Monday, August 3, 2015

Leveling up

Hazelnut Trail at San Pedro Valley Park
When my son was just a few weeks old, he visited San Pedro Valley Park for the first time, snuggled in an infant carrier. As he grew, we'd venture up and down the Valley View Loop -- often I'd have to carry him back to car, but his stamina increased rapidly. By 4, he was able to complete the Waterfall Loop with minimum candy bribes. Now, at 9, we've moved up to a new loop, Hazelnut.

This nearly 5 mile loop is a winner in every way. It offers outstanding opportunities to see wildlife, well-graded trails, pretty views, and a variety of vegetation. I've come to prefer climbing via the switchback side of the trail (reached via Weiler Ranch Road) and descending to end at Plaskon Nature Trail, just steps from the parking lot. This route works well on hot summer days, since there is some shade along the switchbacks and if you an early start you get the climbing done in the coolest part of the day.
Huckleberry on Hazelnut Trail -- look for ripe berries in August

The trail is aptly named -- hazelnut shrubs grown in thick hedge-like shrubs along the 3.7 miles. Huckleberry, blackberry, and thimbleberry are also common, offering tasty treats to hikers as well as resident coyotes and birds. The coastal scrub plant community, including manzanita, ceanothus, silktassel, coffeeberry, toyon, and chamise, provides interesting flowers and berries throughout the year. Most of the San Pedro trails are not great for wildflowers, but Hazelnut Trail is the exception, and is best path in the park for blossoms from late winter through summer.

On our recent hike, we tiptoed past deer browsing along Weiler Ranch Road, ran off several brush rabbits, and watched alligator lizards scampering across the trail. Our constant conversation probably kept any bigger creatures at a distance. I've seen bobcats twice at San Pedro, coyotes use the trails (look for their fruit-studded scat), and mountain lions are sometimes spotted.

I'm already looking ahead to the longest, hardest hike at San Pedro, the 7 mile out and back expedition to the top of Montara Mountain. With over 1600 feet in elevation gain, we're not there yet, but soon!

11 comments:

parsaya said...

Thank you ever so for you article post

آرایشگاه زنانه
تالار عروسی
باغ تالار
کارت عروسی

Anonymous said...

Outdoor Whirlpool – Eine Whirlpoolmassage muss kein Luxus sein, welchen man sich ausschliesslich in Urlauben oder in Spas goennt. Schaffen Sie sich in Ihrem Zuhause einen für Sie exklusiven Ort an dem Sie die restliche Welt einfach mal ausblenden koennen

LasseNielsen said...

I'm glad I had made the right decision when ordered my first essay here on http://paperswriting.services/ service. Not only do these guys take the load off your shoulders, but they also offer their work as a sample to learn from! Now I can pay a small amount of money and got my essay done in few days. The writer is very professional and put all her efforts into my literature subject.

finance essay service said...

Your search to Hire Someone To Write Essay has come to an end with our academic writing company finance essay service. Feel free to contact us at your convenience.

erry said...

Especially if you’re unfamiliar with the different types jackets and coats than we are here only to provide you our leather jacket inn best jackets at your doorstep worldwide https://www.leatherjacketinn.com

erry said...

Happy Buddies was built on a need for better supervised pet care in Dubai. Being a family of pet owners ourselves, there seemed to be a decline in venues we could trust to ensure our pets were looked after in a hygienic, safe and happy space.
happy-buddies

erry said...

Introducing Nastya Perfumes, inspired by nature. Venture hand-in-hand with our master craftsmen, your guides through Mediterranean, Oriental and Western influence as every delectable fresh top note or deepest base note luxury sets its own scene.
unisex Buongiorno Sorrento

online marketing wikipedia said...

Your advise is valuable to me since it seems logical. Nowadays, I frequently use the internet to support my academic work, primarily through the services of wikipidia, so it's much better for kids who are concerned about their marks.

johnson said...

Everyone were able to use the beneficial information from your blog to our advantages. Each and every single one from this post's tips is phenomenal. Thanks a bunch for sharing. Keep up with the blog. I encourage you to look around my online presence.
Divorce Lawyers Fairfax VA

CLADING2222 said...

لتجنب وقوع الحوادث على السقالات المعدنية، يجب اتباع بعض الإجراءات الوقائية:

1. التدريب المهني: يجب على العمال الحصول على تدريب مهني قبل العمل على السقالات لتعلم الإجراءات السليمة وسلامة العمل.

2. تثبيت وتوثيق السقالة: يجب تثبيت السقالة وتأمينها بشكل صحيح وفحصها بانتظام من قبل شركات بيع شدات معدنية متخصصة للتأكد من عدم وجود تلف أو عيوب.

Guitar Lessons Houston said...

Strum your way to mastery with Guitar Lessons Houston , where musical passion meets personalized instruction. Unlock your musical potential with expert guidance in the heart of Houston.