Coyote Ridge East April 2008 |
Hillside wildflowers above Anderson Reservoir. | |
Burnt skeletons of numerous trees and shrubs. | |
After a fire, wildflowers flourish. | |
Hillisde covered with California Poppy, Gold Fields, Monolopia wildflowers. | |
Dazzing display. | |
Large patch of Monolopia. |
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Decided to follow the trail to the ridge top. | |
Trail follows the contours of the hillsides. | |
Easy climbing with nice views of the surrounding foothills. | |
View of Coyote Valley near Cochrane Avenue. Greenbelt no longer exists. | |
Two levels to climb separated by shallow meadows. | |
An old ranch road leads to the ridgetop. | |
Cut across country, it's shorter. | |
Broad, shallow valley, maybe a mile long. | |
Fringe of chaparral on one side. | |
Serpentine, gray pine on the other. | |
Wildflowers here and there. | |
Going west towards Paintbrush Hill. | |
Very quiet. | |
I imagine during early spring, there are large vernal pools in this meadow. | |
Nearing the end of the meadow. | |
Water trough for cattle. | |
Passed through a screen of pines. | |
Reached a fence within sight of Paintbrush Hill. | |
View west. Far end of Anderson Reservoir in the distance. | |
Sound of trickling water caught my attention. | |
Seep Spring Monkeyflowers. | |
Retracing my steps, going East again. | |
Beautiful day. Had the entire ridge to ourselves. | |
Back down through large areas of serpentine. | |
A few Cream Cup wildflowers were still in bloom. | |
Saw a few Tidy Tips too. | |
Road on the right is Cochrane Ave. | |
Lower meadow with Anderson Reservoir Dam in distance. | |
Didn't see a "No Trespassing" sign anywhere. | |
Shrubs on right are Yerba Santa. | |
Yerba Santa leaves, flower nectar used by the Ohlone and early Spanish settlers. |
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Meant to revisit the area the following year. | |
Never did. | |
Not sure what the area looks like now. | |
Yerba Santa in the foreground, Anderson dam & spillway in the distance. | |
Entire slope covered with wildflowers. | |
Hillsides above too. | |
Pair of Variable Checkerspot butterflies jostle for position to feed on a Monolopia wildflower. |
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Nearing starting point of hike. | |
Monolopia, one of my favorite late spring wildflowers. | |
California Poppies, colorful Lichen on serpentine. | |
Hike started at Anderson Dam at extreme right. | |
Hike ended within sight of the lone tree on ridge at far left (edge of Paintbrush Hill). |
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Go to Coyote Ridge. | Return to Top. |