January 24, 2018
Luci & Fox Trails from Shelf Road
6:45 am
When you start your hike before the sun graces the sky it is a startling moment when the luminous light awakens the morning. The scattering of mare tail clouds turn pink and the sky looks like a watercolor painting and when you turn to greet the trail, the Ojai hillsides are awash in a morning pink moment.
The steep climb up Luci is an adjustment in perspective. The trail is laid bare before us, we can see it's entirety snaking up toward the water tower and beyond. Fire devastation abounds but glimmers of green are taking hold in the ashes.
We are amazed at the number of trails, long hidden by chaparral, are now all visible and beckoning. The debris flows are so evident, leaving road maps that look like trails in the ash, that even non geologists such as ourselves can see that these will be aggressive debris channels with future storms. The trail signs dotting the scar of a trail kept us laughing especially "Keep your TAIL on the Trail".
The trail is barely hanging on to the hillsides and we are walking single file, humans and dogs alike, with no space for passage from oncoming hikers. It is a sobering moment on the fragileness and transience of our trails and we sincerely appreciate the ongoing work of the Ojai Valley Conservancy ground crew.
The beautiful glen that was full of sycamore trees is now a rock canyon, but we are encouraged with the baby yuccas and sumac we continue to see along the trail. Our hearts bleed for the trees we won't see in our lifetime.
Many hikers are on the trail this morning and we are encouraged by their hopefulness and positive attitudes. Everyone is getting back to the new normal.
Keep on trekking,
Beth & Laura
Bodee & Lucy our 4 Pawed Companions
If you want to help the Ojai Land Conservancy they have set up an Amazon Smile account. Just click on this link to get started. When you use the Amazon Smile link with your amazon account a percentage of your purchase goes to OVLC.
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