LANDSCAPE OF BEAUTY AND MEANING 29 



cypress which reveal their craggy footing, while through the pass to the 

 east only the tops of tall pines and cypresses are visible. Climbing up out of 

 the woods from the east, one views Little Dome, interestingly enframed by 

 The Pass with a glimpse of Cypress Headland and the open ocean beyond. 



Ecologically, The Pass is one of the most remarkable spots in the Re- 

 serve ; for here in a small area are tremendous differences in exposure to 

 sun, to wind, and to sea fog, and in soil depth and runoff, so that here are 

 to be found many species in constant competition : the two major trees, 

 large and small shrubs, and several distinct meadow types. Here also is 

 perhaps the finest specimen of mature cypress, neither crowded nor wind- 

 blown, a tree from which nurserymen have preferred to gather seed for 

 propagation. 



The other open saddle to the south of Whalers Knoll is notable because 

 of its broad sweeping views over meadows. That between Vierras Knoll 

 and the knoll to the southwest, now used for the parking of cars, is remark- 

 able for two smashing "views out" obtainable, at their best, from within a 

 few feet of the edge of the sea bluffs. Here one's eyes move from the pic- 

 turesque knobs of the Bird Rocks, viewed between pines and flower-deco- 

 rated crags, to the sudden and thrilling discovery of the gleaming white, 

 and hitherto quite hidden, China Beach beneath, wdth the surf breaking on 

 it from the pale emerald green water of the narrow granite-bordered cove. 



From the saddle, east of Vierras Knoll, one gains sweeping views of the 

 whole south shore to Sand Hill and Whalers Knoll, over a foreground of 

 meadow which is rapidly filling up with bushes and young pines. This fine 

 view, unless something soon arrests the growth, is doomed to disappear. 



The open saddle south of Whalers Knoll is fine because of its views over 

 the meadows, with foregrounds variously broken by scattered shrubs and 

 pines. The western view is terminated by the shore and the horizon, the 

 eastern by pine woods and the mountains, with a glimpse of Carmelo Cove. 



Open Hilltops 



Looking out from an open hilltop gives one an expansive and uplifted 

 feeling, the attainment of which is the principal, if unconscious, aim of the 

 majority who climb hills for pleasure. That feeling, while it is a part of the 

 uplift experienced by those who climb the hills of the Reserve, is certainly 

 to be gained in greater degree elsewhere ; and hence, those few people who 

 do climb the hills of the Reserve find other recompense. One of these is the 

 typical cover of low bushy character full of color from the yellow and 

 orange of its Ericameria and Diplacus in the spring to the summer display 

 of buckwheat. At the south end of the Reserve, perhaps the most worth- 

 while knolls to climb are those west of the park road where not only are 

 there fine flower displays but also raking views of the shore both north and 

 south, and interesting sights of Bird Rocks nearby. 



From Whalers Knoll the outlooks are various and quite outstanding. 

 First of all, from the summit, to the south and east, over a long expanse of 

 buckwheat, broken here and there by clumps of Ceanothus and a few scat- 

 tered pines, one looks out to the distant shores and islands, and over the 

 pine woods to the mountains. The foreground, here, is formed by an ancient 

 beach terrace, so that the top of the hill is comparatively flat, breaking 



Surf-battered rocks crowned with wind-dwarfted trees ofFer a striking contrast 

 to the luxuriant green walls of landward cypress margins 



