This is a small piece of #37, Cataract, etc. in the Mt Tam Hiking, Running and Nature Guide. We started up the trail about 9:40 and made the 1.5 miles to Laurel Dell in about 2 hours. (Puff!) The trail was dry and so the rocks were not slippery like they are right after a rain. The creek pounded its way down as lots of BIG waterfalls. It was loud enough to make talking difficult sometimes. On the way up, it was cool and dark. Great Douglas Fir and Redwoods. Some of them had fallen across the creek. We saw lots of Coastal Trilium and Fetid Adder's Tongues. Near the top we could see fields of Slim Solomon Seal that are only a week or two away from blooming. Same for Mission Bells.

We lunched at Laurel Dell. When the sun came up over the trees, we soaked up some rays and listened to the creek warble and the ravens scream. On the way down, the light created some terrific effects - sparkling serpantine rocks in the clear spots, brilliant white water, and some cool greens and reds from old redwood logs near the ferns.

Here's what we saw:

Birds
Turkey Vulture, Raven, (Acorn Woodpecker), Chestnut-backed Chickadee .

Butterflys
? white butterfly.

Mammals
Black-tailed deer.

Mushrooms
Sulphur Tufts.

Trees
Douglas Fir, Coast Redwood, Coast Live Oak, Tan Oak, California (Bay) Laurel, California Buckeye, Madrone. Huckleberry.

Wildflowers
(Mission Bells), (Slim Solomon Seal), (Red Clintonia), Fetid Adder's Tongues, Coast Trillium, Milk Maids, Redwood Sorrel.

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Last updated 30 Oct, 1995.