Tuesday, May 1. I started with a long, rough, and dusty drive to China Camp on the Tassajara Road.

Before hitting the trail, lunch was at the China Camp Campground. Nobody here.

The trailhead.

On the Pine Ridge Trail.

On the Pine Ridge Trail.

Phacelia douglasii (Douglas' Phacelia.) In 2012 I identified this as Nemophila pulchella (Eastwood's Baby Blue Eyes). When I returned in 2018 and saw the same plant, I concluded that identification was not correct.

Nemophila menziesii. Baby Blue Eyes. With some miner's lettuce behind.

Salvia columbariae. Chia. These were very common up here.

The Church Creek / Carmel River / Pine Ridge Trail junction.

On the Carmel River Trail.

One of many sandstone formations near Pine Valley. Note the goldfields at the lower right. I only saw them here.

A first view of Pine Valley: Jack English's cabin and more sandstone walls.

The Carmel River near camp in Pine Valley.

After dinner I walked the trail down the Carmel River to Pine Falls. Horrible, rough trail. Nice river. Nice pools. But I gave up just short of the falls.

Tuesday, May 2. My camp was just past the trail junction, a bit above the Pine Falls use trail. Frosty this morning in the lowest spots.

Into the fenced portion of Pine Valley on the Carmel River Trail. This morning, I will day hike down to the Round Rock Camp, about a 9 mile round trip.

Jack English's cabin. As far as I can tell, he wasn't around.

Pine Valley.

Pinus ponderosa. Pine Valley.

Hesperoyucca whipplei. Now past Pine Valley on the descent to Round Rock. This was the only open yucca I saw on the trip.