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canyonwalker"Which way to go?" is always a question at Edgewood Park. There are several trails within a relatively compact area. Just below the knob we reached at the end of my previous entry (part 1) there were basically four ways to go. We quickly ruled out two because they were basically doubling back and cutting the trip short. Of the remaining two, one went over a forested ridge and the other went around the back side. There really isn't a wrong way at Edgewood. We opted for the back side as it would be the longest route, and we had time and energy for it.
One slight minus to the trail we chose it that parts of it overlook Interstate 280. Who wants to enjoy views of an 8 lane superhighway? But it's surprisingly way less distracting than you might imagine. The roar of the traffic seems much more distant than it actually is, there are beautiful mountains beyond it, and if you turn your head slightly to the right as you walk you don't even have to see it. There are no wrong ways here.
With the spate of warm weather recently we were hoping to see a good wildflower bloom. Around a month ago we got a lot of rain... then, over the past two weeks we've had dry and warmer weather. Daytime highs have reached the 60s most days. This weather pattern triggers wildflower blooms. Alas, the flowers know something I don't... or maybe they didn't get the memo. 😅 There were some wildflowers in the park but not the cornucopia I'd hoped to see.
Well, as I said, there are no wrong ways here. There were wildflowers, just not a lot.
And speaking of no wrong ways, at another trail junction Hawk and I disagreed on which way to go.
"We have to go left here," she said.
"No, we always go right," I countered. "Going left takes us out near I-280, then loops around over a grassy hill."
In different senses we were both right. I was right about where the trails lead and that the right fork is the one we've always taken before. But why not try something new? With great weather, great views, and still enough energy in our tanks we opted to take the left fork and hike a segment of trail new to us.
We looped closer down to I-280— though, again, it didn't bother us— and then turned back to climb over the park's main ridge. The different route we picked combined sweeping ridge views, like the one above (shot with a telephone lens), with cozier areas inside forests of Live Oak.
We finished the hike by taking yet another unusual turn. At a junction where we'd normally go right, we continued straight. It was longer but we didn't care. Longer was better. There are no wrong ways when in beauty we walk.
One slight minus to the trail we chose it that parts of it overlook Interstate 280. Who wants to enjoy views of an 8 lane superhighway? But it's surprisingly way less distracting than you might imagine. The roar of the traffic seems much more distant than it actually is, there are beautiful mountains beyond it, and if you turn your head slightly to the right as you walk you don't even have to see it. There are no wrong ways here.
With the spate of warm weather recently we were hoping to see a good wildflower bloom. Around a month ago we got a lot of rain... then, over the past two weeks we've had dry and warmer weather. Daytime highs have reached the 60s most days. This weather pattern triggers wildflower blooms. Alas, the flowers know something I don't... or maybe they didn't get the memo. 😅 There were some wildflowers in the park but not the cornucopia I'd hoped to see.Well, as I said, there are no wrong ways here. There were wildflowers, just not a lot.
And speaking of no wrong ways, at another trail junction Hawk and I disagreed on which way to go.
"We have to go left here," she said.
"No, we always go right," I countered. "Going left takes us out near I-280, then loops around over a grassy hill."
In different senses we were both right. I was right about where the trails lead and that the right fork is the one we've always taken before. But why not try something new? With great weather, great views, and still enough energy in our tanks we opted to take the left fork and hike a segment of trail new to us.
We looped closer down to I-280— though, again, it didn't bother us— and then turned back to climb over the park's main ridge. The different route we picked combined sweeping ridge views, like the one above (shot with a telephone lens), with cozier areas inside forests of Live Oak.
We finished the hike by taking yet another unusual turn. At a junction where we'd normally go right, we continued straight. It was longer but we didn't care. Longer was better. There are no wrong ways when in beauty we walk.
