Gwyndolyn Holtmeyer

October 11th 2004

ENGL 134-16

Dr. Marx

Stairway to Heaven

It is a sunless morning shrouded in mist. The clouds look ominous with the threat

of rain. It is quiet, for no creatures are awake yet, not even the hikers. The air is crisp and

smells fresh after a night covered in the ocean fog. A Eucalyptus grove stands at the trail

entrance with a deliciously pungent greeting that carries through the air. Along the trail

as the foliage gets thicker, it is evident that Mother Nature knows the autumn season has

arrived. Leaves have begun to turn the fall colors and drop to the trail floor. Even the

poison oak has participated in autumn and looks colorful and festive. Golden Eucalyptus

leaves litter the trail like sparkling, perfume-infused flecks of gold. The effect is magical.

It is the perfect atmosphere to begin our ascent of Poly Mountain.

Turning off the beaten path, we made our way single file and marching like army

troops, up the steep trail leading to a sloping canyon filled with wonders. There, upon the

bluff, stood a pair of deer staring blankly at us as we snapped furiously with our cameras

to hold this moment forever. Just as soon as the deer had appeared through the mist, they

vanished. As the trail weaved higher and further away from civilization, birds, squirrels

and deer emerged from their warm nests, burrows and dens. Bird songs fluttered through

the air and more deer scampered down the trail heading to isolated meadows to fill their

bellies with the delicious vegetation that Poly Canyon has to offer.

Poly Canyon, located directly behind Poly Mountain, is filled with flora.

Some is abundant like the Yucca Plant and poison oak. There are also some less abundant

species that cover the hills. The Coastal Live Oak trees are gentle giants whose branches

stretch out towards the sun. The Leather Oak plant feels like leather to the touch and is a

deep emerald green that pops out against the gold. When crushed, the California Sage

Brush’s leaves give off a sweet yet robust scent. It smells as if it belongs in a kitchen

rather than on a hill. There are rusty red grasses that look as if they could be a painter’s

brush or his inspiration. There are sections of the hills that cannot be covered by the rich

grasses and coastal scrub because of sepentinite rock outcrops.

Serpentinite is found in Poly Canyon and the surrounding area of San Luis

Obispo. Over millions of years, the serpentinite has slowly but surely made its way from

deep within the Earth to the outside world. It is a dark grey color which stands out

from the soft yellow of the hills. It also stands out because no plant can grow on it except

the Yucca Plant. Serpentinite is low in essential nutrients that plants require to grow. It

was lucky for us that few plants are able to grow on the rock. The serpentinite made

comfortable rest stops along our adventure to sit on and take in the view. The serpentinite

is a dark contrast to the red clay which looks like terra cotta and covers the earth along

with the decomposing Yucca stalks. The unstable compost that made up the trail made

the last few yards to the summit more difficult than they already were.

The final leg of our ascent took all the strength we could muster. Twenty five

yards to go as sweat dripped down our brows. Ten yards left as our legs buckled from the

constant climbing. Then, finally we made it to the top! To our surprise, the valley that our

campus occupies was filled to the brim with mist. The cap of Bishop Peak and some of

the surrounding mountain tops was all that was visible. The only reminder of civilization

was the distant hustle and bustle of everyday life and the chiming bell toll from campus.

Being reminded of the time, we turned around to start the descent, but stopped in awe at

what we saw behind us. When the sun broke though the mist, it seemed as if Heaven

was smiling down upon Poly Canyon. The sun reflecting off the mist was bright, blinding

and utterly magical. The sun shone down upon the golden hills making them glimmer as

far as the eye could see. The sky was a perfect blue. Scents from the canyon floated in the

cool breeze. The Eucalyptus aroma mingled with the sweetness of the grasses from the

pastoral farmland. We saw a herd of horses on the hill beside us. They looked majestic as

they basked in the shining sunlight. We watched in silence as they peacefully grazed on

the hill, their tails playfully swishing as they nuzzled each other. They didn’t seem to

mind onlookers. Mother Nature had supplied a peaceful and beautiful environment to

graze. It was the perfect moment; serene and natural. Nobody wanted to leave.

After being in such a high state, going back down the mountain into the real world

was deflating. As we descended down to the “Poly P” and to the campus below,

reminders of civilization became more evident. Plastic bottles littered the trail. Pillow

cases from the “P” were strewn all through the Yucca. Corroded barbed wire lined the

gate back to the real world. We came across a water tank embedded in the hill,

surrounded by fences and warning signs. Patches of Star Thistle littered the path and

grabbed at our feet. The asphalt of the parking lot was ugly and covered the ground like a

blanket of death for all the plant life on the hills. This “welcome” back to civilization

made us yearn to climb back up the stairs to our heavenly view and escape civilization

once again.