Recap of Sugarloaf Park Hike of 12-15

A small but hardy group of seven hikers met at Sugarloaf State Park on Saturday, December 15th. It was cold, but clear. We followed the Lower Bald Mountain Trail through woods and chaparral until it ended at the Bald Mountain Fire Road. We briefly followed the road up until we turned off on the Vista Trail. This trail is aptly named. It traverses the mountain, weaving in and out of ravines, but keeping a fairly level course. It rewards the hiker with some magnificent views of the meadow below and of the Sonoma Valley to the west. We stopped at several points to refresh ourselves with the view. We then turned off on the Headwaters Trail and made a brief detour to commune with a majestic Western Maple sitting in a bowl of moss covered boulders. This gigantic tree is now devoid of its canopy of large yellow leaves so prominant in the fall, but its spread is still breathtaking. We ate our lunches there and lingered awhile. Returning to the Vista Trail we began a steep descent, which we agreed was preferable to climbing up. (The Vista Trail is, I believe, most enjoyably traveled from west to east.) Emerging on the valley floor we splashed through several small creeks and then followed the Meadow Trail back to our starting point. On this last leg of the hike we practiced mindful walking in the Buddhist tradition for a time and then returned to the parking lot. The hike took about three hours and covered four miles, a leisurely, sauntering walk through some beautiful, quiet places.

The next hike will be at Pt Reyes National Seashore on Saturday, 12/29. Details on our rendezvous point in Sonoma to follow.

Happy Holidays!