Stanley Peak
We met our Meetup group at the La Honda trailhead at Daley Ranch. We looked for other dogs but it was to be that Brandy was to be alone. As this was the first time out with this group and we didn’t know how the hikers felt about dogs, Brandy was kept under rather tight control on her leash. We took a slightly different route than on our previous hike, this time going via the Ranch House. (Image is view looking south from Stanley Peak taken on 10/2/2010 hike.)
I talked with several of the other hikers on the way to the top. Even though we started at 10:00 am, we met only a couple of mountain bikers and no hikers on our way to the peak. This was an “advanced beginner” hike so we didn’t take the short-cut by the water tank due to, I think, the narrow trail. At the peak, we stopped to enjoy the view and I started to eat my usual snack that I eat at the peak or turn-around point of a hike. After only a few minutes, I was very surprised that the group started the descent. I rushed to gather up and store Brandy’s food, my food and camera, then put on my day pack. One of the last hikers to leave said they would wait for me just off the peak. I quickly caught up with the group, carrying my sandwich to eat on the descent.
The group didn’t have our route, so our leader would stop at the various trail intersections to direct us which trail to take. Soon, we were overlooking Dixon Lake near the dam, an obvious error. The view was superb and the trail took us down the hill and along the lake. We wound around a couple of inlets, in one place narrow and slightly overgrown.
We eventually came to a paved service road and regrouped. I looked back and saw the “No Dogs” sign on the trail we had just hiked. Strangely, there was no “No Dogs” sign that we passed coming from the other direction. We continued on the service road, then slowed to discuss which way we should have gone. As a park ranger drove towards us, I just knew Brandy was going to be an issue. Fortunately, the ranger passed us by. Then, just as I was relaxing, the ranger had turned around and was coming back. She asked how we got into Dixon Lake and we explained we had taken a wrong turn coming in on the trail behind us. She said she thought were lost, as dogs were not allowed at Dixon Lake. Luckily, we received no tickets and only a verbal warning. I’m surely happy that Brandy was on-leash!