Dan's Outside

Caslte Rock Wildflowers

Wildflowers. Castle Rock State Park. April 30, 2500. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 30, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Caslte Rock Wildflowers

Rock and Lichen

Rock and Lichen. Castle Rock State Park. April 30, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 30, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Rock and Lichen

Lupine, Fog, and Tree

Lupine, Fog, and Tree. Castle Rock State Park. April 24, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 27, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Lupine, Fog, and Tree

Green Hillside at Mission Peak

Green Hillsides. Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.
<img src="http://outside.danmitchell.org/images/GreenHills20050416.jpg&quot; height="587" width="820" border="0" alt="GreenMissionHills2005|04|16: Green Hillsides. Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.
"GreenHills2005|04|16"“>
—–

April 24, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Green Hillside at Mission Peak

Mission Peak Poppy Fields

California Poppies near summit of Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 24, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Mission Peak Poppy Fields

Rocks and Fence

Rocks and Fence. Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 23, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Rocks and Fence

Lupine and Fog

Lupine and Fog. Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 23, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Lupine and Fog

Green Hills and Fog

Green hills and fog. Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 17, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Green Hills and Fog

Mining Site

Reduction Works site and grass. Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 17, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

—–

April 17, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Mining Site

Yesterday's Mission Peak Hike

I took far longer climbing this peak than I should have yesterday, but there were too many excuses to stop and take pictures. On the way up (the main trail) it was very foggy with the sun occasionally trying to peek through but not quite succeedng. Wildflowers were everywhere. Almost every square foot contained dozens of flowers that were only visible close up.

Just below the face of Mission Peak I was suddenly above the clouds; I literally did not realize it had happened, as I had been looking the “wrong” direction while taking a picture of some rocks. I stood up… and looked across an ocean of cloud tops to Santa Cruz Range on other side of the valley with the cloud bank floating not 20 feet below me.

Fog below Mission Peak. April 16, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

The peak was beautifully sunny and covered with California Poppies and Lupine. I could convince myself that the outline of the snow-topped Sierra was barely visible on the horizon.

After a break on the peak, I continued on to the other side and descended via the Horse Heaven trail; a new route for me. Rather than following a well-gravelled road (like the main route) much of this trail is narrow and somewhat overgrown, with many springs. Althoug a bit longer, it seems like a more interesting way to go.
—–

April 17, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Yesterday's Mission Peak Hike