2. Nature

Carrizo: Caliente Peak Ridge 2011

Hiking the Caliente Peak Ridge in Carrizo Plain NM
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  • The Element at the Caliente Peak trail entry. Crate in back is for Bela, who stayed behind at Sam's.

    The Element at the Caliente Peak trail entry. Crate in back is for Bela, who stayed behind at Sam's.

  • Sam Duran, at the repeater station that's about two miles into the hike.

    Sam Duran, at the repeater station that's about two miles into the hike.

  • Packs, poles, and Chrome Dome umbrella. The umbrella got a lot of use this day; it has metallized fabric that very effectively reflects sunrays, providing a small patch of cool shade that was welcome to both myself and Sam as we strolled along the trail.

    Packs, poles, and Chrome Dome umbrella. The umbrella got a lot of use this day; it has metallized fabric that very effectively reflects sunrays, providing a small patch of cool shade that was welcome to both myself and Sam as we strolled along the trail.

  • The company that made my pack, Fanatic Fringe, seems to have gone out of business. The pack, minus any contents, weighs 10 ounces.

    The company that made my pack, Fanatic Fringe, seems to have gone out of business. The pack, minus any contents, weighs 10 ounces.

  • The wildflowers were occasional this year, but still in evidence.

    The wildflowers were occasional this year, but still in evidence.

  • More tiny trailside flowers, perhaps a species of Phlox (not sure.)

    More tiny trailside flowers, perhaps a species of Phlox (not sure.)

  • A finger, for scale.

    A finger, for scale.

  • Flowers, grasses, and lichens on a boulder.

    Flowers, grasses, and lichens on a boulder.

  • Same boulder, different exposure.

    Same boulder, different exposure.

  • Pretty little exemplars of life.

    Pretty little exemplars of life.

  • A trailside boulder nearly covered in lichens.

    A trailside boulder nearly covered in lichens.

  • Closeup of the lichen-encrusted boulder.

    Closeup of the lichen-encrusted boulder.

  • Well, I thought these might be annual coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii) but I think they actually are Coast Goldfields.

    Well, I thought these might be annual coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii) but I think they actually are Coast Goldfields.

  • One of several canyons along the southwest side of the ridge.

    One of several canyons along the southwest side of the ridge.

  • Canyon and snag. The slopes were already starting to turn brown. We'd planned the hike for a month previous, but a late storm with snow and lightning had delayed our hike from the originally-planned April timeframe.

    Canyon and snag. The slopes were already starting to turn brown. We'd planned the hike for a month previous, but a late storm with snow and lightning had delayed our hike from the originally-planned April timeframe.

  • Well, my best guess is that these are Lasthenia chrysotoma (coast goldfields) or a variant.

    Well, my best guess is that these are Lasthenia chrysotoma (coast goldfields) or a variant.

  • Trailside rattlesnake, lying in wait on a smooth game-trail that intersected the path we were walking along. Yes, Sam and I jumped!

    Trailside rattlesnake, lying in wait on a smooth game-trail that intersected the path we were walking along. Yes, Sam and I jumped!

  • Tail and rattle of the roadside Crotalus viridis. Definitely one of the selected ones, as it lay silent and quiet even though we had gotten very close.

    Tail and rattle of the roadside Crotalus viridis. Definitely one of the selected ones, as it lay silent and quiet even though we had gotten very close.

  • The head of the still-motionless snake. There was a lot of negative selection pressure against rattlers that made noise over the last several decades, so the survivors now are typically silent unless thoroughly provoked.

    The head of the still-motionless snake. There was a lot of negative selection pressure against rattlers that made noise over the last several decades, so the survivors now are typically silent unless thoroughly provoked.

  • The game trail on the other side of the path. We finally poked gently at the rattlesnake and it retreated, only buzzing its rattle once it had gotten back a few feet.

    The game trail on the other side of the path. We finally poked gently at the rattlesnake and it retreated, only buzzing its rattle once it had gotten back a few feet.

  • Hiking along the trail. After our encounter with the rattlesnake, we were both using our walking sticks to poke at trailside bushes a bit more than before!

    Hiking along the trail. After our encounter with the rattlesnake, we were both using our walking sticks to poke at trailside bushes a bit more than before!

  • We found a nice sheltered alcove among some junipers for our camp. It had been a bit breezy, up to 15 mph at times.

    We found a nice sheltered alcove among some junipers for our camp. It had been a bit breezy, up to 15 mph at times.

  • Our two Lunar Solo shelters set up with back ends towards the prevailing wind. These shelters use a walking stick to support them, and weigh just over 1.5 pounds each.

    Our two Lunar Solo shelters set up with back ends towards the prevailing wind. These shelters use a walking stick to support them, and weigh just over 1.5 pounds each.

  • Sam finishing his shelter setup; he's deployed the front beak here.

