The Thrill of a Lifetime; visit to St. George Reef Lighthouse, Crescent City, California

It was the thrill of a life time. Long anticipated, eagerly awaited, the weather was breathtaking, the stars were aligned, and I hopped on a helicopter at McNamara Field, in Crescent City, and landed on the pier of one of the most remote lighthouses in the world. I was one of few to take the cook’s tour of the St. George Reef Lighthouse, six miles off the coast of Crescent City, California.

A year ago when Angela and I moved to Crescent City, I made some choices to involve myself in a number of volunteer efforts. The best choice I ever made was to contact Guy Towers, president of the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society and ask him, “Is there anything I can do to help.” Soft-spoken by steel eyed-focused Towers simply replied, “You bet.” And involved I became. This past Saturday, November 13, I was helping out, picking up some supplies for the SGRLPS volunteers who were working on the wave-washed lighthouse. Saturday was only supposed to be a helicopter fly-over day but alas, there was a change of plans and helicopter landings might take place. Sunday, all the flights with 36 confirmed reservations on Shasta Air were booked and nobody was canceling… until the stars aligned perfectly.

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A former Crescent City resident who works for Boeing in Seattle unexpectedly arrived at the airport as he heard something about flights to St. George Reef Lighthouse. SGRLPS volunteer Fran McNamara who was coordinating the fly-over flights acknowledged the man could take a flight for $85. He indicated he wanted to land on the deck and tour SGR Lighthouse. Zap... I jumped in to the conversation: “Fran, here’s my check for $195. Count me in.” We needed another seat. I quickly called my wife and told her to giddy up over to McNamara field NOW! We were set for the thrill of a life time. Pilot / owner Dave Everson of Shasta Air was in a great spirit as he made sure we were all buckled up for the 6 minute flight to St. George. I asked Dave how he was feeling and he humorously intimated he might need some help flying the whirlybird. LOL. Dave was classic. The view approach to the lighthouse was magnificent. She stands atop her caisson fascinating yet foreboding. I thought here I am about to rub shoulders with history. It was humbling. Upon landing on the western side of the lighthouse the caisson looked perilously tiny, but Dave landed flawlessly. Upon disembarking, the first characteristic I noticed was the wind… Strong winds continually blowing from the Northwest. I gingerly walked easterly toward Susan Davis, volunteer who was going to give us the tour. Soon, Terry McNamara, coordinator for all the rehabilitative work undertaken greeted us. I was like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time. Terry and the other dedicated volunteers including Susan, Jim McLaughlin, Mitch Gianola, Randy Rogers, Russ and Marchan Burnett, Bill Tedsen, Dale Kennedy, Bill Monson, and Harlan Watkins were all busy on many different tasks to bring alive this beautiful woman I affectedly call Lady St. George. The on-going efforts to rehabilitate Lady St. George are Herculean. The Preservation Society assumed control of the Lighthouse in the mid 1990’s. Both the Governmental red tape and the harsh Del Norte County weather were and remain more than challenging. Towers and his volunteers took on the daunting task and have slowly made incredible progress so folks like me can experience the thrill of a lifetime. Angela directed my attention to the hundreds of seals below the caisson. Federal law protects these enchanting pinnipeds. You may not even make eye contact with them. I must admit a grabbed a glance of these magnificent creatures frolicking in the surf and lounging on the rocks below. What a thrill! And the odor! Whew! Definitely an acquired taste one learns to appreciate on Lady St. George. On we went. I realized immediately. I was experiencing a vertical world. Everything was up or down. We observed close hand the living quarters, the galley, the storage areas, the water cisterns, and all the features that architect Arthur Ballantyne thought of and built into this state-of-the art sentinel. I read Dennis Powers’ Sentinel of the Seas so I knew the history of the tedious and challenging construction over a decade. As I ascended up the seven story tower, I imagined what life was like for the five staff who served duty on St. George. From 1892-1939, it was the U.S. Lighthouse Service. From 1939-75, The Coast Guard assumed operations. Then, modern technology was implemented. This beautiful light house tower was being supplanted by an electronic anchored buoy, a mile west of Northwest Seal Rock. Just like that, Lady St. George was retired… and two decades later rescued by the St George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society. 90 minutes flew by and it was time to depart. Captain Dave was approaching and he flawlessly set down his beautiful bird. Angela and I hoped aboard. I was aglow and frankly still am. I experienced the thrill of a lifetime. Hope you make your plans to experience the thrill of a lifetime. Next scheduled flights to St. George Reef will be February 11, March 10, and April 14, 2012…weather permitting. Roger Gitlin is a volunteer with the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society. He resides in Crescent City, California.