Last of Pisgah’s Flower Bloom?

After hiking a couple of very fast hours on the Baldy side of Ridgeline with my nephew, I headed over to Pisgah for a short afternoon ramble as all the rain clouds disappeared. North TH parking lot was surprisingly empty after the morning drizzle. Humans were infrequent on the trails but half had dogs and all were following leash rules, but some unwilling to be under voice command.

Here are the Dog Rules (Pisgah)

The ramble looped Trail #3 to #4 and back avoiding most human traffic. The hill was quiet at first. Later, around 3pm, the city noise was over powering. I didn’t see any new coyote poo. Birds were few in the meadows and the only raptor, a solitary turkey vulture. I did encounter hairy woodpeckers twice – once by voice and once by bang on tree.

Wildflower bloom peak is falling on Pisgah … the earlier flowers are fewer, and the blooms more filled out to the top. Camas in some meadows was 1/2 of last week and looking tired.

Animals were scarce which was a surprise given the empty parking lot. All the noise later in afternoon changed the mood in the woods and I couldn’t even hear distant birds. As spring moves on, the wildflower bloom is moving up the foothills fading in the valley and on Pisgah. The last large camas bloom fields were on the NE side of the hill (colder / darker). The bench atop the climb on Tr #4 made a great place for lunch and time to listen … not one other human on Tr #4.

The Route

Started at North TH around 12:45 went around the hill on Trail #3 until the first meadow summit trail up to the top and then down the far trail back to Tr #3. Then around East TH to Tr #4 and back to Tr #3 to TH (though I took Tr #7 for the last leg)

Trail conditions were good – a tad wet in places with the typical muddy spots. My trail runners never got muddy. A couple of places showed what happens when horses trod muddy trail.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Lone Timp 6 – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear GRIT (light foothills day hike)
• Upper Layers: Lightweight base layer
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 12:45 – 16:00
• Carbon ratio: 2.5 hours (1.5 hours driving: 4.0 hours hiking); YTD = 75.25 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 357.8
• Notes:
  • Photos: low
  • Speed: moderate
  • Difficulty: low
  • Weather: 60s grey, clouds

All Trails

GaiaGPS from earlier Ridgeline Hike w/ nephew