Trip Report

66 degrees on the coast makes for great hiking weather. Cape Mt, not frequently hiked made for an interesting hike as the group decided what trails to take and made a few discoveries. I checked this hike last fall, wonderful loop with great views but lots of ticks. Taking a chance by eliminating the area I thought where the ticks came from which eliminated the great views. Strange name for some of the trails, Scurvy Ridge, who got scurvy? We hiked on to the Indian shelter or what is left of it. It was rehabbed in 1927 by a Boy Scout troop. It needs a 21st century Boy Scout troop to rehab it for the next ninety years. We found Berry Creek campground for lunch. It is an equestrian campground but clean quite and empty except for one lone camper. No water but does have bucks. From here you lose all the elevation gained to the bottom of the canyon where you wade Berry Creek and the regain a good part of that elevation until you arrive at a junction where you have 3 choices. Go right to the great views and the ticks. Lymes disease weights heavily on everyone’s mind. Go left to the top of Cape Mt, to much elevation the leader is tired. The middle road back to cars. No escaping the elevation gain over a 2 mile stretch. The trails after lunch still has tall grassy edges and over hanging branches leader worries about ticks all the way back to cars. After a check no ticks found. Maybe the ticks are a fall thing. Talked with a few hikers from the area who hike the area frequently they have never seen a tick from these trails. A mystery. Everyone had a great time enjoying the plant varieties, the views both east and west and finding new trails that you can hike year around.