On the main fire road in the park, Gazos Creek Road had a small tree blocking access to vehicles, but hikers, bikers and equestrians only had to step over it.
This forest was also power-washed with approx 13 inches of rain in a 48 hour period. Dust was gone, leaving leaves shiney and bright green
Middle Ridge Road
This trail is mostly uphill.
After about an hour, we came across this fallen madrone. There were too many sharp points sticking out, so we went off-trail through the bushes around to the right.
Lots of bits and pieces of redwood branches littered the trail.
Doesn't look like much, but you sure don't want one of these broken branches falling on your head
More debris
We've turned west onto Johansen Road (northern boundary of the park) and can look southwest across the canyons to the coastal hills.
It was a warm day everywhere but here. A chilly, stiff wind came off the ocean and streamed through the woods. That little notch in the center of the photo is the fog-covered beach.
Ah, a challenge. This is a substantial tree that's completely blocking our path. To the right, the tree top and lots of branches are stretched out on a steep hillside. To the left, there's a large decomposing redwood.
Well, maybe Bella can fit *under* the tree. I took off her saddle and tried to coax her to come under the tree by bribing her with carrots.
She always wants to try to please me, but going under the tree was a no-go. She knew her withers were a couple of inches too high and crawling was beneath her dignity.
At this point, we abandon Plan B--going under the tree.
Plan C: We go over the decomposing redwood and make our way through the deep debris and shrubs of the forest floor, going around the newly fallen tree and then up and over the decomposing redwood to get back to the road. She followed me like a puppy. What an amazing horse!
And only about 100 feet up the road, we came across another tree that had fallen completely across the road. No problem, we picked our way over it at its base.
This is private property called Sandy Point at the intersection of Johansen Road and Gazos Creek Road. We have just to get past the gate which had a cable across it last time we came this way that Bella wouldn't step over.
Hooray! The cable was cut and we walked around the gate. I'd complained to a ranger about it a couple of months ago, and they took my complaint seriously.
Sandy Point
We have the full length of Gazos Creek Road to travel--about 6.5 miles back to the trailer
A small rockslide on the trail. We only saw a few hikers and even fewer mountain bikers--too many hazards on the road
Branch on the road
Beautiful viewpoint. The road here is solid rock, washed clean. It looked like orange marble.
This is a year-round spring that cascades down a crevass, and I figured my very thirsty horse would like a drink.
Bella slurps up the clear water while standing in the soft sand
We took a break after she had a drink and she got a bunch of carrot pieces and some of my apple [took off her bridle for her to eat] before we continued.
Another fallen branch
Yet another fallen branch
We went into the ditch on the left to go around this small broken tree.
Must have been real windy to break this tree's trunk.
This was a little bit more of a ride than I anticipated today, but we both came out of it okay. Good thing there was a cloud over the park today to keep it cool cuz just 10 miles away it was in the mid-80s. Bella got a good rinse and rub down before getting back into the trailer for our 20 minute ride back to the ranch.