Dan's Outside

Rainy Trail

Rain, trail, and trees. Castle Rock State Park. February 27, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

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February 27, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Rainy Trail

Winter is Back

On the ridge trail in the rain. Castle Rock State Park. February 27, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

There is a black and white version also.
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February 27, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Winter is Back

Morning Sun

Morning sun on oak trees and new grass. Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 26, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

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February 26, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Morning Sun

New Oak Foliage

New oak foliage. Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 26, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

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February 26, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on New Oak Foliage

Should Be a Great Wildflower Year

First, as I hiked today (in my part of Central California) I noticed that there are already many wildflower plants coming up. Second, we officially reached our normal total annual rainfall level today, with quite a bit of the rainy season still to come.
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February 19, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Should Be a Great Wildflower Year

Rainy Hike at Castle Rock

Rocks, trees, and moss at Castle Rock State Park. February 19, 2005. Photograph copyright Dan Mitchell.

There is also a black and white version of this photo.
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February 19, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Rainy Hike at Castle Rock

New Grass

Hillside near Guadalupe Reservoir. Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 12, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

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February 12, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on New Grass

Senador Mine

Senador Mine. Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 12, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

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February 12, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Senador Mine

Near Senador Mine

Looking west from the ridge above Senador Mine. Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 12, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Today’s short hike took me to the north end of Almaden Quicksilver Park via the McAbee Road entrance. I’ve hiked to the edge of this area on long walks from the other end of the park, but today I did a loop that took me around the area near the Senador Mine and Guadalupe Dam.
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February 12, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Near Senador Mine

A New Favorite Trail

I’ve been hiking at Calero County Park recently. The most obvious feature of this park south of San Jose is Calero Reservoir, which is used by powerboaters. However, the hills behind the reservoir hold some very nice trails which are shared by equestrians and some hikers.

I have not hiked all the trails in this park, but I am getting to know parts along the Peña and Javelina Trails fairly well. A while back I was crossing the high point on the Javelina trail when I spotted some birds above a ridge to my right. In order to investigate I left the trail, passed through some low trees and across a small meadow, and then climbed a rocky ridge. From here I spotted what looked like a trail heading back toward the old corral where the Javelina Loop starts.

Earlier this year I followed the same route to this high point, but instead of returning to the main trail I investigated the trail along the ridge. This was a magical day, as the valleys were completely filled with fog and the sky above was crystal clear. This trail traversed right at the top of the fog layer perhaps 25 feet below the top of the cloud. The light had an almost physical presence as it illuminated the foggy air around me.

The trail looks almost like an official trail, and it is clear that I’m not the only hiker who has been up there. However, judging from some of the criss-crossing variations at least parts of this probably began as game trails. After traversing through grassland right along the crest of the ridge (photo) the trail finally drops (somewhat steeply) back down to the corral mentioned earlier.
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February 10, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on A New Favorite Trail