Silver Falls

After work, Kyong-Mi's co-worker said she was going hiking at Silver Falls in Oregon.  She wondered if anyone was down to go, and few coworkers said, "yes." 

They all went home to change into their summer weather hiking gear, consisting of shorts and tanktops, backpacks with snacks.  Kyong-Mi took Trevor's K-Bar, a neck knife, a taser (you never know), granola bars, peanut butter sandwich crackers, pineapple juice, and water, a second cell phone as she knew she would be using one phone for pictures and the second phone could be backup in case of emergency.  She also brought rubber sandals and a hoodie.  She comes prepared for the worst sometimes. 

Kyong-Mi had never hiked in Oregon, so this was her first and she had not researched the trail.  It's a loop trail, thankfully.

Enterance to the trail head.  There were different forks in the trail but it is a loop trail, so easy to follow.

Dani, Aveline and Hannah.

The first fall they came across.

Kyong-Mi and the first waterfall

Zoomed in

Behind the waterfall

The first of a few breathers.  The water was great.

Jackson playing in the water 

A toy snake.  

They saw a few garter snakes, many chipmunks.  Kyong-Mi didn't think she'd ever seen a chipmunk in person before, so she was surprised at how small they were.  Everyone waded in the water, and it was shallow and cold.  It felt good on bare feet.

There were few steep switchbacks, but benches greeted them a few times so they could cool down and relax before finishing the loop.  The trail is highly trafficked, but has many beautiful views.

Upper Newport Back Bay

The first hill Kyong-Mi and Chris saw.
Chris' most "strenuous" hike.
It wasn't bad at all, but it was a mini-incline.

Many former coworkers and friends have told Kyong-Mi to hike at the Newport Back Bay.  It always sounded so wonderful.  The trailhead was easy to find at 2301 University Drive in Newport Beach.  Parking was on the street and the weather was sunshiny with a side of smog.

Mike did not go with Kyong-Mi on this particular hike. Beer and movies for Mike.

Since Kyong-Mi's youngest son Chris is out of school for summer break and just finished elementary school, she thought it would be a good idea to get him walking before starting middle school in September.

Despite the distractions of the planes leaving John Wayne Airport, massive piles of horse droppings, and the occasional cyclist flying by at full speed, there were plenty of animals and plants to look at. 

Kyong-Mi and Chris saw loons, horses, and turkey vultures.  It was definitely an easy hike, although Christopher and Kyong-Mi only went 1 mile in and 1 mile back, following the markers on the side of the trail.

Christopher did a great job at keeping up and being a good sport.

Desert apple cactus flower.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Mike ordered a new camera and decided to put his new camera to use.  Kyong-Mi showed him a different trailhead into the Bolsa Chica Wetlands loop.

The trailhead is at Bolsa Chica St/Brightwater Dr.

Mile Square Park - Kid's Nature Trail

Living so close to Mile Square Park, Kyong-Mi took her son Chris to the Nature Center within the park. On the Edinger Avenue side of Mile Square Park (between Brookhurst and Euclid), just after the parking lot entrance, a tunnel is visible from the street. Entering the tunnel will take you to a parking lot. Crossing the parking lot, the nature center is a gated part of property that contains a pond, plenty of trails, a Monarch butterfly garden and many flowers and plants to view. It's a very easy hike for children.

Entering the tunnel, Chris jumped for the camera.

Inside the tunnel, leading toward the Nature Center.

Pond in the Nature Center.

Chris near a "tiny house" to the left of the pond.

Cacti and Chris.

Kid's Trail (nothing remotely childish about this trail, just an average trail)

Chris and Kyong-Mi at the Monarch butterfly garden.

Kyong-Mi's hand holding a flower.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Huntington Beach Trail

Celebrating Kyong-Mi's son Chris' summer break from elementary school, she took him to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.  She parked on the Warner/PCH side and started on a bridge that would take them to the actual trail.

Chris and a seagull at the bridge leading to the trail.

Upon entering the bridge, there was a seagull.  There were plenty of birds, but the seagull stood still long enough for a picture of Chris. To the right of the trail is where the actual wetlands are.  To the left is a gated section and in the distance the Brightwater homes.  It is said the entire area were occupied by the Tongva and Acjachmen tribes.  At the ecological reserve they have cogged stones, live animals, taxidermy animals and much more information about the Wetlands.

Further down the trail, after the first resting spot on the left, there are gun mounts left from WWII.  Cacti and other indigenous plants grow there.

After the second gun mount and resting place, there is a stairway leading downward to the right, or a trail

Kyong-Mi standing on a gun mount.  

 leading upward to the left.  Taking the trail to the left will lead you near the Brightwater homes.  Along the right side, off trail, if you take the hill down, there is a tunnel near the water's edge, where many people have come and left their mark with graffiti.  Every time Kyong-Mi's been down there, there's different art work.

Chris balancing on a log, on the trail, below the Brightwater homes.  

Following the trail, will lead you to another bridge, that takes you to a trail leading back toward Pacific Coast Highway, where pumpjacks are visible.  A couple man-made hills with seating and a beautiful view is available to the left. There will be a fork in the path.  If you turn left, you can walk to another bridge that will lead you out to the parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway.  If you choose that way, leave the parking lot on foot, turn left and another path will lead you back to the bottom of the hill where the stairway is at the end of the Gun Mounts.  It's basically a walking loop.

This trail is simple, no vigorous activity, but a great view of wetlands or Bolsa Chica State Beach on the other side of PCH, and if you have a great imagination, you can find yourself wondering how the Natives lived at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.  Chris and Kyong-Mi love walking the wetlands.

Shipley Nature Center

Kyong-Mi took Christopher to Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach, CA for a nature walk.  Once entering the gate to the nature center, there is a gift shop with a garden shop on the left.  To the right are various trails, all of which bring you back through a loop around the entire center.  In the center of the park is a natural spring.  Many children come to this nature center on field trips so sometimes they have props set-up for educational purposes.  There are plenty of butterflies, lizards, celery, California poppies, hemlock, rabbits and squirrel sightings during the walk.  At the lake there are birds including ducks and coots swimming and turtles basking.

Christopher at the entrance to the trails; there is a babbling brook.

Christopher entering the trail.

Sunflower.

Bunnies, they were everywhere.

Kyong-Mi enjoying a break on a chair made from a tree stump.