Visit 2: Mud and Sunshine at Sugarloaf

3/2/2017
I arrived at 10 am at Sugarloaf in sunny, mild weather. Along Sonoma creek, the trails were muddy, the soil saturated. Walkways and embankments had washed away in parts, especially on the Nature trail. Several CCC, state crews, and volunteer groups were busy adjusting sandbags, putting down gravel and repairing trail damage.

Trees have not yet leafed out, but Arctostaphylos and Baccharis pilularis are in bloom. I climbed to the top of the small hill at marker 11 to view a large Quercus kelloggii.. The understory contained Umbellaria californica, Pteridium aquilinum, and fallen leaves of Q. kelloggi.

I keyed out ferns near the bridge at marker 13--Polypodium californica and Dryopteris (likely Dryopteris arguta) predominate. I will leave a walk on Brushy Creek trail for another day.

Posted on March 3, 2017 04:36 AM by laurablatt