Coe-Existing

Feeling anxious and out of balance, I needed trail medicine. It was a cool day in early May and perfect for hiking. We aimed for the Coe Ranch Visitor Center on East Dunne Avenue, very east of Morgan Hill. Geography note: Henry Coe is not to be confused with Henry Cowell, although both were ranchers whose heirs gifted their land to California. At least once a year we hike Henry Coe SP before it gets too hot. Coe SP is huge, 87,000 acres. Cowell SP,  by contrast, comprises 1,750 acres, not counting the Fall Creek area. Again, for contrast, consider that we make our home on a tidy .14 acre. Because Henry Coe SP is giant, many of the hiking trails are also jeep trails and fire roads. But our favorite trail in Henry Coe SP is just a few years old, purpose-built and gently graded for hikers, and an all-round awesome trail. Introducing the Flat Frog Trail!

The Flat Frog Trail connects the Fish Trail to Frog Lake. It is well-graded and nearly flat, hence the name. We like to hike a loop, going along a steep fire road to Frog Lake and ambling along easy Flat Frog to come back. Other than a few mountain bikers near the trailhead, we saw no one. At Frog Lake, JG was observing interesting red-wing blackbird behavior. Two were warbling their bosun’s-whistle calls and circling the lake, perching alternately on a branch at 3 o’clock and then a branch at 9 o’clock. JG held his position at 5 o’clock and watched. The birdcalls reminded him of the sounds of his boyhood in upstate New York. Then I saw a reason for the blackbirds’ calls. I had startled a Golden Marmot, who was briskly retreating away from the rushes next to the lake. Golden Marmots were previously called Yellow-Bellied Marmots, but they lobbied for a more dignified name. Next generation will reclaim, normalize, and celebrate Yellow-Bellied and wear the label proudly. Marmots are herbivores, but this one was large enough to have been perceived as a threat by the much smaller blackbirds. I was sorry I wasn’t quick enough to take a marmot photo, but wildlife sightings always gladden my heart. Here’s JG at Frog Lake:

Wildflowers were varied and plentiful along Flat Frog. The creeklets that ran in March were dried out in April. The creek crossings, or water features as we call them, were too easy. The poison oak was shiny and luxuriant.  We enjoyed the views to the south of rolling oak woodland. Last year JG and M mounted an expedition into this part of Coe SP from the Dowdy Entrance north of Highway 152/156.They received special permission to drive deep into Henry Coe SP on a Welcome Visitors Day. Usually the Dowdy Entrance is closed. Wildlife sightings reported then were some deer, turkeys, and a coyote. A good time was had, and I stayed home.