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| Hiking | 8.20 Miles |
1,118 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.20 Miles | 5 Hrs | | 1.64 mph |
| 1,118 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I woke up that morning feeling like an all day adventure. The Indian Ruins had been on my radar for a long time, so I decided to go there, even though I was alone. I reread the proverbial "Guide" on the hike for about the 10th time while I ate breakfast.
Usually I have pretty good map reading skills, but I didn't realize how far it was to the trailhead, or how much time it would take to get there. (I would have known, if I'd have been hip to this site then.) Even in conversations with folks who'd been there nobody mentioned the drive in. The scenery was so beautiful I had to take my time going up, but didn't make it to the trailhead until 11:30.
I knew it was rated a 4 hour hike, so decided to go for it, with enough time to make it out before dark. Soon after departing the overflowing parking lot, the trail decended on a pretty good grade, another fact I didn't know. I don't like hiking down first. I balked and threw a fit for about the first mile, but kept going anyway. In some places the trail is lined with manzanita, one of my favorites. The first time I saw manzanita was in Big Sur, on the way up to a mountain top I flew off, where I soared wing tip to wing tip with a Red Tail Hawk. That experience was so strong in my mind, I could almost smell the salt air.....so I got a better attitude about the hike.
A couple young boys came up the trail towards me about then, too young to be alone, so I stopped to talk to them. They were with a Boy Scout troop that had camped out overnight near the ruins, and said the rest were coming not too far behind.
I had hoped to find Reavis' grave, but the trail turned before I got there. The walk along the streamside was awesome. The sycamore trees were in Fall colors, and the dank smell of rotting leaves permiated the air. It was about 1.5 miles until I saw any more troop members, so I let them know the two were way ahead. They came out in groups of 2 to 10 for the next mile.
Two men that were hiking out asked me if I had someone coming down the trail behind me, then looked at me like I was an idiot because I was there alone. Oh well, after they noticed maggie on my hip they decided I'd be okay after all, and beat it.
The ruins were awesome. I ate lunch down below, and then went up to look. The upper room was a little too risky for me, so I didn't get to see it, much to my chagrine. It was still cool to go into the lower ones, and look at the view they had, trying to imagine how it was the same, and how it was different then.
My reverie was short lived, as I knew it would take a while to get back out, UP. I kept a good enough pace on the way out that I was able to go the distance without stopping for more than a drink. I was surprised it wasn't a more difficult climb after my attitude on the way down. Now I plan on doing this hike again someday, hopefully when the stream has water.
The sunset drive back out was incredible! |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
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| Life is a journey, not a destination. |
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Route Editor
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