Ano Nuevo

---

I decided to make the drive down to Ano Nuevo to check out the Northern Elelphant Seals during the pupping season. During the pupping season, all the hikes into the pupping areas are guided. You can go there other times of the year without being guided, and still see Elephant Seals though. I decided to take the guided tour to see what I could learn.

While these seals come to this area twice a year, the spend a vast majority of their time out at sea, far out at sea. While that must be a tiring existence, when they are here this time of year, they are generally here for around three months or so. Must be they get the majority of their rest for the year here.

It is supposedly a 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot area to get back to where the seals are. It didn't feel quite that long though. The guided tour is affordable too, only about $8 or so as I recall.

We saw about a dozen spouts in the water on our hike out to where the seals were. Those were from Gray Whales on their migration North. After this weekend, I made my way up to Point Reyes to see if I could see the whales on their migration better.

---

Photos

Ano Nuevo Bay
Have probably hiked two thirds of the way from the starting point to get here. Looking East and South in this photo.

Looking West
The seals are found out along the coastline, but also inland sometimes a few hundred yards from the water, at least this time of year.

Elephant Seal Skull
Far right. Those are some big teeth. The skull itself was pretty heavy too.

Cannot be bothered
This guy opened his eyes enough to see the dozen or so of us standing there, flipped some more sand on his back, then went back to dozing.

Randomly Dispersed
Note the building on the island at the top of the screen. It hasn't been used in some 50+ years, yet has still withstood the weather out there over all that time. Lots of seals on the island as well, but I don't believe public landings on that island are allowed.

Another Large Male
Clearly could care less about us tiny little humans.

Up Periscope
Large male popped his head up for a good look around, then went lumbering off. The guy in the left of the picture was our guide, a Docent for the area.

Off to the races
Wish I could have gotten the camera into video mode to see this guy move across the ground. Not terribly fast.

More Dozing
This one was quite a ways inland, just as was the previous Male.

Popular Area
Mostly pups in this photo.

High Rent District
This is supposedly the most active part of this area for the mating and birthing times of the year. The seagulls in the photo appeared to be around dead seals.

Harem
Looks like there are two Males in that group though, the middle group of seals.

Being a Pup is exhausting
Just ask these two.

Coastline
The White building in the distance is where the hike begins.