Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.8 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temps at 55 to start and 65 at end, overcast, light cool wind.
A good hike today on dry trails with an overcast sky. Not many birds out and about. Vegetation is slowly beginning to die off although the trails could use some trimming. On a positive note - the final section of Tasajilla Flats that connects to the Nature Loop, had been mowed again and the trail is much easier to traverse. The same cannot be said for Nature Loop!
Of interest - about 12 - 14 years ago, during the Winter, severe Northerly winds brought an inordinately large amount of tumbleweeds into the area that Winding Snake goes through. In some cases, the piles of tumbleweeds were 8 - 10 foot tall. As time passed, the tumbleweeds broke down and disappeared. Don't know if it was due to the rains we've had or "just because" but a lot of green plants that will soon turn into brown tumbleweeds are growing. There were numerous caterpillars eating the small leaves and flowers (photo attached). Not all caterpillars were the same either - I counted at least five different types enjoying the abundant food available.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade and toilets available at the camping area along the Roadrunner Loop.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
