on the trail of the peg-leg horse

Ready to ignore Christmas as it was bearing down upon us, eight hikers decided to take advantage of an unusually sunny day and stretch our legs. Seven miles of stretch. Priscilla, Maureen, Barbara G., Tiana, