 |
I snapped a quick "before" picture of Elena and
Andrey before the ordeal started. Look at Elena's optimistic smile. She
didn't know what she was in for. |
 |
Along the way you pass some of these ancient electrical
towers. These have been standing a long time and look nothing like the
more modern ones we usually see nowadays. |
 |
You can read another account of the Flats here at
this link from Roy Randall. He's done a lot of hiking and has a
terrific website if you're even remotely interested in this kind of thing. |
 |
Up at the flats they have reconstructed an old fire lookout
tower. |
 |
Here's the plaque that describes the original location of
the lookout tower. |
 |
There's a nature center at the flats that has a
topographical model of the surrounding area. Andrey, Elena and I inspected
it carefully... |
 |
Elena scopes out some bug charts at the nature center. |
 |
They have a lot of other interesting exhibits at the center.
Besides stuffed animals (note the beaver on top of this pole), there's a
collection of glass insulators accompanied by a little explanatory
booklet. If you don't know what a glass insulator is then you should hike
a seven mile round trip so you can find out. |
 |
Elena and Andrey dangle their legs over the side and ponder
the expansive view from the flats. Though there's often a haze, I'm told
that occasionally it's clear enough that one can see all the way out to
the ocean. |
 |
My bunny and her brother at the end of the day. Notice
Andrey's stalewart posture compared to Elena's "God, get me to a hot
bath to soak" look. What a contrast to how the day started. As a side
note, this trip took us perhaps 3 and 1/2 hours. I've hiked it alone
in 1 hour and 40 minutes (included a 7 minute rest at the top). |
 |
On another night I snapped this picture of Andrey and Peter
(another hiking buddy) against a February sunset. It's gorgeous up there
at night. |
 |
The valley floor is ablaze with a glittering carpet of
diamonds and gold. There's no way this picture can do it justice. |
 |
Here's another of our hiking buddies. We often find froggies
hopping across the trail, both high up near Henninger Flats, as well as
down near the bottom, at the creek bed. I wonder how they survive at the
upper elevations so far from water. |
