Karl went hiking May 9, 2015 11 miles 1,750 feet gained

Red Mountain

3

Just a really nice day in the woods, with a special treat on top. Fair warning to any considering this one -- the mosquitoes are hatched and hungry in Indian Heaven, while the frogs are still in their early tadpole state. Not a good combo. A little DEET will do ya, but you could be miserable without.

Did an in/out on the PCT from Crest Camp trailhead. Very nice facility, there, and what I can only call a "moccasin trail" to Indian Racetrack. Nice and soft on the feet. We thought we'd make a loop of it, and come down the service road, but it was just too harsh to bear the thought after the lovely trip in.

Sunny and 70's for lunch on the catwalk, with just enough breeze to blow the blood-sucking bastards away. Who could complain? :-)

Trail Talk

3 people have hearted this trip.

Woodswalker · May 11, 2015

Fantastic log and Tadpole shot!

Roman · May 11, 2015

Great pictures, but amount of tadpoles is insane! I hope they don't waste time and eat mosquito larvae in the water. At the end of mosquito season there was opposite situation - myriads of frogs everywhere on the ground, and few last lakes with the bugs (mid-August in normal year).

JM · May 11, 2015

wow that sign has been enveloped nicely.

Jen · May 13, 2015

Love that excellent example of "a cathedral" (ring of baby trees that grew up in a circle around mama who died away). I have only seen two others: in Crabtree Valley and off the Horsetail Creek Russ Jolley trail, but not near as perfect. I wonder what will happen in a few decades when they close up the gaps. Where to grow next? It'll be interesting.

Karl · May 14, 2015

Thanks, folks! We were taken a bit by surprise at the number of mosquitoes out there, already, given it was all frozen up just a couple weeks ago. And I just love the variety of PCT trail markers in the IHW. I think one trip I counted five distinct types.

While the lookout was certainly the highlight for lots of good reasons, that cathedral grouping was just a treat to behold! We stopped a good 10 minutes in each direction to admire it. Can't remember doing that before for any tree(s)! And we did "pencil in" a return trip in 20 years to see if a camera could still get between any of the cracks. Should be a treat to see how that one comes together. :-)