Henry Coe Bell Station Hiking June 8 2008 Burra Burra Trail

Here, Linda, Paul, and Pete discuss where the trail head might be.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:49:40 -0700

elf1
Here, Linda, Paul, and Pete discuss where the trail head might be.

Stephanie figures out that her camera battery is already all used up. Fortunately she had another one.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:12:20 -0700

elf1
Stephanie figures out that her camera battery is already all used up. Fortunately she had another one.

Linda looks on.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:36:50 -0700

elf1
Linda looks on.

Pete also has a camera. Three photogs on one trip! You guys'll be sorrrrreeeee!

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:42:50 -0700

elf1
Pete also has a camera. Three photogs on one trip! You guys'll be sorrrrreeeee!

Pete the studly photographer guy is ready to go.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:13:01 -0700

elf1
Pete the studly photographer guy is ready to go.

Linda, Paul, Pete waiting for the photographer.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:12:51 -0700

elf1
Linda, Paul, Pete waiting for the photographer.

Stephanie, Ellen, Linda, Paul, and Pete as photographed by the kindly ranger volunteer. (There were two of them manning the visitor center, and only two other cars the whole time we were the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:15:58 -0700

elf1
Stephanie, Ellen, Linda, Paul, and Pete as photographed by the kindly ranger volunteer. (There were two of them manning the visitor center, and only two other cars the whole time we were the ...

Setting out on the short trail spur behind the visitor's center. The trail isn't quite as broad and obvious as some other places.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:09:40 -0700

elf1
Setting out on the short trail spur behind the visitor's center. The trail isn't quite as broad and obvious as some other places.

Heading up the trail spur.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:12:01 -0700

elf1
Heading up the trail spur.

Flowers--Lupines. (Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the sward...) Most likely either Chick Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus) or Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus Succulentus).

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:42 -0700

elf1
Flowers--Lupines. (Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the sward...) Most likely either Chick Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus) or Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus Succulentus).

Little purple and white flowers. Raphanus sativus (wild radish).

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:30:03 -0700

elf1
Little purple and white flowers. Raphanus sativus (wild radish).

Looking back at the visitor center from the hillside.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:29:29 -0700

elf1
Looking back at the visitor center from the hillside.

Different little purple flowers. This seemed to be Purple Flower Season at Henry Coe. (Looks like Elegant Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata).

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:24 -0700

elf1
Different little purple flowers. This seemed to be Purple Flower Season at Henry Coe. (Looks like Elegant Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata).

A trail sign. Dowdy Ranch is where the visitor center is.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:10:31 -0700

elf1
A trail sign. Dowdy Ranch is where the visitor center is.

Large red thistle. Note the fine hairs that look like spiderweb. Most likely Venus Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. venustum, also called C. proteanum or Coulter's thistle C. coulteri--clea ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:29:47 -0700

elf1
Large red thistle. Note the fine hairs that look like spiderweb. Most likely Venus Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. venustum, also called C. proteanum or Coulter's thistle C. coulteri--clea ...

California poppies with a bee gathering pollen. I tried and tried to get a better shot, but he was (naturally, being a bee) too busy zipping from flower to flower. You can see that his leg s ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:33 -0700

elf1
California poppies with a bee gathering pollen. I tried and tried to get a better shot, but he was (naturally, being a bee) too busy zipping from flower to flower. You can see that his leg s ...

Tiny yellow thistle. Appears to be Centaurea meitensis, a nonnative species.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:49 -0700

elf1
Tiny yellow thistle. Appears to be Centaurea meitensis, a nonnative species.

Tree with big white scented flowers. I've already forgotten what they are. Steph will remind me, I'm sure. (And she does: California Buckeye.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:11:06 -0700

elf1
Tree with big white scented flowers. I've already forgotten what they are. Steph will remind me, I'm sure. (And she does: California Buckeye.)

Same big white scented flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:36:20 -0700

elf1
Same big white scented flowers.

Close-up of big white scented flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:42:30 -0700

elf1
Close-up of big white scented flowers.

Some wee tiny white flowers on some kind of plant. (This useful botanical info provided for your education.) (Steph thinks maybe mint family.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:44:06 -0700

elf1
Some wee tiny white flowers on some kind of plant. (This useful botanical info provided for your education.) (Steph thinks maybe mint family.)

More purple flowers of a different persuasion. Probably hairy vetch aka winter vetch (Vicia villosa).

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:11:20 -0700

elf1
More purple flowers of a different persuasion. Probably hairy vetch aka winter vetch (Vicia villosa).

We hiked up this hill about a quarter mile and 200 feet up from the visitor center to the Burra Burra trailhead.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:27:50 -0700

elf1
We hiked up this hill about a quarter mile and 200 feet up from the visitor center to the Burra Burra trailhead.

