Old Pine Trail

Old Pine Trail
7 miles
4.5 hours
Start: Bear Valley Visitors Center
End: Bear Valley Visitors Center
Includes: Bear Valley Trail, Old Pine Trail, Sky Trail, Meadow Trail

Hike 35
August 4, 2013

Bear Valley Trail was a cornucopia of green lusciousness with color accents. Nature is the best decorator, each element perfectly placed.

I picked-up Old Pine trail at 1.6 miles. It steeply ascended and became fern-a-licious. It would take me to Mount Wittenberg.

Now this was a strange place for a defenseless, fatty morsel! This mole was unmarked, except by wetness, and dead. I wonder how he got here and long he would last?

The fog was thick.

Horse hooves churned dirt and fog drip into mud. Does this trail ever dry-out?

Mushrooms glistened like candied flesh.

I reached Nirvana! It exists on Sky Trail near Old Pine.

I walked the mile to Meadow Trail, rested and headed down the mount. The trail is aptly named for a large, sunny meadow. Full-sun flowers called from deep green shadow.

Bay laurel held Douglas fir in a centuries-long embrace.

Forget-me-nots surprised me by their presence, so numerous in early spring, now mostly long-gone.

And I was back to Bear Valley with its warm sun and dry summer grass.