Mill Creek

April 4, 2009
On Saturday April 4th I joined the Kern River Valley Hiking Club for a wildflower hike.  Originally we were going to hike on the north side of the Kern River on the Dahlonega Creek Trail, but found the wildflowers there already past.  So we went up the Mill Creek Trail, which is largely on a north-facing slope, and the wildflowers there were out in force.  I had hiked this trail with this group before, but enjoyed it even more this time because of the plethora of wildflowers :)  Also last time I only got as far as Indian Pothole Rock, but this time felt stronger and continued up to the saddle.  And it was very nice seeing so much green after spending 2 weeks in the red rock desert...
The Kern River on a very peaceful morning

Mill Creek Hike in 2007
Photos from 2007 Fishing Derby
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Chia Salvia columbariae, Blue Dicks, and Phacelia bloom on a hillside above the Old Kern Canyon Road
Phacelia Phacelia mutabilis
Owl Clover Castilleja exserta
more growing in one spot that I've ever seen before!
Owl Clover and Popcorn Flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
If you look closely this entire hill is covered in Owl Clover
Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum
Foothill Poppy Eschscholzia caespitosa
Cream Cups Platystemon californicus
Indian Pink Silene californica
Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii
Buttercup Ranunculus sp.
Baby Blue Eyes carpet a hillside
Happy California Cow
So what was Todd doing while I was hiking?  Trying to catch a $20,000 fish in the Lake Isabella Fishing Derby...  needless to say he didn't catch it, nor any fish for that matter :p  But we had fun down at the lake all weekend.  Here I am with our friend Rhonda kayaking the lake on Sunday.