We had heard that the trails weren't well marked, but in fact, as Paul and Linda point out, there was a sign marking the trail from the road.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:25:48 -0700

elf1
We had heard that the trails weren't well marked, but in fact, as Paul and Linda point out, there was a sign marking the trail from the road.

Steph starts up the slope after stopping to take photos of her own.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:46:56 -0700

elf1
Steph starts up the slope after stopping to take photos of her own.

View from Burra Burra trail. No one knows where the name Burra Burra came from.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:23:40 -0700

elf1
View from Burra Burra trail. No one knows where the name Burra Burra came from.

The trail is visible through the grassland and oaks, but really we're wading through grass most of the way.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:40:34 -0700

elf1
The trail is visible through the grassland and oaks, but really we're wading through grass most of the way.

An old barbed wire fence. Lots of the surrounding area is still private property. The huge Henry Coe Park was cobbled together over many years by gradual accumulation of private properties g ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:23:09 -0700

elf1
An old barbed wire fence. Lots of the surrounding area is still private property. The huge Henry Coe Park was cobbled together over many years by gradual accumulation of private properties g ...

Cool barbed wire on termite-eaten wood.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:46:15 -0700

elf1
Cool barbed wire on termite-eaten wood.

And yet another different purple flower. Really, sure, I like purple, but honestly, I'd have taken photos of flowers of Other Colors if there had been any. Brodiaea (possibly brodiaea elegan ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:41:41 -0700

elf1
And yet another different purple flower. Really, sure, I like purple, but honestly, I'd have taken photos of flowers of Other Colors if there had been any. Brodiaea (possibly brodiaea elegan ...

Steph rests up.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:45:48 -0700

elf1
Steph rests up.

Steph, here's your problem: The hat goes on your HEAD.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:45:16 -0700

elf1
Steph, here's your problem: The hat goes on your HEAD.

And, look, surprise: Still a different purple flower.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:15:09 -0700

elf1
And, look, surprise: Still a different purple flower.

Linda reads to us from the geologic tour guide for Burra Burra Trail, where they mostly tell us that they have no idea what most of the rocks are or how they got there. Very educational.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:44:51 -0700

elf1
Linda reads to us from the geologic tour guide for Burra Burra Trail, where they mostly tell us that they have no idea what most of the rocks are or how they got there. Very educational.

Linda and Paul.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:44:25 -0700

elf1
Linda and Paul.

Pete takes photos of some little purple flowers while I wait my turn.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:43:51 -0700

elf1
Pete takes photos of some little purple flowers while I wait my turn.

The risk of taking photos of MY purple flowers is that you get photos taken of YOU.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:17:25 -0700

elf1
The risk of taking photos of MY purple flowers is that you get photos taken of YOU.

Still other little purple flowers mixed in with some cool-looking purplish grass. Cool as long as it stayed on its stems and didn't get into our socks and poke us in the ankles, which most ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:43:12 -0700

elf1
Still other little purple flowers mixed in with some cool-looking purplish grass. Cool as long as it stayed on its stems and didn't get into our socks and poke us in the ankles, which most ...

Pete, Linda, and Paul are all standing on the trail. Really.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:25:06 -0700

elf1
Pete, Linda, and Paul are all standing on the trail. Really.

Linda and Pete heading up the trail through the grass. This trail had very little even ground; lots of dramatic uphills and downhills.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:22:36 -0700

elf1
Linda and Pete heading up the trail through the grass. This trail had very little even ground; lots of dramatic uphills and downhills.

Looks like a dandelion, but much much larger.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:42:08 -0700

elf1
Looks like a dandelion, but much much larger.

This giant dandelion-like seed head was beautiful, with parts glowing golden in the sun. You could believe that a princess could spin this into gold. My photo doesn't do it justice.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:15:03 -0700

elf1
This giant dandelion-like seed head was beautiful, with parts glowing golden in the sun. You could believe that a princess could spin this into gold. My photo doesn't do it justice.

For a change of pace, I managed to get ahead of Linda and Paul on one section of slightly wooded trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:41:23 -0700

elf1
For a change of pace, I managed to get ahead of Linda and Paul on one section of slightly wooded trail.

Many interesting, gnarled oaks dotted the hillsides. Here's one, mostly dead I think, maybe with mistletoe.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:39:56 -0700

elf1
Many interesting, gnarled oaks dotted the hillsides. Here's one, mostly dead I think, maybe with mistletoe.

Linda coming down the trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:39:19 -0700

elf1
Linda coming down the trail.

Linda and the Gnarly Oak. (Sounds like a sequel to the Harry Potter series, dunnit?)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:38:42 -0700

elf1
Linda and the Gnarly Oak. (Sounds like a sequel to the Harry Potter series, dunnit?)

From some points on the Burra Burra trail, we could see the road that we came in on. Here, there's a junction with one of several private roads that lead off into ranchland, with a vehicle c ...

