Rain or shine, I just gotta go hiking.
Today, I rolled out of the marital Saturday sleep-in cuddle-o-rama as the morning turned into afternoon. The rain spoiled my spouse's plans to do some welding, and it also foiled my urge to photograph some ruins for the Abandoned Shit Weekly contest at a colder elevation.
All that aside, with @mattlovell available to shuttle me, today was the perfect opportunity to hit Plunge Creek Trail as a 5.75 mile thru hike.
California Bay Laurel gleams in the steep rainwater drainage.
Wet weather is the best way to enjoy the chaparral in my opinion, and Plunge Creek Trail has the most delightful riparian habitat as it climbs up from Little Mill Creek around Harrison Mountain.
Southern California inland chaparral is one of my most cherished biomes because amidst its evergreen foliage, there is always something in bloom.
For example, that same tree, the California Bay Laurel, is currently in the freshness of its March flowering. Cousin to the Avocado, its golfball-sized fruits are edible, and its large seed can be made into either a coffee or a chocolate substitute. Compare the bloom above with the photo I snapped of my new avocado tree not too long ago: https://steemit.com/photography/@creationofcare/avocado-in-bloom
Dendromecon rigida, Bush Poppy, one of the most flamboyant of the early spring flowers.
Willow shrub with tiny pink pompoms grows in an intermittent drainage stream.
This smooth-leaf variety of scrub oak is in full bloom all over this locale!
The combination of scents from chaparral herbs in the rain is intoxicating. Above is a Scrub Oak in bloom surrounded by Yerba Santa.
From the desert floor to the Santa Ana Canyon, Sugarbush trees with their shiny, waxy leaves and pink-tinged tips are always attractive. Even more so when draped with a delicate Wild Cucumber vine in full bloom.
Heteromeles arbutifolia, California Holly, or Toyon Berry. This specimen was loaded with gorgeous, edible fruit.
Here is another local native, the elegant Elderberry tree. I know where I will be wildcrafting juicy berries come midsummer to make the cordial taste of Victoriana.
After several years of hiking this trail, for some reason I never before spotted this surveyors mark:
All in all, it was a wonderful couple of hours with my trusty hound in the National Forest.
Hope the flowers brighten your day!
Love,Cat
@creationofcare
This is the kind of outdoor hiking and photography blog I hope to emulate myself someday. Thanks for the detailed post and the pictures.
Thanks! I hike fairly often, I appreciate your kind words :)
You know if you've ever tried geocaching, there is also a website to update the condition of survey markers like the one you found.
Very cool. Thanks for the suggestion. 😀
Plunge creek!!!! Nobody knows Plunge creek. You are so dang cool. Why are we just now hanging out! lol. I've hiked that creek all the way through. It's spectacular. 2 areas in particular are my favorites. The narrows of course, and the pools by the upper mine. Some beautiful trout still living in that creek too. And you really do know all the plants, that is AWESOME!! Sugarbush was one that I had been meaning to look up but hadn't yet so that's great to learn. And I think the "Willow shrub" is actually Mule Fat, but they are very similar.
Does this pink flower make my mule look fat? Hehe you are correct, it is a total mock willow 🤤
I am just a scrublands nerd. Humbled to learn about mines and trout from Team Bighorn
Great post you are growing them all the time!! whats the next project your working on, lets see the art again too!?!?!?!
Hiya thanks! You're right, my last art post was like 11 days ago. I do have a badge and a festie belt on my queue. I really want to finish the High Priestess and am waiting for payday to buy the lining hide....
I think you've inspired me to go hiking today...need some time in nature away from my computer :)
Right on! Maybe you can join us tomorrow, trailhead out of Azusa
Hi. Hi. It is a beautiful landscape. In Venezuela Merida you get to feel that climate at this same time. In the mountains that surround Pico Bolivar, they are like that. My honeymoon was spent on a mountain that had to be mounted on a mule. It is the only animal that can reach the mountain and reach the town. Constant rains and cold ice that does not stop drinking chocolate, a liquor called Miche. In contrast to where I live, in Maracay the heat is almost 40 degrees, which gives the beach an hour from the city. In Venezuela we have different climates. Thank you for reminding me of those moments.
Dear @isacrist59 you paint such a lovely picture with your words. I am so happy that our landscapes resonate with shared beauty! Thank you!
Edited: my upvote power is depleted, will upvote return comments resupplied ;)
Must of been so wonderful walking in the rain, the
fresh smells, the many beautiful things springing forth!
I sure enjoy seeing these many paths and places!
Modern markers and ancient ones seem the same :-)
I been trying for some abandoned shit too LOL
Tried some really bad trailers the other day but
my note didn't show up, must write BIGGER hehe
Curious, with your puma art and me seeing a video
recently, are there any mountain lions around where
you hike?
Take care ❤
Hi there dear friend! So happy you enjoyed this little hike. <3. I will check out your AWS trailers :)
Oh yes, there is definitely a local cougar in this area. I see her spoor all the time. Once my dog went up a drainage, and we heard monstrous chuffing noises because he woke up the lion in her den! Last month, some dirt bikers I saw on the trail informed me they got a visual of her on the Indian Reservation.
I saw loads of great prints on Thursday https://steemit.com/walkwithme/@creationofcare/walkwithme-snow-on-running-springs
Much love
What a beautiful hike!! I just delegated away a lot of my voting power- wished I could hit it with a big one!!
Thanks! All my juice is gone, too. There is just too much wonderful content here and too many great folks! #steemproblems 🤣
hahaha - and the price of steem being down so you have to hit with a high percentage to move the 0 lol
Right? If I were a buyer, I would buy the dip, tho 😉
Awesome photography, thanks sharing
Thanks!
Testing steemitworldmap failed.
https://www.facebook.com/derek.richardson.39/media_set?set=a.965368856827586.1073741955.100000634417511&type=3
Argh i dont wanna reactivate facecrack
I don't blame you! I'll share a few shots here -
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These are amazing! I have been wanting to actually explore in the creek canyons, but caution has always prevailed. Thank you so much for sharing your lore!
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