Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts

7/7/13

Snoquera Falls Loop

We were up in Seattle a couple weekends ago visiting family and friends. Here are some pictures from Snoquera Falls, a fine, two-mile hike about an hour south of SeaTac. 

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After about a 1-mile hike uphill, you reach a granitic debris field and nice waterfall.

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It may take a bit of discernment to maintain sight of the trail after you leave the falls area.  During our visit, some of the rocks had shifted out of place and we had to do a bit of scrambling  to get over them. 

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At the bottom of the trail, after you finish your descent from the falls, the trail comes to a T-intersection. Turn left back to go back to the parking lot. A sign would  have been nice!

Also, you're supposed to have some kind of pass to park here, according to the Code of Federal Regulations, § 261.15.

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They're very clear about this, even providing you pictures of what the passes should look like. Unfortunately, in their zeal to tell you about the passes, they neglect to tell you where to get one

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In my experience in California, most of our state and federal parks have "iron rangers", essentially a big metal box with an opening you drop your money in to.  Alas, it appears that Washington state has not yet developed his technology. Iron rangers were not to be found here.

5/11/13

Point Reyes: On the way to Glen Camp

Some pictures from a 4-mile hike to my campsite in Point Reyes a couple of days ago. Leaving work in SF at 4pm, I had to hustle a bit to get there before the sun went down.

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I had site #6, on the the trail off to the right. I'd recommend 6 or 5.

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5/5/13

Ring Mountain

Crossed the Golden Gate to go hunting for Calochortus tiburonensis on Ring Mountain this morning. Didn't find it. 

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Found other things to enjoy.

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I was especially happy to indulge my fondness for taking semi-abstract pictures of grasses and flowers in grass.

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4/14/13

Mount Burdell

I accompanied friends on "a short hike" in Marin County today. A shorter hike would have been fine. Well, it was a lovely day-- bright sun, blue skies, cool breezes...

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The oaks have all leafed out, and the buckeyes will flower soon.

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This is Mount Burdell, in Novato. Lovely to visit in spring; punishingly hot in summer. 

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I do not get invited to go on hikes all that often. Most people I know who go hiking a lot a) like to be alone, or b) go with their kids. Hiking with me is pretty close to hiking alone, I suppose. I'm not usually that interested in conversation, unless it's about the flowers or birds. I have to talk and think all day long at work. It's nice to just look and feel.

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The arrangement of trees in the landscape drew my gaze and held my interest today.

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I love to take pictures of flowers in the grass. I could do this all day long.

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Purple vetch? Vicia something? I don't think I've ever seen so much of it at one time before.

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Sorry, but it's a nice purple.

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amsinckia

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