Hiked Friday, April 1. This was a successful completion of a hike I originally attempted last month, but got detoured by the fact that there was actually water coming down Bailey Falls. I had so much fun shooting pictures there that I originally planned to head over to Monrovia Falls, as well.Details of how to get to the trail head are in that post.
Today, I bypassed the falls trail on the way up and saved it for the return trip.I actually went to bed last night thinking I might try a Mt. Wilson hike, but clearly the weather was going to be too warm for that. I may try Mt. Wilson on Sunday.
Not surpris-ingly, there are similar flowers here to what I've been seeing in my other hikes in the area: chia, sage, Canterbury bells, lupine and lots of other flowers I don't recognize. I initially planned to save most of those pictures for the return trip, but couldn't resist.
I was also treated to a very impressive and unexpected falls. I don't think there's a name for this one, but you get pretty good views of it twice on the way up towards Jones Peak, both occurring before you get to the cabin foundation. I don't think the water runs all year long, but it must run several months out of the year, since it's a continuation of the stream that runs just west of the cabin foundation. That water runs well after Bailey Falls has dried up for the season. The drop (not all vertical) seems to be 80-100 feet tall.
When I reached the cabin foundation, I explored downstream a bit. But not 50 yards past the cabin, I reached a slippery point where I slid on my butt and figured this was about as far as I was going to get. No where near the waterfall. Oh, well.Lupine were crazy thick up near the saddle. That is to say, there are plenty of smaller, annual plants growing further down the trail. But at the saddle and on up to Jones Peak, these are perennial bushes. BIG bushes, currently with lots of flower stalks. And I guess only big bees can get at the nectar within, because it's mostly bumble bees (which is what I call most buzzing insects that are bigger than honeybees but not wasps or hornets) that are visiting these flowers. It was actually almost hard to take a picture without a few of them zipping through the frame.
I also took a few with Mt. Ontario's snow-covered visage in the back-ground (top picture in this post).On the return trip, I swung over up to Bailey Falls. The water is still flowing nicely there.
Total mileage for the day would be about 7.1 miles. That's based on the signed distance of 3.3 miles from Bailey Park to Jones Peak, each way, and the signed 1/4 mile from the Jones Peak trail to Bailey Falls, each way.
The trail up to Jones Saddle is quite steep. The last bit from the saddle to the peak is also steep, but only about 1/10th mile of hard going.Most of the flower pictures are below. One I get a kick out of (and once knew, but no longer remember the name for) is the red one at the end. I think it looks a little bit like the Shadow ships from Babylon 5.
Nice plant pics, SkyHiker! I was thinking about hiking Jones Peak last weekend, but ended up just hitting the falls then over to Rubio. Mostly plant photography. BTW, that red flower at the end is Indian pink (Silene laciniata).
ReplyDeleteRight, thanks for the plant i.d.
ReplyDeleteOne nice thing about my new camera is it has the potential for some really good closeups. It'll focus really close. In fact, it can focus so close that if you let droplets of water get on the front lens, it'll focus on them instead of what ever else you might point the camera at!
yes, great pics but can you tell me about the sun exposure on this hike
ReplyDeleteLots of sun exposure. You're hiking through sagebrush though the lower section, then mazanita in the upper section, neither of which give you any shade. Relatively few trees, mostly either near the saddle or near the cabin foundation. Mostly southern or eastern exposure, so an early start gives you more shade on the way up.
ReplyDelete