Walking in the Graveyard
Hiking the SDSF/Nisene Marks Loop
Neil Wiley
In his book To Timbuktu, Mark Jenkins says, “Ignorance is the root of
adventure.” No matter how much you plan, no matter how many maps you
study, no matter how many guides you read, every hike is a walk into the
unknown. Even if you’ve been down the trail before, you and the conditions
are different.
I rode a motorcycle through Soquel Demonstration State
Forest before it was owned by the state. I traveled through SDSF by SUV on
several tours sponsored by CDF. And this last month, I trekked the eastern
sections of the forest.
I got there by driving east on Summit Road, and continuing on Highland
Way, past Radonich Evergreen Farm where the Mountain Art Guild will hold
its show in June. I stopped at the intersection of Highland, Mt. Bache and
Spanish Ranch Road, then remained on Highland for four miles to the Soquel
Demonstration State Forest entrance, just past Rattlesnake Gulch on the
left, an area now owned by Midpen Open Space but defined only by a high
wire fence. Watch closely, and you’ll see the SDSF sign on the right. It’s
one of the smallest entrance signs to ever mark state property. You turn
right off the road, cross a bridge, and travel only a short way before the
road opens to a giant parking lot. For some reason, cyclists rarely use
this lot, preferring to park on Highland.
According to many threatening signs, you aren’t to leave the trail. For
the first half-mile, you are traveling through Redwood Empire land. This
company has one of the worst reputations of any lumber company in the
state. Some call it the “rapist of Eureka Canyon.” Yet this same company
performed the last major timber “harvest” in SDSF, a parcel of timberland
purchased by California and administered by CDF. The forests are to be
used for demonstrating sustained-yield timber management, education,
research and recreation.
You walk through a gate and hike a slow grade down Hihn’s Mill Road. F. A.
Hihn once owned thousands of acres in the Soquel Augmentation Ranch, an
area of almost 33,000 acres extending from Soquel to Loma Prieta. Although
he arrived in Santa Cruz County nearly broke in 1851, he became one of the
county’s most influential people, building roads, railroads and saw mills.
He built his first saw mill in 1883. Included in the Hihn forest were
Tracts 11 and 25 of the Soquel Augmentation Ranch that later became the
Soquel Demonstration State Forest. The Augmentation also included the area
now known as Nisene Marks State Park. Together, these two adjoining state
properties occupy 40% of the total Soquel Augmentation—over 14,000 acres.
History has not been kind to the area. Logged since 1884, it is filled
with stumps, fallen logs, broken branches and debris. Death is ugly.
Although recent logging has been accomplished under better rules and
practices, the forest is slow to heal. Although many young trees provide
good cover, I still felt that I was walking in a graveyard.
At 2.3 miles down Hihn’s Mill Road, I turned left on Sulphur Springs
Trail. Although it leads uphill the grades are rather moderate, and the
trail is only 1.5 miles long. Near the top of Sulphur Springs I saw five
men cutting and splitting firewood. Although the sound of a chain saw
disturbed the quiet forest, Thom Sutfin, SDSF manager, says that removing
dead oak and madrone provides a fuel break and improves access to the
road. The area’s only heliport is at the top end of Sulphur Springs on the
Ridge Trail.
Thom had suggested turning left on Ridge Trail, then going back down to
Hihn’s Mill Road via Tractor Trail. Instead, I decided to turn right and
follow Ridge Trail for 1.5 miles to link up with the Aptos Creek Fire Road
in Nisene Marks.
I did this for several reasons. I prefer loops rather than backtracking. I
wanted to honor the runners of the Forest of Nisene Marks marathon, half
marathon and 5K run held on June 1. And who could deny a walk on a road
called Buzzard Lagoon.
Ridge Trail proved to be interesting. It is a narrow two-foot wide path
through heavy stands of small madrones. It was very quiet and appeared
relatively untouched. I met only two cyclists over the entire trail.
When I emerged out of the dark forest trail into the bright sunlight of
the Aptos Creek Fire Road, I felt like I had found a giant highway.
Although only a dirt road with occasional gravel, it seemed too wide, too
hot and too boring. It was a long walk to Buzzard Lagoon Road, a nicely
unimproved trail, where I turned left to walk down to the intersection of
Highland Road, Ormsby and Eureka Canyon.
The Ormsby sign was particularly uninviting. I don’t know why anyone would
want to walk or drive up Ormsby but the neighbors don’t appear too
friendly. I’ve noticed that people living in more remote areas are the
most protective of their privacy. I guess that’s why they live there.
The walk down Highland was a pleasant surprise. The road follows along the
east branch of Soquel Creek. It’s quiet, shady and the creek makes happy
gurgling noises. There is relatively little traffic, and you can walk in
the duff along the roadside, which is easier on the feet than asphalt.
The only low point was walking past Camp Loma. This was once a beautiful
4-H camp, complete with swimming pool, large meadows and interesting
little trails. I remember several great Loma Prieta Fire and Rescue
barbecues held there. Now it looks like a dump. Fronted by spilled
garbage, an old broken car, a truck trailer and other debris, the little
house near the road looks abandoned.
A little further along Highland, my spirits were lifted by a giant raven,
the biggest I’ve ever seen. He flew; I walked. I turned left at the little
SDSF sign, crossed the bridge and found my car alone in the giant parking
lot.
This is a good trip for cyclists, but not as appealing for hikers.
Although the trip does offer redwoods, mixed hardwoods, riparian and
chaparral ecosystems, it doesn’t offer much variety. In all fairness,
however, the south end of Nisene Marks (See mnn, December, 1999 issue,
pages 20-21) and the west end of SDSF (Badger Springs area with picnic
area and protected first growth redwoods) that I didn’t hike on this trip
are more interesting. Unfortunately, they aren’t as accessible.
Signs and maps for SDSF are excellent, and trails are well maintained.
Better access and trails that didn’t require backtracking would improve
both SDSF and Nisene Marks.
Many mnn readers have traveled through these forests. I hope they will
tell me about their experiences. |