Casper's Widerness Park Ortega Hwy

Sunday's hike was first time into Casper's Wilderness park off the Ortega Hwy in San Juan Capistrano. We decided to join an hour guided hike with Park Ranger Andrea and a handful of other hikers. Leah joined me and Al this time. Ranger Andrea was very informative and a pleasure to follow along for an hour. I learned that hummingbirds lick the soft, fuzzy underside of Sycamore leaves and take it back to line their nests. We each checked out the leaves and to my surprise..sure enough.....soft fuzz. I never realized...........We followed her along to the prickly pear cactus. She showed us the pink buds the coyote love to eat....I never knew..........then we walked underneath the HUGE canopy of gorgeous 200 yr old oak trees and took pix of the biggest bed of poison oak I'd ever been near. I learned Native Americans used to feed their infants bits of the leaf to avoid allergic reactions later in life. And that dogs can romp all over the stuff and not be bothered...but better not bet your pooch afterwards!! I didn't know..............Leaves of three, LET IT BE! Ok I will...........Then we passed by this bush, darn didn't write down the name, the first settlers would see this bush and plant fruit trees in the area. This bush is a frost detector. If it was growing well and full, frost isn't problem in the neighborhood! They also used the flower as mini tree decor on the train sets...'cuz it looks just like a mini xmas tree!......whattya know..........Then we passed by this chalky white flower coming off another cactus and we were allowed to touch it and you guessed it....it felt chalky! Neat!.....Then we passed by a type of buckwheat bush that harvester red ants feed off of. Sure enough, a big anthill was very busy right next door. Ranger Andrea told us the Horned Toad, close to being an endangered species because kids are taking them home with them; feeds solely on harvester ants. So if you aren't prepared to supply harvester ants around the clock, leave the Horned Toad in the park! Horned Toads shoot out blood from their eyes when they are threatened! ( I just read up, on line....). I never knew..................After our most pleasant and informative hour hike, the 3 of us returned to the trail and included another loop. Three hours total was a wonderful morning for our first hike into Caspers. We shall return probably closer to fall weather. It's a fantastic wilderness park...and we saw these mtn bike trails.......OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday was TRY A NEW TRAIL HIKE DAY....(self proclaimed.)SO we did! Morgan Trailhead is off the Ortega Hwy just beyond El Cariso campground coming up from San Juan Capistrano. You swing a right turn on South Main Divide Rd; paved road :) and drive 2.8 miles to the traihead, nicely posted, a few parking spots in shade. You need a Forest Service Adventure Pass to park.

What a wonderful trail we discovered......AL had decided to try and find this trail for a change of pace, from the listed trails of our Orange County Hiking guide book.

We arrived around 9am. No one else around. A fantastic view from on top of this hill. The trailhead was well maintained, map posted and a sign in sheet a few steps in.

The trail started out under a gorgeous canopy of scrub oaks and a creek running alonside. The single trail meandered through wide openings then narrowed alongside huge boulders. We were so excited by its surprise beauty and grand trees and wildflowers still in bloom. It was cool starting out but warmed up quite a bit as we headed out into the opening, up and over a few small hills, past more boulders, until the panorama opened up with more views into the Santa Ana Mtns. Our trail was 2.3 miles to a junction that continued on to a falls or looped over to another trail that would link up with Bear Trail back to the Candy Store, on the Ortega Hwy.

We turned back at the first junction as heat was pressing in and our food supply was light. We were passed by two horses and riders coming and going. Unfortunately the horses brought biting flies with them. I'd removed my outer layer too soon and left shoulders exposed as we were heading back. The flies just about had lunch on my right shoulder as I screamed and ran trying to fight them off with my hiking poles. Now that would have been a good photo! We were close to the truck so our hike back turned into a run back....I have three welts on my right shoulder. One fly actually bit through arm protectors and drew blood, the little bastard. Nevertheless, we will surely return.....when it's cooler and we are dressed to protect! Too bad the trail does not allow mtn bikes.....it was just perfect for riding...ohhhhhhh yeahhh.....We found that teddy bear laying in the middle of the trail. I couldn't resist posing it for a wild life picture!

Finally! I made it up to Idyllwild with friends for a mtn biking week-end. The trails we rode were out of Hurkey Creek, just below Idyllwild actually, but we opted for comfort in a mtn cottage in town, while friends camped out at Hurkey Creek. The camping area is really a wonderful park, and kept clean and well maintained by the rangers. (I'd still choose the cottage; very charming, cozy and a comfy bed works just fine,TUVM!!) Three of us took a Fri afternoon ride on part of the trail to get acclimated to altitude and to give me experience before the longer group ride Sat. Oh, it was everything promised...a fantastic singletrack, gorgeous meadows, trees, trees, trees, wonderful mountain vibe and there just before heading up a hill, the biggest mountain lion prints any of us had ever seen...a big one had passed this way probably early morning! I made some noises, rang my bell and sang a happy song as we headed thattaway! Me, Al and Adam rode to Exfoliator, which was the most fun, supercool , mostly singletrack downhill I've ever ridden. It felt like surfing (I can only imagine ),as we undulated back and forth, side to side across the trail all the way back to the campsite. I hailed it as the THE BEST trail I've ever ridden. Saturday morning was even HOTTER as we returned to the same trail with 15+ friends, all spread out, heading up the trail at various speeds and groups. The start up was tough as the sun beat on us ...until we got to the top ridge and rode into some breeze. It was necessary to stop frequently under the shady pines to recoup and rehydrate ourselves. Pictures are not enough to show, to share the feeling I have as I struggle to ride up tough spots, view the beauty all around and successfully make it to the top of the hill, pedaling past all my whining! Being there, in the middle of those mountains, the scent of pines and the whisper of the wind in each tree as I pedal past, is heaven for me. I would like to have shared more pix but riding was the thing, and I kept thinking, I'll save this all in my mind, as I whizzed by. No time to take pix as I concentrated on making the switchbacks and avoiding death cookies (hidden rocks), and ducking my head from low branches. We all three stopped to allow a big (very big) rattler to make its way across the trail. You go right ahead! We hurried it along with a stone throw....carefully of course! The various size boulders were worth a pit stop and a photo! Adam took a great shot of me riding up and over a big boulder. I hope he sends it to me so I can share it! I had to make three attempts but I did it! I used it all up by the time our Sat ride was done. The best thing about the campsite was being with all our friends as day turned into night and all those amazing stars hung there right over our heads............