The kid loves a good hike and this one just happens to be one of his favorites. We've dubbed it the "fire tower hike" do, mostly in part, to the now derelict fire tower that marks the trail head. From the tower's perch you can take in a grand 360 degree panorama of the San Lorenzo Valley swooping and winding its way to Santa Cruz and then back towards the enveloping blue of the Pacific. With it's lush green slopping walls of Redwoods, Douglas Furs, and Madrones, to name a few, and speckled with grey from rock formations, the picturesque canopy of the forest engulfs you nearly as soon as you set forth on the trek down. With Noise leading the pack, the trail meanders on a constant downward slop for nearly a mile before reaching a creek bed. During the summer months the creek is dry, causing Noise to gaze at us in bewilderment until someone pulls out the trusty Nalgene filled with the wet stuff. Exploration of the area has led to the discovery of a few outlying structures and a ceremonial circle of seats created out of fallen debris. We speculate that on peaceful nights the keepers of these trees rest amongst their fellow guardians on these makeshift thrones, and listen to the ancient words of the woods.