Hiking Hints (Learned the Hard Way)

*Always tell someone where you will be hiking, in case you don't come back!
*Always carry a cell phone. Most areas get cell coverage because many trails go along mountain tops.
*Always have a trail map of the hiking area. Many trails are very poorly marked.
*Don't wander off the trail. There is likely to be poison oak in the brush. Learn to recognize it, but remember it is still active in the winter when all it is a stick.
*Use a walking stick for steep trails. It saves strain on the knees and can double as a weapon if you encounter mountain lions or wild boar. (Which you most likely won't)
*Always take water with you.
*Use sunblock or you will end up looking like a piece of rawhide.
*Keep granola bars or other non-perishable snacks in your pocket or backpack.
*Have a jacket with you that can be tied around your waist in case of chilly weather.
*Ibuprofen is an essential item for your pocket also.
*In cold weather kleenex comes in handy for your nose. It's an essential for women too on long hikes with small bladders.
*A pedometer is a fun item to use so you can brag to your friends about how far you walked!
*Leave enough time so that you will not be caught with the sun setting and you're still out on the trail.
*Avoid walking through tall grass. Ticks love to wait on a stalk of grass and jump on your leg as you pass. Ticks infected with Lyme disease have been found in the Santa Cruz Mountains and other areas of California. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. (A tick remover is a handy device for your backpack.)
*If you do encounter a Mountain Lion, calmly repeat "nice kitty, kitty" while backing away slowly.
*Be careful where you sit and put your hands, especially around sunny rocks. Rattlesnakes like to sunbathe there and will resent your intrusion. (A snake bite kit is another handy item to carry.) By the way, you probably won't die if you get bit by a rattlesnake.
*One of the most important items to carry is Chapstick. Huffing and puffing uphill can really dry out your lips.
*Sucking on hard candy can help with a dry mouth from all that huffing and puffing too.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Elkhorn Slough

Sunday, July 6, 2008. Ok, taking a boat up the Elkhorn Slough isn't exactly a hike, but it was a nature adventure, so it counts. The Elkhorn Slough is a wonderful habitat for all kinds of birds, sea otters and seals. It is seven miles long and starts in Moss Landing. In case you're wondering what exactly a slough is, and how it differs from an estuary, it's like this: an estuary has fresh water running into it and in the winter this is the case with the Elkhorn Slough, but in the summer it is only a slough, which is a very general term for any marshy body of water.
Dan and Jeanette

Dan, Cheryl, Jeanette and Janeen.

This bird is called a curlew I believe.

These are Canadian Geese.

Some kind of birds nesting on the posts.

Pelicans in the background and harbor seals in the foreground.

I forget what they called this guy.

The sea otters don't seem a bit afraid of people. Next time we want to go up the slough in kayaks to get even closer.

This raft of otters totaled 26. In all we saw 61 sea otters, more than 2 percent of the entire otter population.

He looks like he's praying.

I also forget what they said this bird was called.


Harbor seals in all different colors

Seals and birds on the rocks

King Pelican

They used these sticks in the collection of salt somehow.

More otters

These two looked like synchronized swimmers.



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2 comments:

Terri said...

Loved the mission pictures. They reminded me of a school field trip I once took in grade school when schools used to have money for fun, educational stuff. I also loved that picture you referred to as a water color. Very cool. Excellent scenery.

July 14, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Gail said...

I really really liked our trip down the Elkhorn Slough too! It is sooooo beautiful out there.
ah... memory lane.

July 16, 2008 at 10:18 AM

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