A few members of our group, including myself, had never been to Portola Redwoods, which turned out to be a vastly underrated gem of a forest. We began by visiting the Old Tree, an especially massive old-growth coast redwood, which is located about half a mile from the visitors center. Its sprawling, gnarled base is so wide—even our combined arm spans probably couldn’t wrap around its circumference. After stopping to admire Old Tree, we circled back and ascended Slate Creek Trail, which winds up a hill, to more arid sections of the forest.
An hour in and we had only crossed paths with a lone hiker and a couple of backpackers. Other times, it was just us. “It’s remarkable how few people come out this way,” Harry comments.
Soon into our hike, sounds of the forest yielded to a steady stream of conversation. Any ice, the initial shyness between strangers, quickly melted away. Our group ran the gamut of topics, from hiking and international travel, to family and work. We had come from all over the Bay: one couple from Fremont; two friends from San Mateo. I, and a father and son, drove up from Santa Cruz.
“Hiking is self-selecting,” Rolando says. “It selects people who automatically have something in common, a love for nature.”
After hiking for about an hour, we reached Page Mill Site, our final destination. Over a century ago, in 1867, William Page opened a shingle mill along Peters Creek. Shakes and shingles, made of brittle, rot-resistant redwood, were shipped to the Bay via Page Mill Road, which still exists today. Below the trail, Peters Creek splits into two slow-moving streams, which twist around a bank covered with redwood sorrel. The entire landscape is unbelievably verdant, very easy on the eyes.
“Living in the Bay, I get so upset with the traffic and noise,” one woman comments. “And then I think…we have all this!”
Standing under magnificent, old-growth redwood trees, I can’t help but full-heartedly agree.
