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October on
the Berry Creek Falls Loop (BCFL) Trail
in the Forest of Big Basin State Park.
Route was clockwise except where stated otherwise.
Report is by J. Zimmerman except where stated otherwise.
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Designation of "unique": In these reports, "unique" refers to any species that was seen in a single location on the reported day.
Designation of
:
In these reports,
("New")
refers to a flower that was not spotted by us in previous years.
Report by Scott Peden.
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Day started with extra layers, though wasn't 'glove'-cold.
(8:20 a.m. - 6:21 p.m.) Team of four observers (the 4th joined just after East Berry Creek Bridge); met 97 people on trail. Water Falls still running, though one wonders why, as the furthest summit is only 1 mile above Golden Falls. [West Berry Creek ran underground in one location below Silver Falls.] 46 Banana Slugs. 5 different flower species in bloom. (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) (Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.) 3 Aquatic, Pacific Giant Salamanders, one about 7" Long! 1 Terrestrial Newt (no aquatic ones this month). Many butterflies, particularly California Sisters; and 3 others, probably Admirals (not positive). Coyote Scat. Berries and other seed housings on many plants including: bluing balls (Red Clintonia), branched (or fat) Solomon's seal, elk's clover, hooker's fairy bell (bright scarlet), pawn-broker bush, salal, huckleberry, hairy honeysuckle and COFFEE BERRY!!!! Sedge seed heads and the husks of the Cud Weed at HQ area, Umbrella sedge seed heads on both Berry Creeks. SPINY SHARP seeds pods on the Golden Chinquapin Birds seen: chickadee, lots of juncos, scrub jay, steller's jay, winter wren, Raven. Heard both Pileated and Acorn wood peckers at HQ. Pink Slime molds on the ground, many shelf fungus on both living and dead Douglas Fir Trees, as well as the fuzzy root fungus that grow on dead Douglas Fir tree roots. Yellow (aka Dog Barf Slime) Mold in several locations. Deer fern male fronds are out on the BC Falls trail. New small bridge (no railings) being built at the Marion Grove area. |
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14 Banana Slugs on Sunset Trail (10 before L.R. joined us) 2 Nanners on BC Falls Trail 30 Nanners on Skyline to the Sea Trail 46 Nanners Total to break the 38 counted in 2002! 2 of these Nanners were 1.25 inches long and another one was 1.75 inches. 3 of them were slightly transparent, greenish in the body though the head was yellow. 5 Flowers in bloom: not too bad considering last winters rains stopped 7 months ago: Boykinia aka Brook Foam California Hedge Nettle (Unique area) Douglas's Nightshade (Unique) Hawkweed (Unique) Sugar Scoop |
Report by J. Zimmerman.
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2-layer-cool to start the day; down to 1-layer after about 3 miles.
(8:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.) Team of four observers, exiting in two small groups after Berry Creek Falls; met four people. Waterfalls pretty and slightly stronger than in September. 19 Banana Slugs. 8 different flower species in bloom. (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) (Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.) 14 adult Aquatic Newts, and 10 efts or juveniles (shorter than adults; disproportionately short legs). Many butterflies, particularly California Sisters. Good look at two wrens calling and feeding beside Sunset Trail (between Timms and East Berry Creek). 28-inch Aquatic garter snake, between Sunset camp connector and Golden Falls on Sunset Trail. Millipede near Kelly Creek on Sky-Sea Trail. Berries and other seed housings on many plants including: bluing balls on Clintonia; coffee berry; branched Solomon's seal; Golden Chinquapin (the green mediaeval-death-star spiky balls); honey suckle; Hookers fairy bells (red fruits); manzanita; pawn-broker balls on Burning Bush; rose hips; salal. We list the flowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on the hike. |
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No flowers at HQ. Taking Dool Trail toward Sunset Trail - beginning our counter-clockwise exploration. By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 new slugs (0 total).
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Report by J. Zimmerman.
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20 banana slugs;
2" to 5", fairly thin, often dark yellow.
8 different wildflower species in bloom. 0 newts. Aquatic garter snake (yellow stripe along the spine) near bench at Berry Creek Falls. We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on this COUNTER-CLOCKWISE hike. 2-layer warm at start. Solo observer. (9:40 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) Met 4 hikers (pairs). Thanks to 
our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews,
Dull and humid; drizzle in last couple of hour, which made the leaves luminous and shiny; delightful walk. Lots of tanoak leaves and a little new redwood duff and green redwood cones. 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.
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Report by J. Zimmerman.
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Only 7 banana slugs;
3" to 5", fairly thin, often dark yellow.
Only 7 different wildflower species in bloom. 0 newts. We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on this COUNTER-CLOCKWISE hike. 2-layer warm at start. Solo observer. (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.) Met 13 hikers (solos, pairs, and a trio). Thanks to trail-clearing crew: counted approximately 250 rings on a downed Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), sawn through by
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. Take care on the rickety old bridge over West Waddell Creek: it has lost one of its five sections (first on the right, going counter-clockwise); also one knee-high rail (3rd on the left) has rotted. Sunny; breezy; tic-tic of falling leaves and thud of acorns. Lots of tanoak leaves, redwood duff, and green redwood cones. Lots of widow-makers across the trail - tossed a dozen aside. Slug and flower graphs (in new window). (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) |
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Starting with the flowers at Ranger Station HQ:
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Report by J. Zimmerman
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Dry and sunny; upper 70s and low 80s.
(9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
Breezes in the tree tops brought showers of dry redwood leaves. 24 Banana Slugs. 7 different flower species in bloom. (Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.) Lots of berries, including blueing balls, burning bush, and coffee berry. Also, 6 newts (1 Terrestrial and 5 Aquatic). Saw the year's
brightest spray bows
in the Berry Creek Falls (at the viewing platform 12:30-12:50 PM).
Docent Scott Peden used the scarcity of blossoms as a teaching opportunity. Time and again he challenged us to recognize the leaves of the plants that were no longer flowering. This was a wonderful learning session. (Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) We list the flowers below in the order that we encountered them 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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For the first time this year, no flowers visible by the Ranger Station HQ:
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6 banana slugs and 6 flower species blooming. (Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
A very plump newt in Berry Creek. Still a few thumps of falling tan oak cones. Very dry from lack of rain and night-time fog. Dead California sisters (butterflies), perhaps from the dryness. Species seen in blossom (alphabetically): Alum Root (white) Boykinia (white) California Hedge Nettle (pink) Sugar Scoop (white) Trail Plant (white) White Hawkweed (white)
Check out the introduction to this glorious hike on the Berry Creek Falls Loop Trail. See also our archives and our recent monthly reports.
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38 Banana Slugs (Slug photos)
9 different flowers in bloom. (See how to access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.) (Look at graphs of slug and flower counts, in a new window.) There is a noted increase of Funguses (not mushrooms) on the trail. 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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In the Meadow next to the parking Lot Kiosk entering the Park:
* It has been windy in the last few days, and even the roads are covered with an even layer
of discarded dead Redwood leaves, and other leaf duff.
Ranger Station/HQ to Middle Ridge Fire Road, taking the Skyline to the Sea Trail toward Berry Creek Falls:
* One very interesting Fungus, Black with a white Fuzz on it, and it is apparently eating
a Tan Oak leaf.
Middle Ridge Fire Road to Sunset connector trail:
Banana Slugs 2
Sunset Connector trail to Kelly Creek Bridge:
* A very unusual Mushroom growing out of a downed Tan Oak tree.
* The dried flower heads on the Ocean Spray, are still reminisant of the flowers a little while ago.
* Bright red berries of the Branched Solomon's Seal
Banana Slugs 8, total 10
Kelly Creek Bridge to the east end of Loop Trail:
* The green seed heads of the Elks Clover/Spikenard, have turned into the shiny black seeds;
I find that quite attractive.
