Sunday Hike at Sunset
My roommates and I took a hike on Sunday, 3 February 2013. It was the same hike up the side of a mountain that we have done before. We regularly hike this trail up to the flag at the summit, in part because it is a fairly steep slope and a good place to gain endurance. In addition, the trail head is less than 5 minutes from our front door, which makes it an easy hike to do at a moment’s notice, like on this Sunday (I didn’t know about the hike until I was running upstairs to change and grab some socks and shoes).
Taken using my Nikon D300 and an AF-S Nikkor 50mm lens
Previously, I have only posted photos from the top of this hike once we have already reached the summit. However, this time I actually remembered to take some pictures partway up the slope. You can see the flag and the summit behind my roommate as he watches the setting sun. This is about halfway up the mountain, and you can see how steep and rocky the ascent is; that is about par for the course on this trail. It can be rather difficult, and we stop often to enjoy the view and catch our breath. On the plus side, it is great for our calves and our stamina! Haha. We would like to work up to hiking Saddleback Mt. or Mt. Baldy, and so the conditioning serves to help with that goal as well.
Taken using my Nikon D300 and an AF-S Nikkor 50mm lens
On this particular hike, the sun was setting and clouds were rolling in over the ocean. The view from the summit was amazing. As I have said, the rewarding view at the summit is one of the reasons that we keep coming back to this hike. Although rocky, the summit is wide enough and flat enough to sit down and relax, while you take in everything from Saddleback to Catalina Island in the distance. Often, there is a cool breeze up there that makes the weather quite comfortable in all but the hottest of days.
Taken using my Nikon D300 and an AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm
I took this last picture right before we headed back down the trail. We had to hurry a little, as light was beginning to fail, but we made sure to stay safe and not run or do anything else that would endanger us. (Safety note: while this may seem hypocritical to say, I must advise that people always make sure to head back to the trail head with plenty of light left.) I also have to add that I like the sense of imagination that I share with my roommates. As we stared off into the distance, enjoying the reds and oranges yellows of the sun set we talked little. However, one thing that we did talk about was how Catalina Island looked like the mythical island of Avalon from Arthurian legend. The island is said to have vanished into the mist and to never have been seen again, not until the Once and Future King returns. We also commented on how, from our vantage point, Catalina looked like some legendary city in the clouds, floating out on the horizon above everything else.
Like I said, I love that we share that same sense of imagination.
A Life of Wanderlust and Contemplation 