The heavy, high waters at the very beginning of the hike should've been a clue as to what was ahead.
Cute little buttony flowers are stretching to the sun.
Another sign of what is to come. I have barely started on the path and there are already signs of wash-out.
Something else is new here as well. Set up along the creek is a netting and box apparatis. This was not here last year.
And now a sure sign that the 'creek' became a 'river' for awhile. Up ahead is where the trail 'used to' be. The log is to cross over to where the trail picks up again.
And in this picture, over on the right is where the creek usually runs. The high water was too much for those tiny banks.
Looking around, it is amazing the changes the winter runoff has brought about. Nothing looks the same through here.
This picture is above the log and back on the trail.
And now, just ahead, more damage and trail wipeout!
The pictures just don't do the damage justice at all.
This section of water is not the creek. The creek is also running over on the right (out of the shot).
This picture shows what the trail normally looks like as it comes up to where the runoff has cut its way through the trail.
Flower and butterfly shots.
The state flower in bloom; the sego lilly.
Red rock country.
More strange netting and cages. I am suspecting now that the Forest Service has put these up...maybe. For what...I don't know.
The netting is quite invasive. Not sure what they are trying to capture or filter here.
There are many of them and they seemed to be spaced about 20-30 feet apart.
My curiosity is peeked only because these are brand new. They were not here last year.
More...
Another strange thing I have noticed on previous hikes is the power poles....way up here in the middle of nowhere...
And on this particular hike, I notice wire and other remnants that seems to have been yanked down out of the forest from above....with all the runoff and destruction.
As I climb up the trail I come to an area that has always been a small, stagnant pond. And it is no longer a pond. The dirt, sand has been lifted, tossed and turned into something totally different.
Normally it is very peaceful and quiet through this area of the trail, and around the bend from here the pond comes close to the trail, but instead I hear the rumbling of a waterfall. Unbelievable!!
This sure isn't no stagnant pond.
The ground I am walking on is what used to be under water...the bottom of the pond!!
Where is my gold pan!!!!
The source of the loud noise.
Pond no more.
Debris and branches piled from where the rushing water must've crashed them together.
Now HERE is where I need my gold pan!!
Absolutely hard to believe this really was a totally still pond...but it really was.
The things you see when you stop and look around.
And more pictures on the way back down.
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