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Designation of "unique": refers to any species that was seen in a single location on the reported day.
Designation of "early": refers to any species that we are seeing this month on this trail for the first time since we started this record. [These flowers have often been reported by others this early. They are, however, early for us.]
Report by Joan Zimmerman.
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45 banana slugs.
7 different wildflower species in bloom. 0 amphibians. 3-layer cold at start, warming to 2 layers. Three observers (8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) Lots of signs of last autumn's controlled burn, including ashy and charcoal-like smells, blackened wood, fire-consumed wood, and charred tan oak leaves (which seem rather resistant to burn). Met 17 hikers (plus a ranger on a search-and-rescue mission). Thanks to 
our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews.
Slug and flower graphs (in new window). (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) |
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Flowers:
Report by Joan Zimmerman.
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26 banana slugs.
4 different wildflower species in bloom. 19 newts. (All terrestrial although 4 were on the edge of a pool.) We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on this COUNTER-CLOCKWISE hike. 4-layer cold at start, warming to 2 layers. Two observers (joined by a third for the last mile) (8:35 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.) Lots of signs of last autumn's controlled burn, including ashy and charcoal-like smells, blackened wood, fire-consumed wood, and charred tan oak leaves (which seem rather resistant to burn). Met 15 hikers. Thanks to
our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews.
Slug and flower graphs (in new window). (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) |
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No flowers at Ranger Station HQ. Taking Dool Trail toward Sunset Trail - beginning our counter-clockwise exploration. By Middle Ridge Fire Road (on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs. By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector: 1st slug spotted; 1 total. By West Waddell Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 1 new slug; 2 total. First newt; 1 total. By Timms Creek Trail (on Sunset Trail): 1 new slug; 3 total. By East Berry Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 2 new slugs; 5 total.
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Report by Joan Zimmerman.
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This is a secondary survey. Only the start-of-month primary survey contributes data to the graphed counts.
2 banana slugs. 4 different wildflower species in bloom. 0 newts. Don Maier identified birds: crow/raven (calls could have been either), hermit thrush (prob.), Steller's jay, winter wren. We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on this COUNTER-CLOCKWISE hike. FREEZING: first time I have seen ICICLES on this loop (well, a few paces down the skyline-to-sea trail). 4-layer cold at start, 'warming' to 3 layers. Two observers (9:10 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.) Met 40 hikers. Thanks to
our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews.
Slug and flower graphs (in new window). (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) |
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No flowers at Ranger Station HQ. Taking Dool Trail toward Sunset Trail - beginning our counter-clockwise exploration. By Middle Ridge Fire Road (on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs. By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector (5.2 miles from Park H.Q. on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs. By West Waddell Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs. 1 new slug; 2 total. By Timms Creek Trail (on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs. By East Berry Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 0 slugs.
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Report by Joan Zimmerman.
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Thanks to
our heroes, the trail-clearing crews.
We appreciate the huge amount of unseen work that they do to make this part of the park accessible to us. Beware, several recently downed trees blocked Sunset Trail. They are listed in the sequence they would be encountered if one hiked from HQ along Sunset Trail. For all but the last one, the hiker has to bushwhack off-trail. 'Times along trail' are for a gentle walking pace:
There are also three places along Skyline-to-Sea where tan oaks are down but one can scramble over or under them. The old bridge over West Waddell Creek is very weak and rickety. I wonder if it will last through this winter. |
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64 banana slugs.
10 newts (all were terrestrial). 5 different wildflower species in bloom. We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time. Clear, thin cloud layer with sun breaking through. 3-layers plus hat and gloves needed at start, but soon dropped a layer and the gloves. One observer. (9:10 a.m. - 3:47 p.m.) Met 7 hikers (on the loop, in solos and pairs). Clear; fairly still. Lots of redwood duff. Slug and flower graphs (in new window). (Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) |
| Vegetation where the slugs were. | Number of slugs. |
| Redwood duff. | 32 (50%). |
| Moss. | 9 (14%) |
| Tan oak leaves. | 8 (12%) (2 of these were on twigs) |
| Mushrooms. | 5 (8%) (1 of these was on a fungus 10" up a tree stump). |
| Mud | 4 (6%) |
| Redwood branches. | 3 (5%) |
| Decaying maple leaf. | 1 (2%) |
| Decaying redwood violet leaf. | 1 (2%) |
| Decaying sorrel leaf. | 1 (2%) |
Compare with vegetation where the slugs were in March 2006.
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No wildflower by the Ranger Station HQ: Take Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Middle Ridge Fire Road. By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 slugs so far. By Sunset Connector Trail junction: 4 new slugs, 4 total. By Kelly Creek Bridge: 8 new slugs, 12 total.
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Report by Joan Zimmerman.
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Cool, damp, and cloudy; heavy rain (for previous three days) filled waterfalls and streams.
