It’d been too long since I last trekked San Bruno Mountain’s Summit Loop Trail (3.1 miles) in its entirety. There was a Trail Closed sign for a while at both trailheads for its long, winding westside part due to one of the creek footbridges being washed out last rainy season. When I reached the shallow depression Saturday, it was a simple matter to cross it and continue on. There are two welcoming little benches partway up (first two pix). At the summit one just crosses Radio Road and heads down the north side (third pic – the north side’s viewbench). Experienced two short showers during the hike.
On the way down the north side, enjoyed first the Dairy Ravine Trail and then the Eucalyptus Trail back out to my beginning.
Had just stepped onto the inner Bog Trail (where the benches are) from the Meadow and there was the same aggressive pheasant from last time, just a little way from where I first encountered him. “Hi, how are you today?” said I. He proceeded to rush at me and attack my pants legs as before. Only this time he continued to chase me for the whole length of this part of the trail. I’d look back and he’d start sprinting after me. Then I’d look down and there he was flapping up and pecking again.
He finally got distracted at the side of the footbridge (fourth pic) where the Bog Trail starts uphill to the wider, paved Old Guadalupe Trail (fifth foto.) Otherwise he probably would’ve followed me up there too. Looked back down the Old Guadalupe and saw him a few yards away crossing the trail. Is this normal pheasant behavior, the birds attacking something far bigger than they are and chasing it a while?
I had this vision of him continuing to follow me out of the park, all that way downhill I have to go, then hopping up the steps of the #43 bus with me.
As the #43 climbed over Mount Davidson curving round the west side, saw that the Bengal stairway now has a very attractive new look. Gotta get out there soon, walk it, take pix.
First bench on the Summit Loop West
Second bench, Summit Loop West
Viewbench, Summit Loop North
Bog Trail
Down to Bog Trail from Old Guadalupe Trail
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