Since I havent posted a blog in like... half a year... I figured I might as well steal one from somewhere else. I wrote this as a trip report for a trip I read. Hope someones interested or at least appreciates the picture of the gnarly snake 
Sykes Hot Spring, Nov '09
Sykes Hot Springs is not only Big Surs most frequented backpacking destinations, but it is, in fact, one of the most popular trails in California. Two years ago, Big Surs Basin fire ravished the area. The trail remained open for a few months following the fire but closed during the subsequent rainy season due to mudflows and landslides. It took over two years, but the trail was finally reopened this October. A Redwood trip to the location was promptly set.
The hike into the hot springs is purportedly 10 miles but is likely closer to twelve. The first two miles from the trailhead climb approximately 1500 ft on a western facing chapparal slope. On a hot day, the exposure can make this climb tough. Conditions for our trip, however, were cool and close to ideal. The trail then turns upward into into a long canyon through which the Big Sur river runs. The trail is rolling, not gently but not terribly difficult, for the remaining 8-10 miles. It meanders in and out of lateral glutches alternating between cool redwood forests and exposed chaparral. There is reliable water source (though it has to be treated) at Terrance Creek five miles in.
The hot springs themselves are about 1/4 to a 1/2 a mile down stream from where the trail meets the Big Sur river. They are on the left bank (remember, the left bank is defined looking downstream!) There is a trail to them but it requires a bit of scrambling. It took our group approximately 20 minutes to cover this distance. There are three springs: two small ones closer to the river comfortable holding about 3, and one larger spring higher on the hill that comfortably holds about 7. You may find them filled with naked people when you get there. It's no easy task to find a time when a group of 12 can all go in together. We woke up at 6am to accomplish this feat, and also all crammed into the biggest spring.
A lot of people have asked about what the trail looks like after the fire. I can now report that it looks great! I was surprised to see how green and beautiful it really was. Many of the Redwoods are burned to a height of 10-15 meters but have continued growing just fine above that. The trail has a distinctly more open feel as the underbrush has been cleared out. This area is notorious for poison oak. I had feared that poison oak would be able to take advantage as a poineer species and would be worse than ever. As it turns out, there seems to be less poison oak than there has been in years past. It's very early in the wildflower season but a few early bloomers were present. In particular, we saw some milk maids, penstemon and yarrow in bloom. Vetch is getting ready to explode in the sunnier places. A morning glory type flower that I suspect is invasive is beginning to bloom. It is, unfortunately, taking over in some areas.
We found a large Santa Cruz garter snake distinguished from other local garter snakes by its matted yellow dorsal stripe and lack of greens/oranges. (Picture courtesy of CaliforniaHerps.com. Check out the external airway if you ever wondered how a snake can eat and breath at the same time.) This is a pretty neat species. It's locked in an evolutionary arms races with the Rough Skinned Newt. Some species of the rough skinned newt are thought to be the most poisonous creatures in the world (harmless if they bite you, but eat it and you'll surely die). The Santa Cruz garter snake has evolved an increasing resilience to the newt's neurotoxins. Also seen we're several California Condors--a species almost eliminated but now doing fairly well, banana slugs, western fence lizards and the like. The Big Sur river is supposedly a steelhead run for you anglers out there, but I think you'd have to walk fairly far upstream after a long hike to get to an undisturbed location.
Sykes Hot Spring, Nov '09
Sykes Hot Springs is not only Big Surs most frequented backpacking destinations, but it is, in fact, one of the most popular trails in California. Two years ago, Big Surs Basin fire ravished the area. The trail remained open for a few months following the fire but closed during the subsequent rainy season due to mudflows and landslides. It took over two years, but the trail was finally reopened this October. A Redwood trip to the location was promptly set.
The hike into the hot springs is purportedly 10 miles but is likely closer to twelve. The first two miles from the trailhead climb approximately 1500 ft on a western facing chapparal slope. On a hot day, the exposure can make this climb tough. Conditions for our trip, however, were cool and close to ideal. The trail then turns upward into into a long canyon through which the Big Sur river runs. The trail is rolling, not gently but not terribly difficult, for the remaining 8-10 miles. It meanders in and out of lateral glutches alternating between cool redwood forests and exposed chaparral. There is reliable water source (though it has to be treated) at Terrance Creek five miles in.
The hot springs themselves are about 1/4 to a 1/2 a mile down stream from where the trail meets the Big Sur river. They are on the left bank (remember, the left bank is defined looking downstream!) There is a trail to them but it requires a bit of scrambling. It took our group approximately 20 minutes to cover this distance. There are three springs: two small ones closer to the river comfortable holding about 3, and one larger spring higher on the hill that comfortably holds about 7. You may find them filled with naked people when you get there. It's no easy task to find a time when a group of 12 can all go in together. We woke up at 6am to accomplish this feat, and also all crammed into the biggest spring.
A lot of people have asked about what the trail looks like after the fire. I can now report that it looks great! I was surprised to see how green and beautiful it really was. Many of the Redwoods are burned to a height of 10-15 meters but have continued growing just fine above that. The trail has a distinctly more open feel as the underbrush has been cleared out. This area is notorious for poison oak. I had feared that poison oak would be able to take advantage as a poineer species and would be worse than ever. As it turns out, there seems to be less poison oak than there has been in years past. It's very early in the wildflower season but a few early bloomers were present. In particular, we saw some milk maids, penstemon and yarrow in bloom. Vetch is getting ready to explode in the sunnier places. A morning glory type flower that I suspect is invasive is beginning to bloom. It is, unfortunately, taking over in some areas.
We found a large Santa Cruz garter snake distinguished from other local garter snakes by its matted yellow dorsal stripe and lack of greens/oranges. (Picture courtesy of CaliforniaHerps.com. Check out the external airway if you ever wondered how a snake can eat and breath at the same time.) This is a pretty neat species. It's locked in an evolutionary arms races with the Rough Skinned Newt. Some species of the rough skinned newt are thought to be the most poisonous creatures in the world (harmless if they bite you, but eat it and you'll surely die). The Santa Cruz garter snake has evolved an increasing resilience to the newt's neurotoxins. Also seen we're several California Condors--a species almost eliminated but now doing fairly well, banana slugs, western fence lizards and the like. The Big Sur river is supposedly a steelhead run for you anglers out there, but I think you'd have to walk fairly far upstream after a long hike to get to an undisturbed location.
nymphetamine:
barely:
washington!