Little Pine Spring

One of the many aspects I like about the Santa Cruz Trail its scenic 3000 foot elevation gain up to Alexander Saddle below Happy Hollow. Great training for Sierra passes. Also let me mention, the trail is in great shape, thanks to the many volunteers who have been chipping away at it since the Zaca fire. Even the bicyclists have helped, since this is a very popular downhill single track run, and their presence has kept the encroaching chaparral at bay.

At the beginning of my one week Christmas holiday vacation, I had a two day window of opportunity to get an overnighter in, and put some of my backpacking gear to use, especially the wood burning stove. I recently read that the side trail to Little Pine Spring had been cleaned up. I have never been able find it because the thick grass quickly overgrows the trail and the Zaca fire added to the chaotic appearance and weedy growth to the area. On my last attempt, I tried to cross the canyon bottom too soon, and an impermeable wall of oak sent me back to the main trail and on to Santa Cruz Station. 

After purchasing the Adventure Pass for my parking at the little kiosk before the river crossing, I was at the trail head (along with dozens of cyclists and boy scouts) and on my way, my pack weighing in at about 18 pounds. Nice and comfy for an overnighter. The trail was shaded as a result of the low winter sun angle so it started out rather chilly, enough to don a windbreaker which was soon shedded after the sun finally found the trail. 

As I reached the upper trail just below the saddle, the cyclists where on the trail after taking the road to Happy Hollow and on their downhill single track run back to the trial head at Upper Oso. After I crested the saddle, I had it all to myself. The trail on the backside was just reworked and in great shape, much better than it was on my last visit.

By mid afternoon, I found the Little Pine Spring campsite and settled in to its inviting fire ring, crickity table, and welcome seclusion.

I set up the tent (Big Agnes UL Fly Creek 2), first under the shade of a big Oak that survived the fire, then after a quick nap, moved it closer to the fire ring and table.

I quick exploration of the camp revealed the spring trough and remnants of an ice can style fire box that was the fire box of choice when these sites were first developed.

The weather was perfect, not a breath of wind, nor the incessant buzzing of gnats trying to fly into the facial orifaces.  Perfect for simply hanging out in camp and relaxing. Eventually I got around to breaking out the Bushbuddy wood stove. The fire restrictions had been lifted so time for some old fashion fire time!

I collected wood for the stove and the fire ring, making sure there was oak bark in the mix for the stove, since steak was on the menu for the evening supper.

A meaty filet mignon, flour tortilla, and a cup of green tea. I dubbed it my "LosPadres taco".
2nd course (not shown) was refried beans on another tortilla.

After I finished this wonderful meal I cleaned the fire soot from my pot using the nylon storage bag for the stove. As you rub the nylon over the bottom of the pot, the soot falls between the mesh and soon the bottom has a nice hardened black patina.

The evening fire helped with the cool chill of the evening, but it never got below freezing. In fact, I brought my Western Mountaineering Veralite bag and was almost too warm. I think I would have been just fine in the Valandre Mirage, my summer bag.

The next day was a carbon copy of the day before, the  wonderful  sun lit mountain air and a perfect stillness in the windless conditions. A perfect start to my Holiday and a nice way to end 2013.