1. Harebell, one lonely flower so far to greet me!
Banana Slugs 3, total 13
East end of Loop Trail to West end of Loop Trail:
* Red Berries of the Branched Solomon's Seal
* Red Shelf Fungus
* Bright red berries of the Hooker's Fairy Bells
Banana Slugs 5, total 18
West end of Loop Trail to Timms Creek Trail:
* Bright yellow Slime Mold
* Large white Shelf Fungus
* Bluing Balls/Bead Lily
* Seed heads of the Giant Helleborine, Epipactis gigantea, seem every where now.
I understand now how they are propagating so fast, and number more than all of
the other Orchids put together
* Fox or Coyote Scat, marking their boundaries
Banana Slugs 11, total 24, we are already over last months total!
Timms Creek Trail to the Berry Creek Falls viewing bench:
2. Mountain Boykinia, Boykinia major, ssp. intermedia
3. Sugar-scoop. I was getting worried that all of the flower were gone! Several of these and
the Boykinia.
* White Shelf Fungus on the end of a downed Redwood tree.
4. Hedge Nettle, California
* Yellow Slime Mold
* The large tree that obscured the viewing bench, and made it impossible to get to last month,
is not only gone, but the trail crew was so thorough, you wouldn't have known there was
a problem before. Thanks Guys!
Banana Slugs 5, total 29
Berry Creek Falls viewing bench to Silver Falls
* I notice that the reduced water level is really beginning to show, but if I had
never been here, I'd never know that this fall could have even more magnificence!
5. Alum Root/Crevice Heuchera, Huechera micrantha [Aka small-flowered Heuchera] (white).
6. Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor): two little flowers turning into seed pods
* Bead Lily/Bluing Balls
Sugar-scoop
7. Coast Boykinia, Boykinia elata
Mountain Boykinia, ssp intermedia
8. Burning Bush, flowers and red berries
* Newt or immature Pacific Giant Salamander swimming around in a pool of water
* Just in time for Halloween, a bright Orange Fungus, see it on
Scott's picture web site
It is a little over a foot wide
* Animal scat, with a lot of Tanzanite Berries and Huckleberries in it
* Silver Falls is still quite magnificent, and has an enchanting effect thru the trees
as you approach it on level ground.
Banana Slugs 5, total 34
Silver Falls to Sunset Camp connector Trail:
Banana Slugs 4, total 38
Sunset Camp connector Trail to East Berry Creek bridge
9. Cudweed (not Pearly Everlasting, but this sort of resembles it)
East Berry Creek bridge to Timms Creek Trail:
* Some dried seed pods of the Spotted Coral Root Orchid. Can't wait for next May!
Timms Creek Trail to West Waddell Creek bridge:
* A Maroon Spotted Coral Root Orchid, unspotted, that had the top eaten off a few months ago,
rejuvenated with flowers again, and actually has 2 fertilized seed pods growing towards maturity.
West Waddell Creek bridge to Skyline to the Sea connector trail:
Nothing to report
Skyline to the Sea Trail connector to Middle Ridge Fire Road:
Nothing to report
Middle Ridge Fire Road to Park Headquarters:
* Yellow Slime Mold
Times on Trail:
Left Park HQ at 8:55A.
Middle Ridge Fire Road 9:40A.
Sunset Camp connector Trail marker 2:30P.
HQ 4:45P.
Hours on the trail 7:45P.
| 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. |
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Respect the
Berry Creek Falls Trail, a loop in Big Basin State Park in the Santa
Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek.
Respect the trail restrictions, in courtesy for the Forest and other users. Hikers only. No dogs. No horses. No mountain bikes. |
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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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2002 Report Copyright
© 2002 by
Scott Peden.
The remainder Copyright © 2001-2012 by J. Zimmerman. |
