White Gate Trail

White Gate Trail
11 miles
5 hours
Start: Estero Trailhead
End: Estero Trailhead
Includes: Estero Trailhead, Estero Trail, Home Bay, Limantour Estero, Glenbrook Trail, Muddy Hollow Road, White Gate Trail

Hike 51
December 3, 2013

I had put this trail off for some time because it was going to be rather long and I would have to retrace many steps. As my year was drawing to a close, I needed to get to it.

I headed out alone on a blustery day from the Estero Trailhead. Water flooded into Home Bay. Gray skies surrounded.

I traversed the familiar terrain of Estero Trail and continued past Drakes Head Trail. This eventually brought me to a passage over the back part of Limantour Estero.

I then took the familiar Glenbrook Trail through a small stand of bishop pines; the cones looked festive in the holiday season.

Muddy Hollow Road met-up with White Gate Trail at the back end of Home Ranch.

White Gate Trail is less than a mile long and runs along the innermost part of Limantour Estero which was transformed into an interesting mosaic of greens, browns and reds by resident water plants.

The wind had picked up on Estero Trail and was creating stunning cloud formations.

The sun came out and transformed Home Bay into a sparkle of sinewy water, clouds and blue sky.

Estero Trail was now warm and sunny.

I recrossed Home Bay and was back at the Estero Trailhead.

What a difference a day made. It had gone from cold and gray to warm and inviting over the last five hours. It was wonderful to be part of the transformation: from the strong wind pushing me back and biting my cheeks to the dazzle of sun in my eyes and finally to the warmth of the sun permeating my skin. It is wonderful to be alive and part of the living landscape.