Pics from a solo hike on Mt. McPherson, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Mt. McPherson is the highest point in Santa Cruz County. This was done in conjuction with the Long Ridge, the highest point in San Mateo county.
To celebrate the Winter Solstice, I returned to the mountains for some summit bagging. Today my willing partner was Elaina, who was pure rhapsody on the winding tree-lined roads of Highway 9!
Up the short trail to the Christmas tree farm at the top of Mt. McPherson, the trees broke up the rays of a dawning sun.
The entrance of the Christmas tree farm. When I explained to the tree seller that, no, I was not here to buy a tree but was a CA County Summit seeker, he joked, "We are a TREE farm, not a tourist company!"
A poignant reminder of the preciousness of life: a note reading, "Climbed in memory of Bradley and John Hecox, by their father."
The note was by this marker of the U.S. Coast and Geodedic Survey, denoting the summit.
Never mind the blank expression on Felix's face; he was actually very happy today.
