Sanborn County Park, CA - John Nicholas Trail

 New Moon

I hiked another segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail yesterday. This one is close to Castle Rock State Park near Saratoga. It starts at the Sunnyvale Mountain Parking Area on Highway 35, which provides quick, easy access to the trailhead for the John Nicholas Trail. This is a very popular (and legal) mountain biking trail, too, so stay alert for bikes if you go. I met several cyclists on my walk down to the lake and back, all of whom were polite and gave me plenty of warnings (On Your Left!)  that they were coming. I thanked each of them as they zoomed by. The trail starts out pretty level and wide before it begins to descend on winding switchbacks to the Lake Ranch Reservoir. Round trip from the parking lot and back, this moderate hike is 7.2 miles.

This area is famous among geology fans for its Vaquero sandstone outcrops that feature odd formations called tafoni (pronounced TAF-uh-nee). One of my favorite hiking pastimes is noticing random faces and animals and things in rock outcrops. I don't assign any sort of enchanted meanings to them, I just get a kick out of seeing them when I pass by. I don't know what percent of the population shares my joy, nor do I care, but I'm pretty sure most folks can see them if they look. A geologist from Michigan has written papers about them, even coining the name mimetolith to describe them. In the first mile of my hike yesterday, I came face to face with this guy. You either see him or you don't.

Click on image to enlarge.

A little later I crossed a bridge over a small creek that feeds the reservoir. Can you spot the alien's face in the center? You either see him or you don't, haha.

Click on image to enlarge.

Anyway, I think it adds to the fun to imagine or notice these things and it keeps my mind from wandering away from what I am actually doing, which is stepping along a path on a very cool place called Earth. Tafoni are quite captivating. I don't always see faces when I look at them and that's okay, too.

Along this trail there are a few places where you have a long view down into San Jose all the way to the South Bay. The air is a little hazy, but I think you can see the water down there in this photo.

 

This trail is all about switchbacks, winding its way down through the trees to a surprisingly pretty little reservoir. There were lots of coots cooting around near the shore where I ate my lunch and one curious, but cautious egret.

What goes down must come up, of course, but I was pleased to find out my training has paid dividends - I charged back up the switchbacks without harm, stopping only for another view to scarf a tangerine and chug some water. I learned some new stretches from Kristina (aka "Phoenix" - PCT thru hiker 2020) at Bliss Blendz in San Juan Bautista this week and I think they might be helping with my old man aches and pains. My ilio-tibial band is getting the full force of Palomino's determination and focus. S-t-r-e-t-c-h, I.T. band, S-t-r-e-t-c-h!

Peace, Love, and Mimetoliths,

Jim

#2,022 in 2022

Year-to-date: 330 miles