A brave few risked the rain to continue Shasta Chapter CNPS’ 15-year tradition of hiking to the “Top of the World” on the first day of each new year. Meeting at the Westside Trails Kilkee Trailhead, seven hikers donned their raingear and trekked through a landscape previously burned by the 2018 Carr Fire. Notably visible among the vegetation growing back was knobcone pine (Pinus attenuata), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), climbing bedstraw (Galium porrigens), and oracle oak (Quercus x morehus).
pine, Pinus attenuata, cones need fire to release its seeds. Photo © Ren Redlich.
The most vibrant of the various species found is a favorite for birds over winter, toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). Its bright red berries and verdant leaves blazed through the fog, and were being enjoyed by a large flock of American Robins who flitted about in the branches of burned oak trees. The songs of Wrentits and Oak Titmice could also be heard over the sloshing footfalls of the group.
Photo © Ren Redlich.
Photo © Ren Redlich.
Watching your step can also be worthwhile with the contrasting colors of sedimentary rock—once deep sea bottom, now a colorful striation enhanced by the rain. Large boulders of limestone, hauled in to block a road or OHVs, also adorned the path, and in it were fossils of sea life, possibly clams. The paved incline offered many occasions for us stop and catch our breath. This meant we were able to observe redbud (Cercis occidentalis), yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), coffeeberry (Frangula californica), common woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), and Sierra milkwort (Rhinotropis cornuta). Our hike leader was able to point out the differences between Lemmon’s ceanothus (Ceanothus lemmonii) and buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus). Both have light branches, but in the rain, Lemmon’s branches remain white, while buckbrush often turns a dark red.
At the top, the view was pure fog. This didn’t stop our party from celebrating with a congratulatory sample cup of wine and a Cheers! all around. We were also joined by a group of runners whose goal was 20.26 kilometers to mark the new year.
Maybe next year’s hike will be less rainy, but either way, we’ll see you at the Top of the World! (For more scenes from the hike, please see the short slideshow, below.) ~ Ren Redlich
Wet hikers taking a breather on the way up the hill. Photo © Doug Mandel.
