Saturday, August 1, 2015

Trail Tour Part 1

                              IMG_4687 

                   Looking at the sunset in the side mirror of the Ranger’s Truck.

Ranger Theresa and I finally hit the trails yesterday.  We waited until it was a bit cooler which allowed me to get some really neat sunsets pictures.

IMG_4634 We started out at Grant Lake.  Because of the drought, the lake is really low, although there are still fish in there and we do get fishermen there all the time.

IMG_4636 We headed out on Halls Valley Trail.  At the beginning there is quite a bit of shade from the oak trees.  As pretty as this looks, you wouldn’t want to go tiptoeing through there or pick any.  It’s Poison Oak!!!  It not only grows like bush, but as a vine,  It is everywhere.

IMG_4637 We continued going up the trail with magnificent views.  The camera can’t do it justice.

IMG_4638 A lone oak tree.

IMG_4639 The trail continues. We connected with the Canada de Pala Trail, going higher and higher, thru Deer Valley on towards the site of the Pala Seca Cabin.

IMG_4645 That Poison Oak grows everywhere, even right out of a big rock. 

IMG_4646 One more hill to climb before we get to the cabin site.  At the top of this hill we spotted a coyote, which disappeared as soon as it saw us.  Yes, there were deer down in Deer Valley.

IMG_4649 The information board picturing and explaining the site.  That’s Grant on the left and President Hoover on the right.  You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

IMG_4650 IMG_4654 

Views of and around the cabin site.  There is a spring nearby, so they had running water.

IMG_4652 IMG_4657

                                         The sun is beginning to set.

 IMG_4662Along our way there is a base rock that was used as a mortar with a pestle for grinding acorns and other things.

 

IMG_4647 IMG_4663

In my hand is a piece of chert. It is a piece of rock that the Indians mined to make arrowheads.  The outcrop of rock on the left is one such rock.

Below are some of the sunset.  The cloud in the second two reminded me of the surf on the ocean.

IMG_4664 IMG_4668 IMG_4667 IMG_4669

As the sun continued to set it left some beautifully lighted hills.

IMG_4672 IMG_4673

IMG_4675 IMG_4678 IMG_4681 Here there were some California Quail on the trail that flew off as the truck approached.

IMG_4689 If you enlarge this picture, you can see both the rising moon on the right and Licks Observatory on the left.

IMG_4690 When people ask me how big the park is, I tell them that if they see the power lines to the east and to the west, that is the area between those two lines that is how big the park is.  It’s just a visual for them,  but the park is 11,000 acres.

IMG_4693We were losing light and so headed back to the campground along the highest ridge in the park.

IMG_4695 We could now see Grant Lake where we started.

I really enjoyed going out on the trails.  Thank you Theresa,  I learned a lot that will help with advising campers as to what's out there on the trails.  If you ever get a chance to visit this park, I’m sure that you will enjoy your visit.

Thanks for visiting

IMG_1317 As usual I had to stay at home.

Susan and Angel

1 comment: