A Downhill Hike at Windy Hill Open Space

Last Saturday, the final field trip for my Foothill College hiking class, we let gravity do most of the work by starting at the Skyline Boulevard (uphill) end of the preserve and dropped 1,500 feet downhill for 5 miles to the Portola Road (downhill) entrance. Because a loop hike would be 8.9 miles, and I limit my field trips to a maximum of 6 miles, this preserve only works with a car shuttle.

We gathered at the Windy Hill parking lot on Portola Road in Portola Valley, next to The Sequoias retirement home. From there we carpooled north on Portola Road, west on Highway 84, and south on Skyline Boulevard, to the Windy Hill parking lot. We started out with a .7 mile side trip to the 1,800 foot summit of Windy Hill to enjoy magnificent views of the Bay Area and the Ocean. A wild fuchsia was in bloom on the summit.

From there it was all downhill. We paused to admire some huge Douglas fir trees with giant limbs straining and twisting their way toward sunlight. We also stopped to look at bright red toyon berries, madrone berries, lichen on oak trees, and oak galls. Best of all were the bright yellow leaves of the big leaf maple, in full fall fo

liage. At the end of our ramble we passed Sausal Pond, which is a sag pond formed along the San Andreas Fault.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 280 take Alpine Road or Sand Hill Road to Portola Road in the town of Portola Valley. There is also an entrance on Skyline Boulevard 2.3 miles south of Highway 84, and 4.9 miles north of Page Mill Road.

A Wildlife Walk at Ano Nuevo State Reserve

Many people think the only good time to visit Ano Nuevo is December to March, when the bulls arrive to fight over breeding space and territory, and the females follow to bear their pups and breed. The truth is that this is one of the world's great marine wildlife preserves, and every time of year has its rewards.

On November 2 I lead my Foothill College class on a 4.7 mile ramble from the main parking lot. After visiting the museum that used to be a dairy barn we headed westward above the coastal bluffs overlooking the Pacific. We stopped at the pond to see lots of birds, including brown pelicans, who were out in abundance. We continued west to the staging area at the entrance to the natural preserve, where the sand dunes begin. Nature docents were on hand to provide skulls, fur, whiskers, and other objects for us to touch.

After trudging over sand, we stopped to see shell and chert fragments at an ancient Ohlone Indian shell mound. Then we stopped at Bight Beach, where a docent had a spotting scope trained on Ano Nuevo Island, where hundreds of sea lions hang out. The highlight was at the North Point overlook, where we got a close up view of hundreds of juvenile elephant seals, who come to shore to build up there bone density by hauling themselves out of the water. The yearlings were closest to us. The older males were in the distance practicing combat maneuvers which will determine their rank and mating privileges later in life. We also got a close look at a sea otter that swam just offshore, followed by an opportunistic gull.

Heading back to the pond, we descended the trail to Cove beach to get out of the wind and to enjoy lunch. After lunch we stopped to examine a praying mantis along the trail.

TO GET THERE... The entrance to Ano Nuevo is on the west side of Highway 1 about 19 miles north of Santa Cruz and 23 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

San Mateo County Memorial Park Grand Tour

At 499 acres, San Mateo County Memorial Park is one of the smallest parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and barely large enough to encompass a field trip for my Foothill College class. Established in 1923, this was the first of the county parks in San Mateo County. It is well known for its old-growth redwoods. Our 4.6-mile loop route, however, revealed that in addition to redwoods, there are also areas of oak, Douglas fir, and chaparral, and some good ridgetop vistas.

We met at the Skywood Trading Post in Skylonda, at the intersection of Highway 84 & Skyline Boulevard, to carpool to our trail head on Wurr Road. The Wurr Road entrance is east of the main park entrance. The "Wurr Road" sign is hard to see, so look for the sign that says "Redwood Glen". It is just west of Camp Loma Mar. A short distance beyond the bridge over Pescadero Creek there is a parking lot on the left (east) side of the road. From here you can enter Pescadero Creek County Park or San Mateo County Memorial Park. By parking here you can avoid the $6.00 per vehicle entrance fee.

From the Wurr Road Parking lot we crossed the road to examine a large pear tree that was bursting with ripe fruit. We then paused to examined a poignant memorial to a young woman. Crossing the bridge over Pescadero Creek, we started the trail that enters Memorial Park. Our next stop was the Legion Flat Picnic Area, which was built in the 1930's by the W.P.A. There are some magnificent old-growth redwoods in the area, including a hollow log with a hole in the top for peeping out of and a small door. I used to play in that log when I was a kid.

Next, we stopped to view a sandy beach above Pescadero Creek. It seems out of place now that the park department no longer dams up the creek in the summer. I remember jumping into the small seasonal reservoir when I was little. The water was really cold, even on a warm day. Our next stop was the Largest Tree, which, at 13 feet in diameter, is supposed to be the largest redwood in the park. The trees here are not as large as the old-growth redwoods in Big Basin. Failing to see any crawdads in the creek, we headed on to the amphitheater, which has hosted countless campfire programs over the past 90 years.

Our loop then took us through the Bay Tree Flat Campground and on to the Homestead Trail. Past the trickle of water that passes for Pomponio Falls this time of year, we headed north and across Pescadero Road on the Pomponio Trail. On the other side of the road we observed the first of several banana slugs before charging uphill, above the redwoods for a lunch stop in a Douglas fir woodland. The trail then climbs into the chaparral, with great views of the Pescadero Creek watershed. We saw a woodrat nest next to the trail.

There were more views on the Mount Ellen Summit Trail as it descended the slope, crossed the road, and took us through the main park entrance. We paused at the Memorial Grove and then found an ancient redwood that has been hollowed out by fire. I call it the "Photo Op" Tree, because it is a great place to photograph people walking through the tree's natural tunnel. From there it was an easy walk back to our starting point. Some of us gathered pears by shaking the branches of the old pear tree. With my 20 pears I made delicious pear juice using my Jack LaL

ane juicer.

TO GET THERE... take Pescadero Road west from Sam McDonald County Park. It is about 10 miles east of Highway 1.

Bay Nut Brownies

Among all our native edible plants the nut of the bay laurel tree is one of the most delicious. Roasted bay nuts will remind you of chocolate and coffee, but with their own unique taste. They can be used in any recipe that calls for chocolate or coffee, including cookies, ice cream, pudding, kahlua, milkshakes, mousse, and brownies. Here is how to do it:
1) Gather bay nuts under bay trees in the fall. October & November are the best months.
2) Soak nuts in a bucket of water for a few days until the outer skins soften. Then remove skins.
3) Break shells with pliers to remove nuts, which will divide into two hemispheres.
4) Put nuts on a cookie sheet and roast in oven at about 375F for about 15 minutes. Check every few minutes to make sure they don't turn black. Remove from oven when nuts are brown.
5) Grind nuts into a powder with a coffee grinder or flour mill.

Bay Nut Brownies:

1) Preheat oven to 350F.

2) Grease & flour an 8 inch square pan.

3) In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup of butter. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup of sugar & 2 eggs. Beat in 3/4 cup of ground roasted bay nut, 1/2 cup of all purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. Pour batter into prepared pan.

4) Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.

Sam McDonald County Park

It was a beautiful sunny day for a 4.8-mile redwood ramble with my College of San Mateo class.
We met at the Woodside Town Hall parking lot to carpool to our destination. We noticed acorn woodpeckers inserting acorns into holes they made in a wooden building.

We started our hike from the Sam McDonald County Park parking lot on Pescadero Road. It is a big parking lot with a real restrooms. There is a $6.00 parking fee. We then crossed Pescadero Road and headed uphill on the Towne Trail. We took a short side excursion to see a huge old-growth redwood with reiterations that make it look like it has its arms in the air. I think I will call it the "Stick-Em-Up" tree.

The trail then abruptly climbs above the redwood forest into an oak woodland and grassland. We hiked past the horse camp and on to a ridgetop vista of the beautiful valley that holds Pescadero Creek and Pescadero Creek County Park. From there we visited the hikers hut which is owned and

operated by the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club.

From there it is all downhill to the Heritage Grove along Alpine Creek and Alpine Road. We examined beautiful old-growth redwoods and encountered a bridge over Alpine Creek that has been closed for repair for several years. I will call San Mateo County Parks to complain. However, we didn't let a little problem like that deter us from reaching the other side of the creek where there is a HUGE old-growth redwood and a great place for lunch. Because there is very little water in the creek this time of year, the crossing was not difficult. One of the students found a large banana slug which I put on a piece of plastic in order to show.

We then took the Heritage Grove Trail back to the parking lot, pausing on occasion to admire some more stately old redwood.

TO GET THERE...take La Honda Road and Pescadero Road west from La Honda.

Exploring the Rocks & Caves of Castle Rock State Park

Yesterday was a splendid sunny day for my Foothill College class to explore Castle Rock State Park. Carpooling from the Saratoga Library, we arrived just in time to grab the last few parking spaces along Skyline Boulevard. This park has become too popular on weekends for the limited parking now available. A new entrance with additional parking is planned.

From the main entrance we headed downhill on the Saratoga Gap Trail, pausing at a sandstone outcrop to examine the amazing process of "cavernous weathering", which only occurs in parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate. During the wet season, from November through April, rain water seeps into cracks in the rock. Then, during the long dry season, from May through October, the water, with dissolved calcium carbonate, is drawn to the surface to form a hard, erosion resistant, outer layer while the interior of the rock falls apart. That is why these rocks erode from the inside out, forming caves and interesting patterns called tafoni.

We then headed uphill on the Ridge Trail, bursting out of the woodland to reveal spectacular views of the San Lorenzo River Valley and on to the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay. After examining Goat Rock from the bottom, we ascended the trail to the uphill side, which can be ascended without technical aid. At least half the class made it to the top of Goat Rock, using various techniques, in order to enjoy the best view in the park. From there we stopped to look at what I call "Amphitheater Rock", which has lots of concretions called "cannonballs", and then headed on to a scenic overlook where we found an acorn woodpecker's granary tree stocked full of acorns for later consumption.

We left the Ridge Trail

to find Hole-in-the-Wall Rock, which has one of my favorite caves in the park. About half the class followed me to the top of the rock and then squeezed down a hole into a hollowed out chamber with a big picture window opening. It looks like a good place to live in case of nuclear war or the collapse of civilization. By then it was time for lunch at a huge canyon live oak with lots of seating in the form of rounded rocks and logs.

After lunch we took the first trail to the left, which connected us with the Saratoga Gap Trail. This trail has lots of sweeping vistas as it passes mostly through chaparral and occasional pockets of bay laurel. Some of the students saw a baby rattlesnake beside the trail. We stopped  briefly to look at Castle Rock Falls, though it isn't much more than a trickle this time of year.

The grand finale was the ascent to the park's namesake, Castle Rock. Some of the students climbed into a shallow cave in the rock while the rest of the class circumnavigated the rock or watched rock climbers practice their sport. This rock is perfect fun for children and adults who never really grew up.

TO GET THERE... The main entrance is on the west side of Skyline Boulevard, about 2.5 miles south of its intersection with Highway 9 (Saratoga Gap).

Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

Yesterday was a spectacular clear day for a hike with my College of San Mateo class at Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve. We met at the main Skyline Boulevard parking lot, which is 4.5 miles south of Highway 92. We then carpooled 2 miles farther south to a small parking lot at the uphill end of the Purisima Creek Trail. That way we could walk one way for 5.8 miles. This 4,711-acre preserve is steep, scenic, and ecologically diverse. It is one of my favorites.

The first 1.8 miles is downhill into the second-growth redwood forest. We then turned right (north) on the Craig Britton Trail, pausing at the bridge over a small creek for lunch. This narrow trail, which is also part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, snakes its way through the shady redwoods and then breaks into the sun and chaparral on the south facing slope of  the ridge just north of Purisima Creek. There we got some great views and saw a woodrat nest.

At the north end of the Craig Britton Trail we turned right (east) on the Harkins Ridge Trail. This is by far the steepest part of our hike. Our efforts were rewarded, however, by a stunning view of mountains and ocean to the west

. It was clear enough to see Half Moon Bay and Pillar Point. The trail then enters the redwoods again, with a pause to take a quick look at the legendary Ohlone Whisper Tree.

The final part of the route offers a choice between the steep .3 mile road route and the .5 mile trail route that is less steep and more scenic. Most of us took the scenic route.

A Spectacular Bloom Along Pescadero Creek

Spring is the big wildflower season in our area. However, there are some plants that choose to blossom in the other three seasons. A good example is the Tiger Lilly (Lilium pardalinum), which is in bloom now along creek banks in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Also known as Leopard Lilly, it has

large showy orange flowers atop stems that can be three or more feet tall. I came across these where the Towne Fire Road crosses Pescadero Creek in Pescadero Creek County Park.

Escaping the heat along shady Fall Creek

Today was the final field trip for the second Spring session of my College of San Mateo class. It was a warm day and a perfect day for a 5.1-mile exploration of the shady second-growth redwood forest in the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowelll Redwoods State Park. The main unit of this park is south of Felton. The Fall Creek unit is west of town via Felton Empire Road.

Starting at the parking lot about half a mile west of  Highway 9, we headed downhill on the Bennett Creek Trail. We then sauntered north and along Fall Creek on the Fall Creek Trail. This creek is the main attraction of this park. Fed by hundreds of springs, it runs cold and pure all through the year as it bounces over granite rocks, resembling a creek that you might see in Yosemite. Along the way we paused to examine a banana slug.

We then turned left on the South Fork Trail, which follows the South Fork of Fall Creek to the lime kilns. Along the way we stopped to dip our cups into a pool of sparkling, pure, and cold limestone spring water. This water is as pure as it gets and loaded with healthy minerals, including calcium

We examined the lime kilns, which were built in 1872 by the IXL Lime Company. This area produced 50,000 barrels of lime per year during its heyday. That's nearly a third of all the lime produced in California at that time. Each barrel weighs 250 pounds. The limestone, which was quarried at nearby Blue Cliff, was heated in the kilns for three or four days to separate the carbon dioxide from the calcium carbonate in the rock. This made it turn into powder that could be loaded into barrels and then transported by wagon to Felton, and from there by railroad to awaiting ships in Santa Cruz. Lime is used to make cement.

Near the lime kilns we witnessed the mating of two banana slugs, walked a short distance off trail to see gold fish in  small cistern, and saw the underground chamber where gunpowder was stored. Along the Cape Horn  Trail we stopped to look at an inconspicuous spotted coral root orchid along the trail and a more flamboyant leafless wintergreen in full bloom. On the banks of Fall Creek we stopped for lunch and some of my baynut brownies before continuing upstream to the barrel mill, where a water-powered sawmill cut redwood lumber for the barrels used to transport the lime.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 9 in Felton, the main parking lot is about half a mile west on Felton Empire Road. Look for it on the right side of the road.

A Walk On The San Andreas Fault

Today my College of San Mateo class took a 4.7-mile tour of the San Andreas Fault at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and Los Trancos Open Space Preserve.

We assembled at the Monte Bello Open Space parking lot on Page Mill Road. We started by examining some conglomerate that was transported 23 miles over about 1.5 millions years of fault movement from the western flanks of Loma Prieta. We then hiked the White Oak Trail, which took us past some magnificent white, black, and live oaks and down to the Stevens Creek. We paused to enjoy the sight of mariposa lillies and globe lillies.  On the way we witnessed the rough alligator lizard mating ritual. The male clamped his teeth onto the head of the female.

As we approached the Canyon Trail Liz Foreman saw something round and white in the forest duff next to the trail. At first I thought it was a mushroom; but when I picked it up we were surprised to find that is was a perfectly intact egg, without a crack in it. It was about 2.6 inches long, and it appeared to have been laid where we found it. If it had fallen out of a nest is would have broken. I have no idea what kind of bird egg this is.

After stopping for lunch, we headed north and uphill on the Canyon Trail, where we observed a pressure ridge on the San Andreas Fault and a sag pond where a bend in the fault caused the land to subside. We then crossed Page Mill Road and entered Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, where we followed the San Andreas Fault Trail for more evidence that we were walking on the interface between two massive continental plates. Posts mark the course of where the land ruptured during the 1906 earthquake.  An offset fence provides evidence of fault displacement.

TO GET THERE... The main parking lot is on Page Mill Road about 7 miles west from Highway 280 and 1.4 miles east of Skyline Boulevard.