Fresh Flowers

Flowers, flowers ... where are the flowers?

We expected more flowers than we found, but hiking this 4.6 mile loop in the counter-clockwise direction promised a strong finish (flower-wise). We've hiked these trails before, but this time we started from a different trailhead in the southwest corner of Santa Teresa County Park.

Maybe it's a bit early for the flowers? (Despite all the rain we've had.) The California poppies, however, did not disappoint. Distracted by the dazzling blooms, watch your step along the rocky trail!

Comrades, Conversation, and Croissants

Former colleagues and friends proposed that we gather for a comfortable hike; I suggested the Los Gatos Creek Trail. And as ordinary as that might seem, we were surprised to spot turtles and black-crowned night herons in the creek bed! Take nothing for granted, in the Bay Area.

Besides, it was a beautiful day.

Thinking ahead, they'd made lunch reservations—and we were happy to eat (and continue chatting), after ambling close to 4.5 miles.

But what about those croissants? After lunch, we were enticed to visit one more location, for pastries.

What's not to like about any of that?

Three-mile Adventure

Although I've visited the Cherry Springs area of Sierra Azul before, if I have no other plans when the next outing is scheduled, I'm in. Like today.

We started with a little bonus walk through open meadows before moving on to the regular loop. A rafter of turkeys was surprised to see us; a male was strutting his stuff to impress the hens (not the humans).

Along the way we passed a dead tree that was studded with acorns—surely the handiwork (uh, “beakwork?”) of our local acorn woodpeckers.

The first time I did this hike, one of the guys had a curiously large backpack. Larger than anything I'd carry on an all-day hike. He joined us again today; when we reached a section of trail that was blocked, he pulled a hand saw out of that pack. A couple of other hikers were prepared with gloves, and just like that(!) the trail was cleared.

Our group included a couple of teens with their family, and I was impressed that they were just as keen to study the flora and fauna as any of us. As they helped to clear the fallen branches, one was excited when he found a newt. We all got a close look, and the newt got some needed hydration (raindrops from a water bottle) before it was returned to ground level.

Go for a hike! A world of little surprises is there for you to discover.

Spring in Our Steps

The beauty of a place shifts with the seasons; return visits always have something new to offer.

The sky looked threatening, but there was no rain. Even the occasional spot of sunshine!

Signs of spring were popping out, though there were few flowers.

The hills (and trails) are fully exposed in the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve, making it a popular choice for cool-weather hikes. A spell of dry, warm weather will turn the green grasses to gold, and our attention will shift from fields to forests.

Nine of us hiked 4.6 miles, with yours truly trailing ever behind, chasing flowers. Like this lovely little lupine, sparkling with dew.

Totally worth it.

Waterwheel Creek Trail

Some areas of our local open space preserves are less accessible than others. Preserving the space is the primary goal, and making it available for hikers is not always consistent with that goal.

I've biked up Montebello Road enough times to forget the chained-off, permit-only parking lot I pass near the top. When I found a guided hike up there on MidPen's calendar, I was in.

We didn't see a waterwheel, but perhaps there was one when this area was part of a ranch? We didn't see any water, but a few creeks are shown on maps (feeding down into Stevens Creek).

Our docent explained that we were standing on the North American Plate, gazing across the canyon at a ridge atop the Pacific Plate. [Hello, San Andreas Fault!]

Years ago, some of my colleagues would organize an annual bike ride to watch the sun rise from the top of Black Mountain. Which, of course, entailed climbing Montebello in the dark. Being a slow climber, and not an early bird, I always regretted that I couldn't join them.

Now that I've walked along some of the route that extends from the end of Montebello Road to Black Mountain, I realize that I could manage a good part of it on my road bike. Of course, I'd have to climb Montebello first ... [Still, not for a sunrise.]

Today's hike covered a little more 2.5 miles and opened up a new perspective on the wild lands around me.

Lunch on the Beach

Some of us were eager to break from the usual and explore territory farther afield; we settled on a coastal hike at Wilder Ranch State Park. Knowing this would fill the better part of a day, only five of us were up for it.

There was interest in going the distance to Four Mile Beach; I had a grasp of the best way to map that out, having hiked some of the trails along the bluff just a few months ago.

As if the views aren't spectacular enough, I am always filled with awe to be hiking along the very edge of a continent.

With the beach in sight, our challenge was how to reach it. That trail snaking near the center of the photo looks like the obvious route ... until you discover that it descends rather too steeply. We found a less-treacherous (albeit rocky) alternative, through some brush—but we were comfortable scampering up the steep bit to the main path later.

We'd passed a surfer with her gear (and dog) on the way to the beach; returning, we found her furry friend perched high above the waves, focused on the tiny humans in the water far below.

Two of my hiking buddies braved the trek down to Strawberry Beach, climbing over debris from the winter storms. In the process, my phone slipped out of my pocket; I discovered that almost immediately, due to my photo-snapping habit, and luckily found it. [Important lesson learned.]

As before, there were shorebirds (long-billed curlews, as well as a lone snowy egret).

We were pretty well spent after completing more than eight miles, opting for a direct route back rather than extending our trek through the fern grotto area.

If you were wondering why our lunch spot was called “Four Mile Beach” ... well, do the math.

Springtime Fun with Friends

Intent on framing the landscape just so, I didn't notice the sun's halo (ice crystals) until I looked at the photo, later.

With an experienced trail-running, rock-climbing colleague in town, many of my former teammates turned out for a moderate uphill hike. When they'd chosen St. Joseph's Hill, I'd reassured them that the trails would be reasonably mud-free. Having hiked there not long ago, the route was fresh in my memory.

I started out with a little tip that that the first part of the route would have us going up a pretty steep section, after which any climbs would be gentler. (I didn't want anyone to bail out, imagining that the rest of the hike would be that daunting!)

Eager for a bit more, we finished with a short stretch along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Consensus was “enough!” when we reached the short (but steep) downhill section—which, of course, we'd have to climb back up. The long ramp across the back of the dam at Lexington Reservoir was a sufficient challenge.

Eleven humans and one charming canine hiked 4.6 miles, all smiles. Bonus discovery: tadpoles in the roadside puddles! A mom and her son were “rescuing” some for their home pond, claiming that the puddles would soon dry out. I don't know about that, but now I know that springtime puddles are worth a closer look!