Into the green

[gurdymonkey]

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes.

Met didjiman at his house a little after 7 for a drive involving windy roads up to Big Basin State Park. Do take note of the seasonal climate note: Cold, overcast and rainy. Big Basin receives the majority of its average 48 inches of rain. December through March average temperatures range from highs in the 50's to lows in the 20's. (I think it was probably in the 40's when we arrived, though I got warm enough hiking to peel off the sweatshirt I had on under my windbreaker.)

We did the Sequoia Trail loop which clocks in at under 5 miles, with some climbing, but nothing too awful, starting at park HQ for Sempervirens Falls, then up to Slippery Rock and back down along Opal Creek. We got the occasional rain drops, particularly on the hike up Slippery Rock.


I have just ruthlessly culled a buttload of dim, blurry photos because it was so dark under the redwoods on such an overcast day my camera was having trouble registering some shots. The "flower" mode did work very nicely for some interesting mushroom species and a close encounter with a banana slug. http://www.flickr.com/photos/70104978@N00/sets/72157622951183938/



We practically had the place to ourselves. Except for the ranger we checked in with, we ran into one couple at the falls (they'd come up the road by car), and another on the trail coming the opposite way from us fairly late.

Stopped for sandwiches at a place in Saratoga on the way back, then back to didjiman and karisu_sama 's place for a cup of tea before heading home.

Comments

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

"Do you pick THE Mushrooms"

Every few month, some migrant families will get terribly sick or died from eating self-harvested mushrooms. Apparently, some Mexican mushrooms look just like Deathcaps *shudder*

We did find what looks to be Chanterelle, but who knows, may be it's a relative called "Orange Deaththingie that looks like Chanterelle."

[mochimonkey.livejournal.com]

I know enough not to pick mushrooms found while ambling along in Mother Nature. =) But there are people that DO know what they're doing and I was just wondering if either of you were one of those kinda mushroom-smarts people.

Doesn't change the fact that I really want to make polenta mushroom ragout. =D

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

We are really mushroom smart. We know to get ones in the market no matter how tempting the ones in the field looks :-)