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:24:17 -0700

elf1
From some points on the Burra Burra trail, we could see the road that we came in on. Here, there's a junction with one of several private roads that lead off into ranchland, with a vehicle c ...

Rocks. (More educational geological info.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:38:09 -0700

elf1
Rocks. (More educational geological info.)

And--yes--a different purple flower. Possibly the Clay Mariposa Lily? (Calochortus argillosus.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:11:14 -0700

elf1
And--yes--a different purple flower. Possibly the Clay Mariposa Lily? (Calochortus argillosus.)

Pete, Paul, and Linda resting in the shade for a pre-lunch snack.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:28:44 -0700

elf1
Pete, Paul, and Linda resting in the shade for a pre-lunch snack.

The Burra Burra Trail just circles the actual Burra Burra Peak. If you want to get to the top, you have to go pretty much straight up the side of the last knoll.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:21:59 -0700

elf1
The Burra Burra Trail just circles the actual Burra Burra Peak. If you want to get to the top, you have to go pretty much straight up the side of the last knoll.

Paul heads to the top of Burra Burra Peak--we don't need no stinking switchbacsk.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:13:38 -0700

elf1
Paul heads to the top of Burra Burra Peak--we don't need no stinking switchbacsk.

Looking down at Pete at the beginning of the trail up to the Peak's peak.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:26:57 -0700

elf1
Looking down at Pete at the beginning of the trail up to the Peak's peak.

Paul almost at the top of the Peak.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:48:02 -0700

elf1
Paul almost at the top of the Peak.

A very steep trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:18:31 -0700

elf1
A very steep trail.

Some white flowery thingies on some kind of tree or shrub thingie.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:17:49 -0700

elf1
Some white flowery thingies on some kind of tree or shrub thingie.

A cool rock.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:49:11 -0700

elf1
A cool rock.

To get to the peak, you had to work through some low-growing underbrush.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:14:49 -0700

elf1
To get to the peak, you had to work through some low-growing underbrush.

Different interesting small white flower thingies on some other shrubbie thingie.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:13:57 -0700

elf1
Different interesting small white flower thingies on some other shrubbie thingie.

Yellow flowers on a stalk. (Yay! Not purple!)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:51:03 -0700

elf1
Yellow flowers on a stalk. (Yay! Not purple!)

Here I am atop Burra Burra Peak.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:51:31 -0700

elf1
Here I am atop Burra Burra Peak.

Panoramic view to the north/east.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:37:21 -0700

elf1
Panoramic view to the north/east.

View down into Coe Park towards the visitor center area.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:19:04 -0700

elf1
View down into Coe Park towards the visitor center area.

Neat rock split.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:48:36 -0700

elf1
Neat rock split.

Paul bushwhacking to get down off the peak.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:31:48 -0700

elf1
Paul bushwhacking to get down off the peak.

The trail leads on through grassland.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:30:55 -0700

elf1
The trail leads on through grassland.

Trail. Trees. Sky.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:47:20 -0700

elf1
Trail. Trees. Sky.

Paul framed by Mr. Oak.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:15 -0700

elf1
Paul framed by Mr. Oak.

Another view from Burra Burra Trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:17:05 -0700

elf1
Another view from Burra Burra Trail.

As we start our last major descent, we're just over half a mile from the visitor center, which we can see here.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:15:39 -0700

elf1
As we start our last major descent, we're just over half a mile from the visitor center, which we can see here.

Pete, Paul, and Linda continue down the road/trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:35:28 -0700

elf1
Pete, Paul, and Linda continue down the road/trail.

Linda turning onto the something Pond path on our way back to the car.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:34:34 -0700

elf1
Linda turning onto the something Pond path on our way back to the car.

Linda, Pete, and Paul and the trail marker.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:16:34 -0700

elf1
Linda, Pete, and Paul and the trail marker.

Linda, Pete, and Paul, the trail marker, and the visitor center on the hill to the right.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:32:44 -0700

elf1
Linda, Pete, and Paul, the trail marker, and the visitor center on the hill to the right.

Another view of the trail and the visitor center as we approach.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:33:34 -0700

elf1
Another view of the trail and the visitor center as we approach.

The pond has no visible water, but obviously there's more water here than anywhere else we saw.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:21:18 -0700

elf1
The pond has no visible water, but obviously there's more water here than anywhere else we saw.

Some very large bird--maybe a turkey?--was defeathered and eaten here.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:20:28 -0700

elf1
Some very large bird--maybe a turkey?--was defeathered and eaten here.

Oh! Oh! Guess what! A small purple flower! (Clarkia of some sort, probably clarkia purpurea.)

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:09:48 -0700

elf1
Oh! Oh! Guess what! A small purple flower! (Clarkia of some sort, probably clarkia purpurea.)

Back at the brand new visitor center.

nobody@smugmug.com (elf1) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:19:36 -0700

elf1
Back at the brand new visitor center.