Tag: backbone trail

Russula cremoricolor

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I was sketching this hefty orange mushroom when a guy came along the trail and told me it was a Russula species, probably Russula cremoricolor. He’d taken a little nibble from it when he had passed earlier. Allegedly, for this genus, if it doesn’t taste spicy, it’s edible. I didn’t try it myself.

At the end of the hike, there he was again at the trailhead, sitting in a camp chair by his car, enjoying a snack. He pulled out a big bag of chanterelles that he had gathered on the trail, and offered me a couple to bring home, which I gladly did. He offered advice on how to clean and cook them, which I’m about to do now. Mmmmmmushrooms.

Paeonia californica

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Easy part of the Backbone Trail. Glad to see the native peonies emerging!

Paeonia californica, a perennial herbaceous plant reaching a height of 35–70 cm, undergoes subterranean retreat during the summer and reemerges with the onset of winter rains. Its flowering period primarily spans from January to March, followed by the development of two to five fruits per flower.

Indigenous to southwestern California and northern Baja California, California peonies thrive in dry hillsides within the coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities. Frequently found as understory plants, they grow up to an elevation of 1500 m.

backbone #1

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Over the next few months, I’ll be hiking the 67-mile/108-km Backbone Trail in easy chunks. Annette and I started with section one on New Years Day, Will Rogers to Trippet Ranch. It was a gorgeous day, and we were tired and happy at the end. A great way to start the year!