The title of this post is the official name of the place, but locals are more apt to just call it Sawyer Woods. “Black Diamond Natural Area” doesn’t really roll trippingly off the tongue. “Where should we go today?” “Oh, how about the Black Diamond Natural Area?” Who would say that? No one, that’s who.
For years, these trails have been a popular mountain biking area, and we have done a lot of that here. I can’t remember the last time I rode here, though, but TBG did just a couple of days ago. Recently the county has caught on to the popularity and started working on trail development, parking, and signage. There is a nice new parking lot complete with Honeybuckets where once was only a roadside pullout, but there was no sign for TBGuide to point to for our obligatory photo. Fortunately for me, he knows most of these trails by heart, since I would get turned around in here if left to my own devices, a fact that bemuses TBG.
Last week’s post ended with a vow to get out at least once weekly for a bigger hike, regardless of the weather or repeat locations. I’ve already established that this was a repeat, although we’ve more often ridden or run here than walked. And I would use the word walk rather than hike, despite the fact that I’ve made it clear in the past that hiking > walking > outside > good. That just leaves the weather, and the forecast told us that if we didn’t want a complete drenching or to get snowed on, we’d best get things done before noon.
The first photo shows the “main drag.” I don’t get lost on it, but look at it! How could I? It’s when we veer off onto the twisty-turny sides trails that things all start to look the same to me.
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| TBG finally finds a sign. |
This area has made the radar of local rock painting groups, and there is supposed to be a gnome or fairy village tucked in here somewhere. It gave us a goal to shoot for, and I had one of my rocks weighing down a pocket waiting for a good space to be hidden.
TBG spotted the first rock. He almost always finds the first one. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Hopefully this slippery bridge is on the list of upcoming trail projects.
I spotted this one (angry bird) first, and on the way back out I left mine in its place. Both this one and the first one are from Astoria, and I stuffed them in my pockets for future placement in far-flung locations.
We seemed to be on the right path to the gnome and/or fairy village, finding these [several small ornaments] perched on the trees. This was the last gnome and/or fairy-like thing we found, never locating what is said to be a much larger cache. Oh, well, we had walking left to do and other things to see. I am conflicted about these objects (and even about the stones sometimes.) On the one hand, it certainly is a lot of fun to search for and find them. On the other hand, they’re litter. Fun litter, but still.
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| natural litter |
Mother Nature throws her stuff on the ground all over the forest.
So remember a couple paragraphs ago when I was rambling on about biking in these woods and getting confused about directions? This is the same log crossing four years ago and now. We passed by the far end first on this walk, and I paused, wondering aloud if this was that log, but deciding it wasn’t. Later, we came around this side, and TBG had me take another look. Same log! I told you, without a guide or markers, I’d get lost in here.
The last rock we spotted. We left it where it was, so it could continue to share its positive message here awhile longer. [photo lost]
All in all we spent about 1.75 hours tromping around, maybe four or five miles? Not enough to explain why my right foot is killing me, certainly. Today, as I write this, it is snowing. I find that quite objectionable. It means the skiing and show shoeing places will soon be ready, and instead of dirt, we’ll have to chase a little powder. Don’t expect me to like it, though.