Pinnacles National Park

This week we spent 2 days camping in Pinnacles National Park. We thought that we had hiked all the good trails in our 3 years of going there, but we were wrong. We discovered the trail that goes along Challone Creek to the Balconies caves. It was a good choice for Wednesday as it was almost 100 degrees. We began early and it was wonderful.

 The first night is Mikes Tri Tip, 

this year accompanied by Janet wonderful 

grilled veggies and Steve's good wine selection

 Mike flutes to the birds, Quail, Turkey Vultures and...

Is that a condor?

 We were accompanied with thousands of crane flies and here 

hundreds were gathering on this bush, apparently mating.
Next day on the trail we spotted a bush full. 

                                                                                   
                                                                             

 The several water crossings were doable

 We began to get glimpses of the balconies. This is a place

 where the treasures are truly hidden

and hiking seems the only way to see them

 The trail became steep and ended with rock scrambling.

The geology of the area is amazing being

an ancient volcano, with the moving of plates

 creating splits and the same rocks moving over 

100 miles away. The Pinnacles tilted and thus did 

not erode much. There was some wonderful Rhyolite rock

 Are we still on the trail?  Yes !!

 And finally the entrance to the talus caves

formed by falling rocks.

                                       
                                                                                 

 

                                                                                 
                                                                             

                                       
                                      

 This is where we really did lose the trail.

We followed Joel and mike up the cliff.

 Only to have to slide back down on our butts !!

 A well deserved break

 Spectacular scenery

This is at the top of the caves we traveled through

 Near where Mike came across a huge rattle snake

that quickly disappeared into the brush

 Wonderful wildflowers everywhere

 

 And relaxing after

 before another great meal

Marsha's spaghetti and Janets salad

 Joel and Marsha enjoy a crossword puzzle at sunset

 And the happy campers home again