09-Oct-2004 -- It only took me 20,000 miles to get here!

I turned west onto Blackhawk Road from CA-89. The road became a very good single lane dirt road upon entering the Butterfly Valley Botanical Area. I passed through a forest with lots of Sugar Pine and deciduous trees that were just starting to change color. I stopped at the small pull-off opposite the Rubble Gap sign (Picture #6) about .25 miles from the confluence point. I started up the dry streambed under heavy trees and then wandered up the left side of the hill. All of the trees tended to attenuate satellite visibility and my GPS position continually wandered – never wanting to stabilize at a single point. I looked for, but was unable to find, the cairn described in the previous visit.

Picture #1 looks west and shows a prominent tree. Picture #2 looks north and shows the density of the trees. Picture #3 looks east and shows more trees. Picture #4 looks south, down to the left is the way back to Rubble Gap. Picture #5 shows my GPS location.

When I got back to my vehicle I noticed that the odometer showed exactly 20,000 miles! Round trip hike details are: .55 miles in 0:36. Total time away from CA-89 was 1:04. Onward to 41°N 121°W!