Fire Lane Trail

Fire Lane Trail
5.9 miles
3 hours
Start: Sky Trailhead
End: Sky Trailhead
Includes: Sky Trail, Laguna Trail, Fire Lane Trail

Hike 31
July 16, 2013

I started at the Sky Trailhead and headed on Sky Trail to Laguna Trail. Giant trees loomed in the mist.

Wet sticky-monkey flowers glowed orange against moist green.

A banana slug stretched long, feeding on pine needles and oak leaves along the forest floor.

At Laguna Trail poison oak signaled its presence in emergency red, great banks of it growing along the sides of the trail.

I headed past Clem Miller Environmental center where a sleep-over camp was in progress, the field of tents getting soaked in the heavy fog drip.

At Fire Lane Trail I turned left and headed up the hill. From there it was 2.2 miles back to my beginning. The trail grew steep and rocky, great granitic boulders dotting the hillsides.

A garter snake paused in the path before slithering off into the bushes.

Even as I neared the end of my hike, fog shrouded the forest adding mystery and beauty.

I welcomed the sight of fiery-orange blooms as I slipped of my soaked shoes and opened the car.