|
El Corte De Madera Creek Methuselah Tree & Methuselah Trail San Mateo County, California
Photos of Hike & Haikus |
|
Preface: Stanford Green Library was open on Sunday September 27, 2009 for
the Fall Quarter. With the weather warm in the 90's, my friend suggested
visiting the Methuselah Tree which we saw in 2007 on Skyline Boulevard.
Since I saw the 1600 year-old, 225 feet tall, 13 feet wide Largest Tree at Memorial Park
(August 16 & 23, 2009), and the 253 feet tall, 14.3 feet wide
Advocate Tree at Forest of Nisene Marks Park (September 6, 2009),
it would be nice to revisit the Methuselah Tree and compare it with these giants.
So I sacrificed my library computer hours to take another look at Methuselah Tree—
14 feet wide, 225 feet tall, 1800 years old. It seems larger than the other giants.
We had hiked at El Corte De Madera Creek
last summer (September 7, 2008) from CM04 gate.
After visiting Methusaleh Tree for half an hour (2:45-3:16 pm), we took the narrow
Swett Road and Starhill Road to the western entrance at gate CM08. Hiking on the
Methuselah Trail was downhill going in and uphill coming back around
two and half hours (3:40 pm-6:00 pm). Afterwards we saw some beautiful clouds on
Sand Hill Road east of Highway 280. My friend stopped in the parking lot
of Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel so I could take photos of "bird clouds" and
the half moon at sunset. Before dropping me off at Stanford
Green Library after 7 pm, we heard one of my favorite music
on KDFC 102.1 FM— Gordon Hunt playing Domenico Zipoli's
Elevazione (Ascension). This elevating tune
composed by a Portugese monk expressed perfectly my mood
for today's experience— seeing the Methuselah Tree's
ascension to the sky, hiking along Methuselah Trail, and
seeing the giant bird clouds at sunset.
Below are my photos and haikus written the following day.
(Bay Area Hiker;
Park Map)
| ||
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:45 pm Skyline Boulevard, San Mateo County Near El Corte De Madera Creek Gate CM02 Methuselah sign near highway entrance Revisiting Methuselah Tree, this giant that's 1800 years old. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:48 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Peter stands by 1800 years old Methuselah and thinking of Plotinus (204-270 AD) Standing by Methuselah who was born at same time as Plotinus. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:49 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Methuselah Tree soaring to the sky Methuselah's head is like a lion's mane soaring higher to the sky. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:53 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Many face images in Methuselah's bark How many faces can you find in Methuselah's bark? I see three so far. | |
|
| |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:55 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Peter standing under Methuselah Tree I stand by Methuselah to receive his gifts of truth and goodness. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2:59 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Guardian Douglas Fir by Methuselah Tree Douglas Fir by Methuselah is "Guardian Samurai" protecting his master. | |
|
.jpg) | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:04 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Methuselah Tree reaching for the sky Methuselah Tree soaring to the blue sky to drink more light from the sun. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:15 pm Skyline Boulevard, Department of Water Guardian Douglas Fir by Methuselah Tree Douglas Fir with sword-like branches thrust forward to protect Methuselah from harm. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:42 pm Starhill Road & Native Son Road Sign near CM08 Gate of El Corte De Madera Starhill Road sign came out so faint that it was redone in Photoshop. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:44 pm Starhill Road and CM08 Entrance to El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve El Corte De Madera west side entrance via CM08 Gate. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:53 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Tree curving to sky One tree shoot straight up like an arrow, the other curves and weaves to sky. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:58 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Baby Madrone Tree A baby Madrone on the Methuselah Trail— the youngest I've seen. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:03 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: "Old Hag" tree roots Place a circle of light around you to avoid the Old Hag syndrome. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:14 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Signpost to trails Methuselah Trail winds down to the creek so we need to climb back up. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:40 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Second Wooden Bridge Second wooden bridge is also shallow with sight of ferns in the flat. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:45 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Sword ferns Patch of sword ferns shaded by redwoods sway softly in the autumn breeze. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:52 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Trees to the sky Tall Douglas Firs soar high to the sky dancing in circle of sunlight. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 5:03 pm El Corte De Madera Creek Preserve Methuselah Trail: Clouds over trees White heron cloud flies across the pale blue sky as the redwoods look on. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 5:50 pm Starhill Road near CM08 entrance to El Corte De Madera Preserve Friend spotted this Arched Tree Friend spotted this gem and took photo of arched tree with two upright branches. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 6:37 pm Sand Hill Road east of Highway 280 Photo of half moon and clouds from car Took photo from side window showing half moon and clouds above trees and hills. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 6:42 pm Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park Hotel Rosewood Sand Hill Parking Lot Bird Cloud in sky near sunset Beautiful orange sunset with a giant bird cloud spanning its wings in sky. | |
|
 | |
|
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 6:44 pm Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park Hotel Rosewood Sand Hill Parking Lot Giant Hawk Cloud above the sunset A giant Hawk Cloud soars over sea of sky with the glorious sunset. | |
|
 | |
| Top of Page
| Nature Walks 2009
| Nature Walks 2008
| Haikus 2009
| Monet Haikus |
| Poems 2009
| Poems 2008
| Basho on Poetry
| Poems Index
| Poetry News |
| CPITS
| Poetry & Power
| Poetry Resources
| Books
| A-Z Portals
| Home |
| © Peter Y. Chou,
Wisdom Portal P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email:  (9-28-2009) |
 |