Trails and Flowers :: Fall 2021

Contrarian Gorge

 Sometimes a sign says one thing and it tells me, in my mind, something else. I took a long hike recently with a buddy with whom I had not fished with since childhood. The trailhead said "Meadows". The meadows were there but an extra mile or so coughed up a yummy gorge! Yes, water levels were lower than normal. I may refrain from returning until fall. Some of the earlier photos show the impressive amount of trail work to clear fallen trees. Many fell last year as a result of an unusually heavy wind event. Obviously, many of these trees have already been compromised by drought and/or bark beetle. It was impressive to see the crazy amount of trail-work that had been done.

Scorched Earth Policy

 Be it mother nature or an errant cigarette butt or a hot point of light from a broken bottle ...

Suspiciously Green | Feb. 2021 | So. Cal.

Although we have not had much snow or rain in So Cal, this stream was suspiciously green with algae. Photo was taken mid February(!!!!). Water was cold; roughly high 50s. I have been visiting this creek for years and have only seen it this bad in, say, July. Maybe too many "nutrients" from cattle a few miles upstream? I remain baffled.