“Slow down. What's the hurry?” Reuben Call liked to say. This short walk to his memorial bench fits his philosophy perfectly. At less than a mile and under a half-hour, even the most harried hiker can make time to stroll the south slope of Diamond Ridge — and smell the wildflowers.

To get to the Reuben Call Bench, from town take the Sterling Highway toward Anchor Point. Turn right onto West Hill Road. Take a left at the intersection. Follow Diamond Ridge about two miles until the road straightens out into a long, steady uphill. Look for Rucksack Drive, and turn into the parking lot to the left or south. This is the Homestead Trail head. The Homestead Trail also goes north to Bridge Creek, but that's a hike for another day.

Respect private property and leash your dogs. Stay on the road until it turns into a sometimes muddy path. Right now, the path starts in a nice little field of cottongrass.

Wildflowers have been blooming since June on Diamond Ridge — you missed the chocolate lilies and the lupines. Late July brings the big show: fireweed. Acres and acres of fireweed. That's all the more reason to hike to the Reuben Call Bench Trail now.

Be careful walking through the high brush so you don't get whacked by pushki — nasty stuff if you're sensitive to the plant. Pretty soon the trail opens up and you'll see an old cabin or two, rolling meadows and, of course, stunning views of Kachemak Bay. Soon enough you're walking through fireweed, with some monk's hood and lousewort thrown in for that dash of purple.

The trail goes through a little spruce forest along a gully's edge, and then down into the gully itself. Watch your footing going up and down this gully. As you cross the footbridge at the bottom of the gully, try not to disturb the troll sleeping under the bridge, because we all know that's where you find trolls.

The trail climbs up into more meadow, and almost before your littlest child can say, “Are we there yet?” you're there.

Climb up on the bench, dangle your legs over the edge and take in one of Homer's nicer views — a view all the better because you earned it with a little sweat. Read Reuben Call's motto, and think about a man who once lived in these hills, and got everywhere he needed to go by shank's mare.

The land below and to the west once was his old homestead. Call came to Homer in 1952 and died in 1986 at age 78. He was well known as “Walking Reuben” or “The Walker,” prominent in his khaki knapsack and orange cap as he strode around town. He worked as a carpenter on the Alaska Railroad in Seward and taught school in Eagle and Kenai.

Most of the land on the hillside below the bench is private property, with some possible land trades to preserve it in the works. A trail goes down to the Demonstration Forest. In winter, the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club puts in miles of awesome ski trails.

For the next few weeks, the fireweed will be at its peak. You don't want to wait to try out this short little hike.

Once you're on the path to Reuben's Bench, slow down, though. What's the hurry?

Reuben Call Bench hike

Trip (one way): .75 miles

Time (one way, up hill), 20 minutes

Difficulty: easy to moderate