2023 Hike 1 Day 1

 The kickoff hike for 2023 involved return to the site of last years kickoff hike, with the differences being 1) A month earlier; and 2) Entering at the more southerly entrance.  Another difference this year was that there were three of us, not two:  myself, The Outdoorsman, and the Outdoorsman's soon to be son-in-law, who for various reasons we will refer to as The Brit.

Leaving the parking lot, the hike pretty quickly started an ascent, which would come to be the theme of the day.

This is an example of one of the many oak trees we passed.  

Continuing to climb, one begins to get some amazing vista views.

Thanks to be a month earlier (and a great deal of rain), the wildflowers were much more prevalent than last year, and everything was quite green.

At some point the path dumps off into a series of roads that run along the ridges that make up this park.  Long views everywhere one turns.

This particular rock outcropping (and its accompanying wildflowers) was completely different from all the soil around it.  No idea why it was so different.

Looking back towards the declining sun.

Our home for the evening. We got there early enough to get the pick of the campsites and set up camp along the dam portion of the lake.  Dinner was a sort of Frito-chili pie:  minute rice, dehydrated refried beans, cheese slices, and Fritos.  Just the thing after a good 8 mile hike.

As the sun went down, the air filled with the sound of coots, frogs, and owls.