Salmon in Papermill Creek

Shafter Grade morning

February 1, 2014

Map that inspired part of today's walk: http://www.ridgetrail.org/index.php/samuel-p-taylor-to-loma-alta

We did see salmon in the creek in Samuel P. Taylor Park. They were building their redd in the streambed under the Shafter Bridge. But that was at the end of our day!

We started our hike early Saturday morning in the cold air (32 degrees F). Steep Shafter Grade warmed us up and we were back on the Ridge Trail in the sun atop Bolinas Ridge.

Not long after we started on the ridge, a long view north revealed Tomales Bay, the water glistening between Inverness Ridge and Black Mountain. 

We passed a craggy, grey lichen-encrusted rock that David and Molly assumed correctly was graywacke.

The trail follows the ridge for 4 miles through present day grazing lands. Homesteaders planted eucalyptus and fruit trees on these dairy ranches, which are the only remnants of their time spent here.

We then dropped down to the railroad grade that runs alongside Papermill Creek in Taylor Park for the remainder of the hike. Cool and damp air surrounded us in this shady redwood and bay forest. 

We finished the day gazing at the four salmon, who by magnetoception have returned to where they hatched in this exact spot to build their redd. They looked ragged and scarred, but still vigorously swam and swished their way up the shallow rocky creek. 

Click here for more photos of our great day!