behind the horse arena
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Meadow Vista Trails behind the horse arena |
May 18, 2018
I must not have assimilated the instructions on the Meadow Vista Trails Associaon website, because I have found no starting point for the alleged Sugar Pine Trail. At a turnout, I speak with two women who also are looking for it.
Needing to find someplace to walk, however, I drive around some more, and find a signpost with the word "Trails" on it. I will check it out.
To the left of the road into the horse arena is a path blocked off to motorized travel. That looks like a good start.
Heading toward a lot of noise
There are but a few flowers around.
Cow Vetch
Bigberry Manzanita
The noise of machinery increases, and soon I know why:
Gravel quarry
There is nothing for me in that direction. Back a little ways is a spur trail heading up a hill.
This looks promising
As I veer left at the junction, the trail narrows
After just a mile of walking, the trail seemingly ends at a road.
This is as far as I will go
On the return, I take an obscure spur route to the north. It meanders
a bit, then loops back to the main trail. I find myself watching closely
for snakes in the tall grass on this little-used section.
Back at the original junction, a short detour begets another locked gate.
Kiddie play area above the arena
Retracing my steps, I am back at the car within ten minutes.
§: Well, I did get a walk; but that's about the most that can be said
for this place. Admittedly, finding walking space in the crowded foothills is
problematical; and unless one is near a river, the scenery invariably is unremarkable
as well.
This the second time this week that I failed to locate or access a desired new
route. Although I have great hiking plans for this year, I am going somewhat
stir-crazy before the mountains open up.
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