Flowers!!! The flowers along the Bigelow Trail and Butterfly Trail up to Mount Bigelow were spectacular!
Dirt roads and paved mountain roads may not always be my first choice for travel on foot – but I have to admit that some of the most lovely vistas I have ever been to are along roads – and sometimes new routes magically open up once you abandon a strict trails-only approach.
Up the Bigelow Trail – lovely flowers and big trees, onto the Butterfly Trail up to Mount Bigelow, down Bigelow Road – great views and nice to see all the people out camping, onto to highway – Turkeys flying across and on the side of the road – and back to the Bigelow Trailhead – 6.3 miles, 860′ of elevation gain/loss.
It was raining when I parked at the Mint Spring Trailhead – not hard, but enough to make me reorganize some of my gear into Aloksaks to keep everything dry – just enough effort to keep the rain away for the rest of the evening! Highlights:
Mint Spring Trail – The first part of the trail was wonderfully overgrown – in spots the trail was almost a tunnel thru all of the summer growth – the fern covered hillsides with flowers peaking thru were memorable.
On the Mint Spring Trail – geranium richardsonii – Richardson’s Geranium I believe… September 2014.
Wilderness of Rock Trail – Water! Not the highest/fastest I have seen the water here – but enough that to make it exciting to see – small waterfalls, spills and pools!
Rushing water near the Wilderness of Rock Trail. September 2014.Aspen Trail – On the last climb to the ridge, burned years ago and now quite open, the flowers were blooming and beautiful and I had great views of the moon.
Moon and trees – near the top of the Aspen Trail. September 2014.Aspen Draw Trail – Sections of soft trail thru the big trees, it wasn’t long after starting the trail that I had to get out my headlamp to navigate the dark tree covered trail.
I finished with a run thru Summerhaven, by the time I arrived nothing was open (not unexpected on a Sunday night – but I was still hoping…), and the streets were nearly empty… 11.75 miles, 2600′ of elevation gain/loss.
I had a short window to get a run in and the Linda Vista Trailhead was a convenient destination – it was hot and sunny but I thought for a short run it would be a fine destination, good ‘heat training’… At about 1.5 miles – the junction with the trail to Pusch Peak – I was fine, but really hot, the tiny bits of shade offered no relief and the only clouds were in the distance, the heat was very very uncomfortable and I was glad that I just had a short run back to the car.
A hot day on the Linda Vista Trails – too hot… September 2014.
A Tarantula – waiting… September 2014.
Near sunset on the Linda Vista Trail the heat isn’t too oppressive – but the shade on the ‘diagonal’ trail is still a welcome relief from the sun – during our break in the shade we spot a tarantula waiting in it’s hole and stand quietly watching a herd of Javelina. After enjoying the sunset we finish our loop with a run back to the trailhead.
Sunset from the Linda Vista Trail. Sept. 2014.
Stars and a moonlit view – looking towards Agua Caliente Hill and the Rincons. September 2014.
The weather has been hot lately and there is no hint of relief in the perfectly clear blue skies – but there are still some surprisingly lovely nights…
The first White-lined Sphinx Caterpillar I have seen this season. September 2014.
