Big Basin Redwoods State Park Nov 22 2008

While waiting for my carpool, I had to get my cameras out to help me admire this gorgeous red autumn foliage. Here it is frontlit.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
While waiting for my carpool, I had to get my cameras out to help me admire this gorgeous red autumn foliage. Here it is frontlit.

Here's the same gorgeous red autumn foliage backlit against the beautiful autumn sky.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
Here's the same gorgeous red autumn foliage backlit against the beautiful autumn sky.

This tree's foliage was engaged in changing from yellow to red for its full autumn color.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
This tree's foliage was engaged in changing from yellow to red for its full autumn color.

The Saratoga (California) library's parking lot trees displayed brilliant red autumn foliage.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
The Saratoga (California) library's parking lot trees displayed brilliant red autumn foliage.

The short Redwood Trail has a self-guiding tour brochure available. Looking down the trail into the redwoods.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
The short Redwood Trail has a self-guiding tour brochure available. Looking down the trail into the redwoods.

Here's an obligatory looking-up-at-the-redwood photo. The red bark, the green foliage, the blue sky--it was a lovely morning.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
Here's an obligatory looking-up-at-the-redwood photo. The red bark, the green foliage, the blue sky--it was a lovely morning.

We briefly followed a volunteer-led nature talk along the Redwood Trail.

2008-11-22T11:23:09Z

elf1
We briefly followed a volunteer-led nature talk along the Redwood Trail.

Linda and Paul stand in front of a smaller redwood and listen to the nature talk.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Linda and Paul stand in front of a smaller redwood and listen to the nature talk.

Linda gazes out upon the site of what once was a swimming pool for tourists in the early part of the 20th century.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Linda gazes out upon the site of what once was a swimming pool for tourists in the early part of the 20th century.

I liked the textures of this split-rail wood fence and the grass growing alongside it, beside a path leading through the redwoods in a rare spot where the sun made it through to the ground.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
I liked the textures of this split-rail wood fence and the grass growing alongside it, beside a path leading through the redwoods in a rare spot where the sun made it through to the ground.

The Redwood Trail led us among redwoods of various sizes and several small groves, where young redoods like these circled the skeleton of its huge ancient ancestor.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
The Redwood Trail led us among redwoods of various sizes and several small groves, where young redoods like these circled the skeleton of its huge ancient ancestor.

Linda and Paul head up the trail towards Sempervirens Falls.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Linda and Paul head up the trail towards Sempervirens Falls.

Looking up into a young redwood grove.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Looking up into a young redwood grove.

Mid-November appeared to be the perfect time to find interesting fungi. These communities of mushrooms grew from a rotting stub of a stump.

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Mid-November appeared to be the perfect time to find interesting fungi. These communities of mushrooms grew from a rotting stub of a stump.

Mid-November appeared to be the perfect time to find interesting fungi. These communities of mushrooms grew from a rotting stub of a stump. (Not quite perfect focus--no flash, hand-held--but ...

2008-11-22T11:29:38Z

elf1
Mid-November appeared to be the perfect time to find interesting fungi. These communities of mushrooms grew from a rotting stub of a stump. (Not quite perfect focus--no flash, hand-held--but ...

Sempervirens Falls is, at this time of year, a delicate stream of water falling into a broad, still pool below, nestled in the darkness of a redwood forest.

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
Sempervirens Falls is, at this time of year, a delicate stream of water falling into a broad, still pool below, nestled in the darkness of a redwood forest.

Sempervirens Falls is, at this time of year, a delicate stream of water falling into a broad, still pool below, nestled in the darkness of a redwood forest. (Longer exposure, no tripod.)

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
Sempervirens Falls is, at this time of year, a delicate stream of water falling into a broad, still pool below, nestled in the darkness of a redwood forest. (Longer exposure, no tripod.)

Linda and Paul on the Sempervirens Falls overlook.

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
Linda and Paul on the Sempervirens Falls overlook.

Linda and Paul checking the map to see where we'd like to go next.

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
Linda and Paul checking the map to see where we'd like to go next.

(This photo is FYI to get the text.) Big Basin Redwoods State Park was the first California State Park, founded in the early 1900s to protect the beauty of old-growth redwoods from logging.

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
(This photo is FYI to get the text.) Big Basin Redwoods State Park was the first California State Park, founded in the early 1900s to protect the beauty of old-growth redwoods from logging.

Linda points out the historical marker indicating that this spot was where a group of men came up with the idea of making Big Basin into California's first park to protect the redwood trees ...

2008-11-22T11:35:10Z

elf1
Linda points out the historical marker indicating that this spot was where a group of men came up with the idea of making Big Basin into California's first park to protect the redwood trees ...

Slippery Rocks are about 200 yards long by 100 yards wide, running down the hillside at a 30-degree angle. It's Miocene sandstone, and gets its name thanks to springs that, at some times of ...

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Slippery Rocks are about 200 yards long by 100 yards wide, running down the hillside at a 30-degree angle. It's Miocene sandstone, and gets its name thanks to springs that, at some times of ...

Slippery Rocks, another view.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Slippery Rocks, another view.

Paul, Linda, and Ellen take a rest with Slippery Rocks in the background.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Paul, Linda, and Ellen take a rest with Slippery Rocks in the background.

Paul and Linda cross one of many bridges on the Shadowbrook Trail where it crisscrosses Union Creek.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Paul and Linda cross one of many bridges on the Shadowbrook Trail where it crisscrosses Union Creek.

Ellen looks up at one of the larger redwoods alongside the trail.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Ellen looks up at one of the larger redwoods alongside the trail.

The Shadowbrook Trail runs along a hillside among redwoods.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
The Shadowbrook Trail runs along a hillside among redwoods.

We weren't far from civilization on the paths we took; paved roads paralleled our trek, and apparently the sewer line ran down the center of Shadowbrook Trail. We recognized sewer manhole co ...

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
We weren't far from civilization on the paths we took; paved roads paralleled our trek, and apparently the sewer line ran down the center of Shadowbrook Trail. We recognized sewer manhole co ...

Another bridge on the Shadowbrook Trail.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Another bridge on the Shadowbrook Trail.

This mushroom (or toadstool) stood alone--and huge on the cutaway forming one side of the Shadowbrook Trail. This photo is for scale.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
This mushroom (or toadstool) stood alone--and huge on the cutaway forming one side of the Shadowbrook Trail. This photo is for scale.

This mushroom (or toadstool) grew from the vertical cutaway forming one side of the Shadowbrook Trail. Its color and pattern were quite attractive, and the droopy drippy-looking black edges ...

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
This mushroom (or toadstool) grew from the vertical cutaway forming one side of the Shadowbrook Trail. Its color and pattern were quite attractive, and the droopy drippy-looking black edges ...

Looking straight down from one bridge to the creek below was like looking into the window of another world, with the reflections of the trees and sky above.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Looking straight down from one bridge to the creek below was like looking into the window of another world, with the reflections of the trees and sky above.

Another section of the Shadowbrook Trail.

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
Another section of the Shadowbrook Trail.

This beautiful new bridge even had detailed carving on some of the railings. It was built by volunteers (under park engineering supervision).

2008-11-22T11:50:41Z

elf1
This beautiful new bridge even had detailed carving on some of the railings. It was built by volunteers (under park engineering supervision).