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Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Aptos, California
Photos of Hike & Haikus |
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Preface: Stanford Green Library is closed on Sundays during Intersession (August 16-September 20),
so my friend took me hiking this Labor Day weekend. We went to Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos,
my first time there. Twenty minutes before arrival, we made a rest stop at Anna Jean Cummings County Park
(461 Old San Jose Road, Soquel). What struck me here was the giant blue balls rolling down the hill.
The art is called Skyballs by Steven Gillman and Katherine Keefer (2001). Because of the Lockheed Fire
in the Santa Cruz Mountains (August 12-17, 2009) that spread smoke in neighboring areas, we delayed
our hike at Forest Nisene Marks until now. Due to the current California fiscal crisis, they increased
the fee for parking to $8. This Park contains over 40 miles
of rugged semi-wilderness hiking trails rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more then
2600 feet. The park was named for Nisene Marks, a passionate nature lover and mother of a Salinas farming
family that purchased the land from lumber companies who clear-cut the redwoods during a 40-year logging
frenzy (1883-1923). This land was donated to the state by the Marks family in 1963. The epicenter of the
October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was in this park. A map signpost
near the entrance gave guides to the six trails— Big Loop, Historic Loop, West Ridge Loop,
Loma Prieta Grade, Porter Loop, and Old Growth Loop. We decided on the last and easiest trail
via the Split Stuff Trail. The highlights of today's hike were the Fern Grotto with its artistic
canvas of Nature, the scenic bridge across Aptos Creek,
and the Advocate Tree in Marcel's Forest that's 253 feet tall, 45 feet in circumference and over a millenium years old.
The hike took almost five hours (1:55-6:45 pm).
(Wikipedia;
Map; Lower Trails)
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 1:30 pm Soquel, Anna Jean Cummings County Park "Skyballs" by Steve Gillman & Katherine Keefer Rest stop on way to Forest of Nisene Marks Four sky-blue balls roll gently down the sloping hill caught three of them here. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 1:55 pm Aptos, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Sign at Ranger Station at the entrance Missed photo of signpost— shot this metal plaque on the Ranger Station. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 2:00 pm Aptos, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Map Signpost of various trails with photos Old Growth Loop Trail seems the easiest to take today to the Twisted Grove. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 2:38 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Split Stuff Trail signpost toward Aptos Rancho Trail On the trailhead to explore the Old-Growth Loop Trail for high adventure. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 2:45 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Redwood stump that looks like altar or Devils Tower Redwood stump looks like an altar with surrounding trees lined up in prayer. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 2:52 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Goosepen tree stump with Platonic Lambda shape Goosepen to protect farm animals but Lambda to preserve the Soul. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:00 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Big-Leaf Maple at hill's bottom looks sculpturesque Big-Leaf Maple tree at hill's bottom looks like a "tuning fork" sculpture. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:11 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Fern Grotto covers hill like an artistic canvas Jackson Pollock's splish-splash art can't compete with Nature's flowing abundance. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:17 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Fern Grotto Aptos Creek mirrors trees and sky This creek can make quick sketches— floating images of trees and the sky. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:20 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Aptos Rancho Trail: Fern Grotto Sunlight on trees of Aptos Creek Flood of sunlight flows down a canopy of trees into Aptos Creek. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:33 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop Trail: Dead stump with "see-through" to young Redwood Rabbits can use this stump for hideaway or escape from its predators. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:48 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop Trail: Sunlight on patch of ferns by Aptos Creek Sunlight is bathing these sword ferns so each blade is polished for battle. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 3:55 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop Trail: Giant Redwood log with horns on side across the creek Fallen Redwood log with sharp horns on its side guards over Aptos Creek. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:00 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop Trail: Arched branch by Wooden Bridge over Aptos Creek This arched tree branch by the creek bridge is a gateway to sacred waters. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:05 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop Trail: Arched branch and fallen log over Aptos Creek Straight fallen log and arched branch in creek— pair of Pythagorean opposites. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:08 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Aptos Creek Bridge Mirror reflections of sun & leaves Sun refected in creek— marriage of fire & water as leaves sing and dance! | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:10 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Aptos Creek Bridge Giant rock sits in silence by creek This giant rock sits still by the creek bridge meditating on the waters. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:16 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Redwood roots sculpture with window to creek Nature formed sculpture from dead Redwood roots with window views to the creek. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:21 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Trail by bridge Young tree growing from dead stump Here's Nature's miracle of life from death— Are these opposites the same? | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:25 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: View of wooden bridge and sunlight streaming to trail Sunlight streams into the dark Old-Growth Loop Trail after crossing the bridge. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:44 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Advocate Tree, 45 feet circumference, 253 feet tall, over 1000 years old Another view of Advocate Tree Tallest tree in the park— Advocate Tree is over one millenium old! | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:50 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Advocate Tree, 45 feet circumference, 253 feet tall, over 1000 years old Advocate Tree soars higher— its sword-tip thrusting a hole in the sky! | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4:55 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Inside Advocate Tree's 18-feet Goosepen looking outward— Platonic Lambda shape of the soul Inside Advocate's Goosepen— I'm in a cathedral looking at heaven. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 5:00 pm Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Advocate Tree's 18-feet Goosepen has the shape of a Mandorla No wonder I felt holy inside this Goosepen— it's a Mandorla! | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 5:16 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Top of Redwood that I anoint as "Ring Around the Rosie Tree" Crown of this Redwood is like a lion's mane— roaring loudly to sky. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 5:20 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Old-Growth Loop: Marcel's Forest Redwood with Mandorla in bark A Mandorla in the bark of this giant Redwood— I pause for a prayer. | |
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Sunday, September 6, 2009, 5:38 pm Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Off the Old-Growth Loop Trail: Young Palm Tree on off-beaten trail Another look at Palm Tree as we tread back to the Old-Growth Loop Trail. | |
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