Placerita hike

[furtech]

On Monday Roz, Rondo and I took a hike down Placerita Canyon. Saw a woman panning for gold: she said that people have actually found nuggets there (to my surprise-- I'd heard it was all dust). Serious panner too: she had an impressive metal detector next to her.

The canyon was -very- green: the late rains have kept the area green later than I've ever seen it (everything's usually brown by now). Roz taught me the names of a number of interesting birds (that I promptly forgot); most interesting (for me) was a white-tailed kite that I saw hovering over the canyon.

We checked out Frog Point to see if Roz could find any dragonfly nymphs; only found a bunch of pacific treefrongs-- who were living up to their other name: Pacific chorus frogs. What a racket! I saw one of the bright green variations, but forgot to take a picture of him; I did get a shot of a more sedately colored fellow .



I got another reminder of how resilient nature can be: here are three different pictures taken of the same spot at three different times. The first frame was taken about February of 2004; the second shot was taken in November of 2004; the third shot was taken on this walk, May 2006. The asterisk marks the spot of a rock that has been there through all three photos. The second photo shows the 3+ feet of sand and silt that accumulated in the creek after the fires and torrential rains of 2004; no frogs at all. Now that silt is all gone and the frogs are back in force.

The winds do strange things to the dead brush

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Sounds delightful. :)

I need to go hiking more often. Life doesn't afford many opportunities right now. :(

When Ms. Rissa our late Corgi used to go hiking with us in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, she carried a lightly-burdened Dog Pack. ^^ (She was only about 30 lbs, and carried her snacks & such.)

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

Ooh! You found a wind witch! :D

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a wonderful hike, and the pics are beautiful. I love the 'wind and dead brush' thing.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I should see if Frieda's backpack fits Rondo: on trails, a dog wearing a backpack is seen by other hikers as somehow more responsible/trained. The difference between the reactions of people to Frieda with and without a pack was amazing.

Hikes around L.A. keep me sane.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Is that what those things are called??! We saw a lot of them-- originally thought some artsy-type had woven them, until I noticed that there were a LOT of them around. I'd heard the term "wind witch" but never knew what that referred to. Very cool! Thanks!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Placerita Canyon is one of the more beautiful hiking trails in the area. We can't compare to your area (stunning!)but we'll take it. One can almost forgot the nasty city is just over the hill.

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

I think that's what they're called? I didn't find anything useful on google or wiki, but I remember reading about them in an old book about "weird plants" when I was a kid. Supposedly if memory serves, a "wind witch" is when the wind picks up a bunch of old dead branches and debris and weaves it all together in a big tangly lump with all the whipping around. They often blow around on fields and stuff, but this one looks stationary. I think in the older days, people used to think they were real witches or demons, when the wind would blow one of these things after you ;)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

in the older days, people used to think they were real witches or demons, when the wind would blow one of these things after you

If you've ever had a 7-foot tall tumbleweed rolling at you in a strong wind, you'd understand why they'd think they were demons! One year I was driving up I-5 when there were Volkswagon-sized, mud-encrusted tumbleweeds blowing across the highway. They were spectacular and frightening when hit at 65+MPH. Like a mud-bomb going off.

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

I can only hope you weren't actually trying to hit it, otherwise I think you'd have just introduced the nations next national sport!!! For crazies, at least ;)

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

E-gad! I had that happen to me on 99 just North of Fresno in the middle of the night! The thing came out of nowhere... and the immediate identification supplied by my brain just before I hit it was: Boulder! Good adrenaline rush, there.

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

You and Roz and Rondo need to visit up here before the grass goes brown!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah! That's almost where I smacked mine: on I-5 due west of Fresno. It had been raining, so the things picked up a ton of mud while tumbling along...and *smash-O!* Zero visibility with a tumbleweed carcass on the hood/windshield of the car. Fortunately, I'm good: I could still peek through a crack in the debris on the windshield and maneuver until it fell off during a turn. Thank goodness it was daytime (mostly).

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yes! I just need to maneuver between conventions and your filming...we'll be in touch!