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Memorial Park (4th Hike) Legion Flat & Pomponio Trail San Mateo County, California
Photos of Hike & Haikus |
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Preface: The old-growth redwood forests of Memorial County Park have been favorite
camping grounds for generations. This popular park has trails, campsites, group camps,
a visitor center, and 499 acres to explore. Acquired by the County in 1924, this is the
system's oldest park. It is dedicated to the San Mateo County servicemen who died in
World War I. My friend drove me here for the fourth time this summer. Today we explored
Legion Flat where a giant fallen Redwood has a hollowed bark with holes on its side.
Lots of children like to play in it and around it including me. After a brief stop at
Pomponio Falls Bridge, we crossed Pescadero Road to the Pomponio Trail. This 3.5-mile trail
is not as scenic as the earlier trails along Pescadero Creek. The trail winds
along above the Pomponio creek canyon at the northwest corner of Memorial Park. Rising to
an elevation of 950 feet, the trail climbs out of the redwoods into the sunshine. At the
bench on the hilltop we had a broad vistas down the Pescadero Valley. The descent on the
narrow trails and switchbacks took us through parts of the Mt. Ellen Nature Trail till
we came back to the Rangers Station at the entrance. The hike took around five and half hours (1:42-6:20 pm).
(Bay Area Hiker;
Map)
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 1:42 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Tan Oak Picnic Area Hole at base of Redwood If you're a rabbit, squirrel, or an elf, this hole would be just perfect. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 1:49 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Tan Oak Picnic Area Gap between two Redwoods Gap between two Redwoods is just right for me to pass through for this hike. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 1:56 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Legion Flat Area: Roots of a fallen giant Redwood with hollow bark Roots of a fallen giant Redwood with hollow bark is playground for children. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:01pm San Mateo Memorial Park Legion Flat Area Giant Redwood with hollow bark Hollow Redwood bark is like a tunnnel where you could run in and out. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:07 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Legion Flat Area: Peter trying to climb out of carved Redwood window I'm not Peter Rabbit leaping out of porthole of this Redwood ship. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:12 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Legion Flat Area: Photo taken from window inside of giant Redwood Here's a view from inside hollowed Redwood looking out of carved window. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:15 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Legion Flat Area: Peter emerging out from hollow bark of giant Redwood After exploring the dark Redwood tunnel I come out to the Light. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:40 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Visitor Center at Entrance Guide Info to Hiking Trails 1 After the Creek Trail hikes, it's time to climb up on the Pomponio Trail. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 2:42 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Visitor Center at Entrance Map of Memorial Park Trails This map is familiar as we've covered half of the trails on our hikes. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 3:02 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pescadero Road: Climbing the 12-steps stairs to Pomponio Trail Twelve steps curve upward as we ascend these stairs to the Pomponio Trail. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 3:15 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Redwood tree with horse image in its trunk Is there a horse spirit in this redwood that its image is coming out? | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 3:44 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Group of Bay Trees spread out like a fan on the trail A fan of Bay Trees cools me with breeze of wind as I climb on this trail. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 4:04 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Giant Redwood with branches reaching the sky Serpentine branch of this Redwood weaves higher and higher to the sky. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 4:10 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Doorway through fallen branches of Coastal Live Oak Be careful stepping over fallen branches of this Coastal Live Oak. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 4:24 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Tree in ravine This tree in the ravine surrounded by redwoods enjoys the cool shade. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 4:40 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: View from bench on hilltop; Elevation: 950 feet After 100 minutes climbing up this trail— a treat for the eyes. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 4:43 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: View of clouds on hilltop that looks like an owl Cirrus clouds on hilltop shaped like an owl with giant outspread wings "Hoot! Hoot!". | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 5:23 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail & Mt. Ellen Summit Trail Junction: Rattlesnake warning sign On signpost of Pomponio and Mt. Ellen Summit Trail— Rattlesnakes warning. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 5:36 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Pomponio Trail: Ferns and trees on the switchback trail Long branched coastal oaks and ferns greet us as we come down these switchback trails. | |
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Sunday, September 7, 2009, 6:03 pm San Mateo Memorial Park Mt. Ellen Nature Trail: Y-Tree on the switchback trail Is this Y-Tree a tuning fork, dowsing rod, or cosmic antenna? | |
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