West Fork May 15
Spring growth in the deep, narrow canyon of West Fork, to the end of the public trail and a little beyond.
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WEST FORK
Final hike of the season!
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First, acrosss Oak Creek on the footbridge
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Into the apple orchard
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The root cellar for the old ranch
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The chicken coops
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Spring flowers are still out
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Despite the wet year, the water is still a little lower than normal
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Spring ferns are out
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There are thirteen stream crossings on the public trail
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A little slippery right here
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A slab fallen from above
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The vertical stripes are desert varnish, not bedding
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A dripping grotto that nurtures moss
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The end of the public trail
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We see that we can go a little farther
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This is as far as we can go today
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Ripples in the still water, reflected
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Back at the start of the trail, we take a short side trip to the confluence of the fork with Oak Creek, which runs left to right nearest the house
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