Johnson Grove is built on a reclaimed logging road and is considered an easy walk along mostly flat ground among old-growth redwoods.

A panoramic view of the dedication site of Lady Bird Johnson Grove can be seen here, while a panoramic view of some of the huge redwood trees and chest-high ferns in the Grove can be seen here.

For more information about the free guided hikes to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, please call 866-733-9637.

About Redwood Adventures
Redwood Adventures is a business unit of Redwood Parks Lodge Company. Situated on a 40-acre parcel of land adjacent to Highway 101 in northern Orick, California, Redwood Adventures is within the Redwood National and State Parks system. Redwood Adventures property consists of the 7-acre Redwood Adventures Village, which includes six luxurious, 1,200-square foot vacation cabins featuring three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, full kitchen and an attached garage; and the 7-acre Ghost Mill Adventure Center property, which can be used for festivals, corporate events and family reunions. Future plans include the development of the Redwood National Parks Lodge, which will be the only commercial lodge adjacent to the Redwood National and State Parks. For more information, please visit www.redwoodadventures.com.