A day to remember

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When: 28th Jan 2007
Where: El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
What: getting back in time into a historic Redwood forest

This hike was an instant pick in 10 minutes.
Almost 30 miles from home. almost half-point between hwy 92 & hwy 84 on CA 35.

It was sunny when we started from home. But as we neared the coast, I could hardly see the mountains amidst all that fog. By the time we got onto CA 92, I wasn't so sure if we were going to do it at all. But then, as the unpredictable weather set it, it all seemed to make sense. We were driving on this ridge & surprisingly saw a clear ocean on our right & a foggy valley to our left! 😊

We parked the car at Skegg's point & true to the place, so many people with bikes. hmm!

We started off from Gate 1, picked up a map & started hiking toward El Corte de Madera Creek trail that instantly descended down. It was still foggy there & we got some awesome views of the Sun creeping between the fog onto the redwoods. A sight to behold!

There was never too much of an ascent or descent & already my new shoes were hurting me 😞
It started raining halfway into the hike, but our tall friends did give us shade. The best part was the Tafoni formations which was a good reminder of our hike in Castle Rock State park 2 years back.

It was a fairly easy 6 mile hike & we did it in a little less than 3 hours. The drizzle quickly changed into rain: rain, fog, sun all over again 😊

We climbed down the mountains & as we crossed I280, we saw this huge rainbow. Wondered how! We did not realize that we had got 'into' the zone. It started pouring out of nowhere & we saw 2 rainbows now, just close to each other. First time we have ever seen something like that.

Been a while since we had hiked out. Lack of stretching added fuel to fire. Nothing too much! Am sure we'd be back in shape in a while, maybe by next week when we do another one 😊


To me, Redwoods are the safest place to hike as there is comparatively lesser fear of wild animals such as bears. Naaaaaah!
Today's news conveyed otherwise. A man was attacked by a mountain lion in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park in Northern CA. Ok. I am going nowhere without my hubby 😞

Day well spent again!
-travelbuffs

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Photos

my first shot as I entered the Preserve
:-)

for starters
:-)

The lush green is so captivating
to Madera trail! Just started the hike!

Sun is the highest of all survivors
Every time there was fog, Sun peeped its way thru and that gave us this beautiful picture :-)

My shoe was giving a problem
Irritated me

Lush green trees
El corte de Madera trail! We encountered so many bikers on this narrow trail!

Lush green trees
News said CA was in for a drought this season!! The moss on these trees tell me something else :-)

Looking up
Some of the tallest trees in the world!

Rain n fog
Fir trail, just before the Tafoni trail junction

0.2 miles to Tafoni formations
a slight detour from Tafoni trail!

Tafoni formations!
viewpoint

Tafoni formations!
30 million yrs ago, these were under the ocean bed! Unbelievable!!!

reflection of the redwwood trees on the wooden handrest
Tafoni formations view point!

Around 3 ish
fog time again!

Comments

[nisha]

Great pics!!
hey meera, Really awesome pics. Nature is so beautiful. I loved all the pics esp the tafoni formations. Wish i cud see them in real. regards, nisha

[priya]

Super
Looks like it was fun, and the fotos are beautiful, to good.

[Jayashree]

Nice photos. Tafoni looks very interesting! I wonder why you never captured the rainbows? Rainbows are my favorite! Also, should'nt this article "Day to remember" mention something more special about that day!!!

[tr.aveler]

I was going to ask the same question Jayashree asked. Why didnt you add that it was a special birthday hike ;-)?

[travelbuffs]

well! what do I say?
The hike was more special than the day :-)

[vividvoyagers]

Nice pictures:-)Cool Hike!