65 Banana Slugs. 3 different flower species in bloom. Also, 14 newts (all Terrestrial). Slug and flower graphs (in new window). Berry Creek Falls was spectacular and all the ephemeral creeks and streams were back. Lots of fungi and mushrooms - remember, look but don't take any. Continue to smell smoke near Middle Creek Fire Road; saw a few more charred indications of a small controlled burn. Recent downpours flooded a lot of the trails including the lower steps at Silver Creek Falls. (Scott's Wildflower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) I list the wildflowers below in the order encountered for the first time on the hike. |
Designation of "unique": In this report, the designation of "unique" is given to those species that were seen in a single location.
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No wildflowers visible by the Ranger Station HQ. Headed out COUNTERCLOCKWISE, taking the Dool Trail: 0 new slugs, 0 total. Again delighted by the WONDERFUL NEW BRIDGE ACROSS OPAL CREEK! By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 new slugs, 0 total. By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector junction with Sunset Trail: 0 new slugs, 0 total.
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Reported for January 24th, 2004, by Scott Peden, Photographer, local plant expert, nature guide, and Docent at Big Basin State Park.
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25 Banana Slugs (Slug photos)
22 Newts. 6 different wildflowers in bloom. (Scott's Wildflower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) (Look at graphs of slug and flower counts, in a new window.) |
In-between Timms and Golden Falls the Newts were ahead of the Nanners!
And most of them were not where we had seen great numbers of them before.
In fact I saw none in the 3 largest groups that I remember from the past.
Up until Timms Creek they stayed one behind.
Total Nanners 25 Newts 22.
3 Places for the California Fetid Adder's Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii):
After lower connector,
after the stone stairs, and
above Silver Falls.
The walk from BC Falls to Golden was again magical with the
Alum Root (Heuchera micrantha),
Sugar Scoop (Tiarella unifoliata),
Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana),
and
California Fetid Adder's Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)
all in that distinct ecozone.
Small-leaved (sensitive) manzanita (glossy leaves on both sides). Loads of it in bloom after Sunset Camp.
Also in this area were berries on the Toyon and a
Toothwort (Dentaria californica) in bloom.
Within days there will be loads of blooms.
Redwood Violet.
after W.Waddel Bridge on Sunset Trail.
Six flowers total.
Reported for Wednesday, January 1st, 2003, by Scott Peden, Photographer, local plant expert, nature guide, and Docent at Big Basin State Park.
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99 Banana Slugs (Slug photos)
7 Newts. 2 different flowers in bloom. (Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) (Look at graphs of slug and flower counts, in a new window.) Please note: I mention the flowers in the order that I see them, and only once for each section of the trail.
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
It is winter time. Check at the Ranger Station for trail and weather conditions. You are responsible for your choice to travel in Big Basin, which is at your own risk. We saw dozens of large trees down; and the West Waddell Bridge is temporarily out (Pic on web site) (Picture on my companion web site.) I counted 24 folks who made it across the swollen creek to get to the falls even with these obstacles. Luckily it wasn't windy or rainy, but quite a nice day! 26.1 inches of rain in December, in the Basin of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, likely much more on the seaward portion of the Skyline to the Sea Trail where most of this walk takes place. There were more Mushrooms and other Funguses, many weird and strange-looking ones too this month. Frequently there were Banana Slugs on them, and actively eating them [Ed. and sliming them in the process - a cautionary (yucky?) note to mushroom thieves.] What a visual treat! Remember your Ethics!. No picking allowed. I am becoming convinced that the Banana Slug count, and the number of unmolested mushrooms are connected, as the count seems to always be higher when there are mushrooms, new, old or decaying. Trilliums are the other food of choice, but appear in a different cycle of the year. Since there are almost no Mushrooms or Trilliums on the Basin side of this loop, we rarely see a Banana Slug in the Basin either. We could smell wet burnt wood on both the Skyline to the Sea trail, and returning, on the Sunset trail. Amazing after 26.1 inches of rain, and how little vegetation was actually consumed by the controlled burn! Latin Names and more information are posted with each picture on my picture site. I load pictures to that on-line portfolio (Scott's Flower Photos) as time permits. Note: Funguses and Mushrooms are protected just as all of the flowers, trees and shrubs are. This is a State park, and these are here for all of us to enjoy. No one is allowed to pick or harm any feature in the park or to take anything home, etc. There are penalties for this. Last January on Tuesday the 15th, I walked to Berry Creek Falls, and counted dozens of fungus and mushroom. I took pictures as my trophies. I walked to the falls again on Friday, Jan 18th 2002, 3 days later, and there were only 6 mushrooms left; even the poisonous ones were gone.
THE PARTICULARS!
Park HQ up Skyline to the Sea Trail to Middle Ridge Fire Road 8:03 AM
* There was a pair of Ravens in the parking lot, as our only company.
* The large Fallen Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), that I had my picture taken in front of,
now has a pool of water 3-4 inches deep where the root used to be in the ground.
(Picture on my companion web site.)
* In places the trail here was a creek, and was hard to get around without getting wet. Where
does all of the water come from after it has stopped raining, as there is only 340 feet of
elevation above Opal Creek? I have a picture on my website showing the trail creek flowing
out of the hillside next to the trail.
Middle Ridge Fire Road to Sunset Connector trail 8:44 AM
* Some different mushrooms than I have noticed in the past
Banana Slugs 2.
Sunset Connector trail to Kelly Creek bridge 9:07 AM
* More Mushrooms
Banana Slugs 3, total 5.
Kelly Creek bridge to east end of Loop (alternate) trail 9:30 AM
Banana Slugs 2 total 7.
East end of Loop trail to west end of Loop trail 9:40 AM
Banana Slugs 10, total 17.
West end of Loop Trail to Timms Creek Trail 10:01 AM
Banana Slugs 11, total 28.
Newts 1
Timms Creek trail to Berry Creek Falls viewing bench 10:19 AM
* There are logs piled on top of the large log that serves as a bridge across West Waddell Creek,
to the Timms Creek trail. The water was that high and moving fast!
(Picture on my companion web site.)
* Being close to the creek here you can see many beautiful scenes with the water flowing
over logs and rocks.
Some pictures are on my companion web site.
Banana Slugs 11, total 39.
Newts 3, total 4. We probably pass by a great many of them, as we don't usually see them unless they are moving. Their camouflage is excellent. I have several pics on the web site where they are in plain view, even close up, and you need to look for them! careful not to step on them on the trail too!
Berry Creek Falls viewing bench to Silver Falls 11:40 AM
* I could hear the Roar of the Falls before I could see them, it was a GRAND first viewing!
What a treat after crossing the West Waddell without a bridge! We usually stop and put our feet up
and grab a bite as we look at the Falls for the first time, then stop again for another short while
at the viewing platform, just below the Falls.
* The walk from BC Falls to Silver Falls really has a magical quality to it, of being someplace different
than the rest of the journey. Quite a sylvan setting, and one of my most favorite places in the Park.
Banana Slugs 33, total 72.
Silver Falls to Sunset Camp connector trail 1:33 PM
1. Milkmaids, a.k.a. Rain Bells; a Sub species belonging with the Toothworts. Pic to my web site!
* Just as Berry Creek Falls was at its grandest, so were all of the other Falls. If I could have,
I'd have gone out here every day to see them!
16 Banana Slugs, total 88.
Sunset Camp connector trail to W. Berry Creek bridge 2:23 PM
2. Small-leaved (sensitive) manzanita.
* Toyon, a.k.a. California Christmas Tree, a.k.a. Christmas Berry, with its Red Berries are along
the trail in the chaparral region.
* As we re-enter the woods, there are bunches of different types of mushrooms.
1 Large Banana Slug, total 89.
W. Berry Creek bridge to Timms Creek Trail 2:59 PM
* Wood Rose with Rose Hips, located at the high point of this trail section. Pic on my web site.
* More, one of a kind mushroom, or some sort of fungus.
Newts 3, total 7.
Timms Creek trail to West Waddell Creek Bridge 3:54 PM
* Club Moss growing off of a living Tan Oak near the log bench; these have a tree-like appearance.
Some sections of this one are 2.5 inches long, and very feathery in appearance. Pic to my web site.
West Waddell Creek Bridge to Skyline to the Sea connector trail 4:03
* It has become dark by the time I have reached the connector trail, funny how the darkness has snuck
up on me at about this same time, for the last 3 months. My flashlight is still holding out with 50
more minutes of travel left to go.
Banana Slugs 8 (reported by Joan [Ed. who went ahead to exit in daylight]; I only saw 3 in the dim
light) total 97.
Skyline to the Sea Connector to Ranger Headquarters 5:11 PM
Banana Slugs 2 (reported by Joan, who was 50 minutes ahead of me) total for the day 99.
Ranger Headquarters 5:50 PM
Times:
Left ranger station 8:03 AM
Returned to HQ at 5:50 PM (sp) and 5 PM (jz).
9 hours and 47 minutes on the Trail today.
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| Our continued thanks to the Trail crews of the State Park System,
and
the several volunteer trail crews,
some of whom have been at this for 30 years. They do a huge amount of unseen work to make this part of the park accessible to us. Respect the
Berry Creek Falls Trail, a loop in Big Basin State Park in the Santa
Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek.
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Cold, overcast, rainy. Most the annual rainfall (average 48 inches) occurs in Winter. Temperatures vary from highs in the 50's to lows in the 20's.
A pleasant mid-week hike with a photographer, who made hundreds of shots of fungi for help with visitor education at Big Basin State Park. Saw three other hikers along the trail, and two preparing to backpack from Park H.Q. Cold, clear weather, after a dry week. Scraped ice off my car windows before driving to Park H.Q.
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| Thanks to the Park Service for their trail clearing and building! |
Highlights:
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| The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California , by James C. Hickman (Editor), Willis Linn Jepson. (First published 1925) Willis Linn Jepson's Manual of the Flowering Plants of California became a standard reference for teachers, students, and naturalists. This new volume includes a wealth of material accumulated over almost a century. Two hundred botanists across North America contributed to this comprehensive resource and authoritative identification guide. Recommended for those with (or pursuing) formal education in botany and plant ID identification. |
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Forest and Tree Home,
Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z. |
[Thanks for visiting.]
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Copyright
© 2001-2008
by Joan Zimmerman and Scott Peden. Photo of adder's tongue © 2005-2008 by Sudhir Dass. |