Winding Through the Trees

Winding Through the Trees
            Do I take the short, steep trail that will have me huffing and puffing, but get me to the grand views I’m seeking faster? Or do I take the meandering path that winds through shady trees ornamented by hanging moss, rising up slowly through a eucalyptus grove and then to chapparal terrain?
            Comparing short-and-steep versus long-moderate-incline trail options with the same worthwhile goal at the end is always interesting. The pros and cons of each trail can make it hard to decide which I prefer as the ascending route and descending route when doing a loop hike. 
            Taking the long, slow route for the ascending leg seems like the easy choice, but that didn’t prove to be the case when climbing back up to the high Mt. Tam ridge parking spot I’d started at for a hike down into Muir Woods. The steep short descent felt easy, but a mile and-a-half into the two-mile winding, shallow-incline return trail (every turn inducing an “aren’t we there yet?” grumble), I decided I’d rather have just gone up in one powerful burst.
            In the case of Pedro Point, which has the South Ridge Trail as a quick, heart-chugging option to ascend to stunning ocean views, I concluded that climbing via the shallower, winding forest route of the Arroyo Trail, enjoying the views at the top, and taking the steep South Ridge Trail back down makes for a satisfying loop.
            This week’s Hike Notes, Pedro Point Arroyo Trail, takes readers along the shaded, tree-covered trail leading up to the grand open views that can be seen from Pedro Point South Ridge Trail and Pedro Point Bluff Trail.
            Sometimes a slower, quieter path is as satisfying for reaching a goal as a flashy, bright one. Keep putting one foot forward!
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New this week:
Hike Notes 228: Pedro Point Arroyo Trail