The day was cool, about 55 degrees, and starting to drizzle. But my friend, Steve Plath, demanded that we go on the hike we'd planned. He told me an amazing fact... he'd never been to Muir Woods! Since we didn't have Susie the puppy, so it was ok.

10:50 - Muir Woods Parking Lot #2
Even on a drizzly day, the parking near the entrance was full, so we drove down to the next one. We saw a few milk maids and some kind of parsnip that I couldn't identify. We also saw some Miner's Lettuce. Inside the park itself there were lots of redwood sorrel, and lots of already-bloomed Fetid Adder's Tongues. Rats! I love those little guys. We did see a few Trillium that were past there prime. But no birds, no salmon in the stream. But there was a big redwood that had fallen across the trail in the park. It was interesting to see how it banged and scraped others on the way down. I also showed Steve some Horsetail Ferns. Legend has it that miners used to use 'em like brillo pads to clean their plates during the gold rush.

11:55 - Fern Canyon Trail
An hour into it we branched off to Fern Canyon Trail. On our way up to the hill we did see some cool Trillum in full bloom, and some patches of yellow Redwood Violets. We kept looking at fallen redwoods. About half way we crossed a 50' wood plank bridge whose support aren't trestles but a huge redwood. Way cool.

On the other side of the stream we walked up the log steps. Steve looked back and waxed eloquently about how the fog and the mist and the 1,000 year old redwoods and the sword ferns. had created a "magcial" space. He was looking for Brobdinagean folk to come out of the mist. Personally, I think he may have been having a 60's flashback, but he was right on.

12:00 - Camp Alice Eastwood
By noon we reached Camp Alice Eastwood, the former end of the gravity train that ran from what is now Mountain Home. Boy I wish I could have taken a ride on that... We had a snack at one of the picnic tables. It was completely dry. The Redwoods formed a strong umbrella to catch all the mist and drizzle for itself. Afterwards we rambled down Plevin Cut until it hit the fireroad. Some Hound's Tongue showed up in a sunny patch. Coral mushrooms peeked through the duff. And there were lots of Red Waxy Caps to add some sparkle along the way.

12:25 - Bootjack Trail
We hit Bootjack Trail, and then wandered back to the main trail in Muir Woods. I need to do the 3.5 mile walk down from Bootjack Parking Lot to Muir Woods again sometime. Maybe when the Iris are out. I haven't done that for 10 years when my son Chris and I did it.

1:00 - Muir Woods Parking Lot
Back to the car!

Here's what we saw:

Birds
.

Butterflies
.

Mammals
.

Mushrooms
Turkey Tails, Scarlet Waxy Cap, Witches Butter, White Coral Mushroom, .

Reptiles & Amphibians, etc.
.

Shrubs
.

Trees
Douglas Fir, Coast Redwood, Tanoak, California (Bay) Laurel .

Wildflowers
[Fetid Adder's Tongue], Coast Trillium, Milk Maids, Hound's Tongue Redwood Violet, Miner's Lettuce .

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Last updated 04 Mar, 1996.