Remarkably hilly in places

Bold Lizard
The Honey Badger of lizards. This guy didn't really care how close you got to him. Touch his tail and it was time to high tail it out of there.
User: Austin Explorer - 4/13/2014

Location: Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area

Rating: 3stars
Difficulty: 4stars  Solitude: 2stars
Miles Hiked: 8.25 Miles  Elapsed Time: 3 hours, 23 minutes

Comments:

Coppertone and I had expected the trail closest to the lake to be relativley flat.  That turned out to be wrong, but the Rim Trail outside of that was much hillier still!

We encountered some of the steepest pitches of terrain we'd encountered in California at this point.  It was no an uncommon sight to have people weezing and gasping for air having come up a steep segment that we were about to descend.  I'm proud report that neither of us was caught that short of breath on our ascents but won't comment too much on how tired we might have been.

We did both the inner and outer loops of trails in the park, but didn't feel up to mapping all of the connector trails that shoot out like spokes on a wheel between the two.  Maybe next time!

We found it a bit odd that the rules for the park prohibit contact with the water.  Not wanting people to swim because they don't want to face the possible legal ramifications if someone drowns, I guess I could get.  But their concern seemed more towards possible contamination of the water supply given their wording.  There are thousands of fish in there doing their business.  I doubt that people running their hands through the water will cause any issues.  Coppertone wanted to go touch the water in protest, but in the end we refrained, so feel free to drink up from your tap!

Lots of hellos by people on the trail, but the friendlest being encountered had to be the small lizard sunning himself on a rock along the trail.  Normally, I might take a photo of such a lizard from a distance and take a step or closer and take another one.  Do this once or twice and he's gone.  Not this guy.  He sat right there just eying us as we got within inches of him.  Coppertone even touched his tail lightly before he scurried away.  That was one bold lizard.



Log Photos
Rim Trail View
Bold Lizard
Watch out below
Almost there
Dam, what a view!
Lake View
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