There was a Great Blue Heron at the lake today.
The lake area is abundant with snakes. This time we saw the Garter snake.
The plant lady found some edible berries in the bushes near the lake.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day Hike at Sanborn
John Nicholas Trail is my favorite hike in the Sanborn Park. The main attraction is the Lake Ranch Reservoir, a peaceful lake located at the top of a mountain saddle separating two deep and wild canyons. This is a lesser known part of the Sanborn Park, I usually pass very few people on the trail.
The trail head is located at the end of the Sanborn Road. A steep, 0.6 mile long dirt road leads directly to the lake.
The lake is a surprise at the top of a mountain slope. It is an elongated water basin that connects to a steep canyon at each end, the Sanborn Creek watershed at the northern end and the Lyndon Canyon at the southern end.
In the 1870's this area was a ranch land, later sold to the San Jose Water Company. The company constructed dams on both sides of the lake. There are also other man made objects built around the lake.
Past the lake, a level road goes 1.4 mile to the parking lot at the Black Road. Going there and back is a nice and shady hike for the sunny day.
On the way back home, we drove past a Gofer Snake stretched on the pavement across the Sanborn Road. The snake did not want to move, Isia had to take it off the road by hand.
The trail head is located at the end of the Sanborn Road. A steep, 0.6 mile long dirt road leads directly to the lake.
The lake is a surprise at the top of a mountain slope. It is an elongated water basin that connects to a steep canyon at each end, the Sanborn Creek watershed at the northern end and the Lyndon Canyon at the southern end.
In the 1870's this area was a ranch land, later sold to the San Jose Water Company. The company constructed dams on both sides of the lake. There are also other man made objects built around the lake.
Past the lake, a level road goes 1.4 mile to the parking lot at the Black Road. Going there and back is a nice and shady hike for the sunny day.
On the way back home, we drove past a Gofer Snake stretched on the pavement across the Sanborn Road. The snake did not want to move, Isia had to take it off the road by hand.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Marine Reserve at Moss Beach
Today's hike helped me realize that I become a coastal creature. Just 10 days ago we were touring the dry, rocky landscape of the Arizona and Utah High SW. It was a fascinating trip through high plateaus and steep canyons with views changing every hour, . Today, we found a solitude of the warm and sunny beach, and it felt like home.
I believe that remote ocean beaches are still as natural and rough as they used to be in the past, much more than the preserved land. Here, we have seen seals resting at the rocks, and turkey vultures feeding on a seal carcass.
The beach was all ours, I have seen only two more
people over the entire 1.5 hr walk.
people over the entire 1.5 hr walk.
It was a good day to capture colors of the marine vegetation.
I believe that remote ocean beaches are still as natural and rough as they used to be in the past, much more than the preserved land. Here, we have seen seals resting at the rocks, and turkey vultures feeding on a seal carcass.
The beach has also rotting carcasses of long forgotten cars, which probably fell down from the cliff. Did anyone played "Chicken Race" here, like James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause".
Time to go back.
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