Saturday, May 4. The big view out from camp. There's been some growth in the last year, but Strawberry Valley is still very much a firescape. Let's come back here in about 5 years.

Today's a layover day. I'll hike the South Fork Trail to Rainbow. Reports are that it has had some work and, were it not for something like 30 blowdowns, would be quite passable. The first obstacle: the slide area just above camp. This has always been an iffy spot. Far less risky today than 2012. Far less clean than 2016.

A view down from the saddle. Excellent trail ahead. Lower down, the trailbed gets a little sketchier but then returns to good condition down by the South Fork. Deadfalls were an issue all the way, unfortunately, although only 10 or so presented any real difficulty.

Calystegia malacophylla (woolly morning glory). Fewer wildflowers than last year, but there were big swaths of these on the ground.

Helianthus gracilentus (slender sunflower). Some last year; some now.

Whipplea modesta (modesty). Not real showy, but these were here last year and have expanded. (Note the flagging too.)

Eriophyllum confertiflorum (golden yarrow) was really widespread one up here -- more so than last year -- but are still mostly in bud now. What's missing? No chaparral snapdragons or Santa Lucia Phacelia (although I saw a few plants of the former). Fewer paintbrush and blue dicks.

Sedum sp., most likely S. spathulifolium (Pacific sedum). Just on one hillside ... but all over the place there. I'm not sure I got far enough down last year to see this hillside.

One of the small stream crossings. Before reaching the South Fork itself, the trail is a thin but easily followed path, if one with lots of PO to dodge and the occasional blowdown obstacle.

South Fork Camp.

The South Fork of the Big Sur River. The trail crosses it five times: easy wading. There's more of a trail here than higher up.

Abies bracteata (Santa lucia fir). There's a complex and interesting forest down here. In the picture, there are also maples, bays, madrones, and ...

Calocedrus decurrens (incense cedar).

Calocedrus decurrens (incense cedar). Quite large ones, although they tend to be thinly clad. While not exactly prolific, there were more here than I've seen elsewhere in the Santa Lucias. (Oaks too, as at right.)

Viola ocellata (western heart violet) appeared in several places along the South Fork between South Fork Camp and Rainbow Camp.

Down to Rainbow.

Rainbow Camp hasn't changed that much since I stayed here in 2011, although I think the old table has decayed just a little more.

Heading back: a nice view of the South Fork valley and some Santa Lucia firs.

Delphinium nudicale (red larkspur). The forest is more a home to violets than delpiniums, but these were in an opening. Quite a stand of therm.

The alder lined South Fork, on a picture taken in the middle of one of the crossings.

Probably a spotted tree borer beetle (Synaphaeta guexi). On a Santa Lucia fir.

And back to my Strawberry Valley Camp. The tent at the far left is under the big live oak, just as I've placed it in previous years.

The Black Cone Trail sign has seen some wear, but it's hanging in there. The vegetation, on the other hand, is still feeling the hit from the Soberanes Fire.

Sunday, May 5. There are strawberries in Strawberry Valley, but these days most are down a ways from camp. This was taken on the hike out. (Before the fire, they were more common near camp.)

But what that trail is really notorious for are the wild roses. Today the path was clear. In the past, it could be a prickly passage. The prickles say this is Rosa californica (California wild rose). The pink balls are some galls.