Friday Mods set off from the Lower Red Queen trailhead near the intersection of Ashland Loop Road and Terrace St. Heavy fog covered the hills, so it was a good day to be hiking with 14 friends. We climbed steadily past the Bandersnatch intersection and then up the hill onto the Red Queen trail.
Lower oak and maples still had gold leaves, and the red berries of madrone glistened. We had a bright emerald surprise when a green caterpillar was spotted by the trail. Fallen trees blocking the trail were an even bigger surprise. Other hikers turned around but Friday Mods were ready for the challenge.
Our hikers climbed up, over and through downed madrones and then conifers. Hiking further we found conifer trunks covered with diverse lichen and false turkey tail fungus on stumps. We continued up Red Queen to Ashland Loop Road since we didn’t want to return over the downed trees again. We walked down the road and then onto the Alice in Wonderland trail. The Alice trail declined steadily down the hill ridge. To complete our loop we hiked down the many switchbacks of Bandersnatch. We turned onto Lower Queen emerging into sunlight back at the trailhead. Total distance: 6 miles, Elevation gain: 1000’.
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3.sphinx caterpillar
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14.False Turkey Tail Fungus.8338
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Group
