There were just two of us in the Meetup group and we ended up doing an extended hike. We started at the Old Mission Dam and hiked up North Fortuna.

Next, we hiked down to Shepherd’s Pond.

And hiked part of the Rim Trail.

Before climbing South Fortuna via the Stairway to Heaven.

Flora and Fauna

The mature fruit of the wild cucumber is around 2” long. It is inedible, but indigenous people would grind dried seeds (some sources say roots) and use the powder to stun fish.