I enjoyed your account and description of the Aptos Creek Trail. I realize this was written about a year ago, but I’m interested to know how you returned to your starting point. In an effort to reach the “epicenter” of the Loma Prieta earthquake, via a more challenging route, we did what is described as an 11.6 mile loop: the fire road to the big slide trail to the aptos creek trail. The aptos creek trail is exactly as you describe and when we hit the landslide areas (at least two, maybe three of them) we hiked down to the creek basin and scrambled through the slightly hairy “impressive impasse” that you describe. When we regained the trail (by hiking out of the basin) beyond the slide areas, there were a number of giant redwoods across the trail…pretty clearly victims of the earthquake, although that can probably be confirmed. I’m also curious: do you think the park’s maps and other signage adequately prepare hikers for encountering the landslide areas?