11 November 2015
Saddleback Trailhead to Cedar Creek Falls
(5 miles, +1,000/-1,000 feet).

Today I did a short hike with some folks from the Human Nature Group, a research group I belong to.  We carpooled to the Saddleback Trailhead, where we headed down Eagle Peak Road, an abandoned jeep trail.

It’s pretty easy downhill, but there is a junction after about 1.5 miles where there are many choices.  We decided to head uphill to Peak 1546 to check out the view.

We eventually headed back down to the junction, though it took some time because it was pretty steep and slippery

Soon we reached the upper lip of Cedar Creek Falls, which was only barely trickling because of the extreme drought we’ve been having in Southern California.

Below we could see what a pool of green water.  It looked suitably murky.

It was pretty busy down below, so we decided to stay up top and then head back.

Near the trailhead I saw something I had never seen before—a tarantula in the wild!