February (birthday) hike: Skyline Ridge

Where: Skyline Ridge
When: 2pm - 5:45pm (door to door)
Companion: my hiking shadow
Miles hiked: ~3.5
Time spent on foot: 2:15'
Difficulty: easy

Photo album

This was a perfect birthday hike. I suspected that since it was a Tuesday, the trails shouldn't be crowded. In fact, I was the only one there. The route I took was a combination of open space, woods, and lakes. This part of the preserve is on high elevations, so you get great views of the mountains and valleys without heavy climbing.

I'm pretty happy with the pictures i took today. It would have been wonderful to record some sounds too. Most of the hike was pretty quiet, with occasional susurruses in the bushes from little birds alerted by my footsteps. I was lucky to not have encountered any rattle snake. The two waters I visited were both peaceful and secluded (or so it felt) but each had their own acoustic character. Alpine Pond was very quiet (saw two ducks there). At Horseshoe Lake, you could hear many frogs and occasional duck quacks, but it didn't feel noisy at all.

It was such a wonderful birthday hike -- 30 minutes away from the locales of daily grinds and so refreshingly hermitic. I think I'll try to do something like this every year.

Speaking of birthday, my scooter hasn't reached mile 212x.x as i had hoped, so no mileage picture this time. but thanks to everyone who's sent in good wishes and helped me celebrate. This year's celebrations include (for those of you who aren't here to share): a surprise cupcake and gift at dim sum last saturday (too bad i didn't take any pictures), another surprise at a dinner party the same day, and dinner tonight with my wonderful in-laws and my handsome newly wedded darlingheart. Another joint birthday gathering with 3 february-born friends is coming this saturday -- pictures later.

Thank you all -- I appreciate your love.