    Sam finishing his shelter setup; he's deployed the front beak here.

  • Next morning, and back on the trail. Overnight the winds died, and it got down to about 44 degrees F.

    Next morning, and back on the trail. Overnight the winds died, and it got down to about 44 degrees F.

  • Low-lying early-morning fog in the valley to the west.

    Low-lying early-morning fog in the valley to the west.

  • Bright flowers glistening in the early-morning light.

    Bright flowers glistening in the early-morning light.

  • Several types of flowers, all bearing their separate colors and shapes.

    Several types of flowers, all bearing their separate colors and shapes.

  • A scraggly ruin of an old oak, with coastal fog in the distance.

    A scraggly ruin of an old oak, with coastal fog in the distance.

  • As we hiked along, the tongue of fog in the valley below retracted towards its source.

    As we hiked along, the tongue of fog in the valley below retracted towards its source.

  • Bush lupine (Lupinus longifolius (formerly L. albifrons.)

    Bush lupine (Lupinus longifolius (formerly L. albifrons.)

  • Closeup of bush lupine flowers.

    Closeup of bush lupine flowers.

  • Another view of the bush lupine. We saw other species of lupine on this trip as well.

    Another view of the bush lupine. We saw other species of lupine on this trip as well.

  • A fossil shell. The local rock is from the Miocene, which makes this fossil shell perhaps 25 million years old.

    A fossil shell. The local rock is from the Miocene, which makes this fossil shell perhaps 25 million years old.

  • A fairly large shell! There were other nearby fossils too.

    A fairly large shell! There were other nearby fossils too.

  • Strolling along the ridge. The trail is fairly continuously up and down, like the track of a roller coaster.

    Strolling along the ridge. The trail is fairly continuously up and down, like the track of a roller coaster.

  • A view southward into the New Cuyama valley.

    A view southward into the New Cuyama valley.

  • Approaching the southern terminus of the trail, which ends atop Caliente Peak.

    Approaching the southern terminus of the trail, which ends atop Caliente Peak.

  • Looking back north to Soda Lake. Usually dry, the rains this season meant the lake had quite a lot of water.

    Looking back north to Soda Lake. Usually dry, the rains this season meant the lake had quite a lot of water.

  • Atop Caliente Peak, signing the peak register. Surprising to me, this tiny notebook carried several years worth of entries; we found our previous entry from 2008 just a few pages prior to where we signed this time.

    Atop Caliente Peak, signing the peak register. Surprising to me, this tiny notebook carried several years worth of entries; we found our previous entry from 2008 just a few pages prior to where we signed this time.

  • The collapsed remains of the WWII-era observation post. Elevation of the peak, the highest point in San Luis Obispo county, is 5104 feet.

    The collapsed remains of the WWII-era observation post. Elevation of the peak, the highest point in San Luis Obispo county, is 5104 feet.

  • Sending out s SPOT location fix. Local residents were indifferent to such modern technology.

    Sending out s SPOT location fix. Local residents were indifferent to such modern technology.

  • With a truncated tail, the rock-hugging lizard probably had had a recent encounter with a larger & hungrier creature.

    With a truncated tail, the rock-hugging lizard probably had had a recent encounter with a larger & hungrier creature.

  • Gettin' some sun…

    Gettin' some sun…

  • Collapsed observation post. The two-story structure was still standing when we hiked here three years previously. Hikers then had complained that the stairs up to the second story were a bit shaky; hmmm… I hadn't tried them myself!

    Collapsed observation post. The two-story structure was still standing when we hiked here three years previously. Hikers then had complained that the stairs up to the second story were a bit shaky; hmmm… I hadn't tried them myself!

  • While we were atop the peak, nearby quail were quite vocal. Looking carefully, you may spot one near the top of this mistletoe-infested oak. Selecting "original" size will allow you to see its topknot and banded underside.

    While we were atop the peak, nearby quail were quite vocal. Looking carefully, you may spot one near the top of this mistletoe-infested oak. Selecting "original" size will allow you to see its topknot and banded underside.

  • View to south from atop the peak. A beautiful day!

    View to south from atop the peak. A beautiful day!

  • Travelling ants had smoothed a path across the foot-trail.

    Travelling ants had smoothed a path across the foot-trail.

  • A formation just off the trail. Rock power!

    A formation just off the trail. Rock power!

  • Different exposure of the rock "fist."

    Different exposure of the rock "fist."

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    Well, my best guess is that these are Lasthenia chrysotoma (coast goldfields) or a variant.
    Trailside rattlesnake, lying in wait on a smooth game-trail that intersected the path we were walking along. Yes, Sam and I jumped!
    Tail and rattle of the roadside Crotalus viridis. Definitely one of the selected ones, as it lay silent and quiet even though we had gotten very close.