Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Photos from a springtime walk at the Stone Valley Great Wall.

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The Stone Valley Loop follows the same section of wall as our Middle Switchback hike, but we start and finish on the other side of the hill – it’s a longer walk and more scenic, as the trail takes us through forest and further into the hills.

On this visit we had more to see than just the wall. The wild apricot flowers were blooming, and with the clear skies we got some long views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

We hiked up to the wall, following a path that passed wild apricot trees in bloom - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We hiked up to the wall, following a path that passed wild apricot trees in bloom.

It was just the right time to see the blossoms – a few weeks later they’d all be gone - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

It was just the right time to see the blossoms – a few weeks later they’d all be gone.

Further into the hills - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Further into the hills.

The path turned into a nice field trail - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The path turned into a nice field trail.

We hiked further into the forest - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We hiked further into the forest.

Taking a break before the final climb up to the wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Taking a break before the final climb up to the wall.

Ready to get a photo - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Ready to get a photo.

We continued up through the pines - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We continued up through the pines.

The Great Wall runs along the ridge in the background of the photo - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The Great Wall runs along the ridge in the background of the photo.

We got on to the wall at a dip in the hills - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We got on to the wall at a dip in the hills.

The next part of the walk was on an unrestored section of Great Wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The next part of the walk was on an unrestored section of Great Wall.

We stopped for a snack break beside the wall – nice views here - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We stopped for a snack break beside the wall – nice views here.

Continuing up - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Continuing up.

Good spot for a photo. The wall here is higher up, and you can see that the trees haven’t yet started to get green like those we saw lower down the hill - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Good spot for a photo. The wall here is higher up, and you can see that the trees haven’t yet started to get green like those we saw lower down the hill.

The steep climb up to the General’s Tower - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The steep climb up to the General’s Tower.

The steep climb down the other side of the General’s Tower - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The steep climb down the other side of the General’s Tower.

A side trail took us around a ruined section of wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

A side trail took us around a ruined section of wall.

Further down, the valley is full of wild apricot flowers - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Further down, the valley is full of wild apricot flowers.

Back on the wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Back on the wall.

Flowers, trees, and the red roofs of houses - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Flowers, trees, and the red roofs of houses.

Continuing along the Great Wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Continuing along the Great Wall.

Taking a break in a ruined tower - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Taking a break in a ruined tower.

The hike continued along the wall, following the ridgeline - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

The hike continued along the wall, following the ridgeline.

A larger tower on a peak - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

A larger tower on a peak.

A last break on the wall before we walked down to finish - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

A last break on the wall before we walked down to finish.

Looking back along the wall - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Looking back along the wall.

We hiked hill trails to finish the loop - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We hiked hill trails to finish the loop.

Another great spot for a photo - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

Another great spot for a photo.

We finished the day with a big meal at a countryside restaurant - Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, 2016/4/16

We finished the day with a big meal at a countryside restaurant.

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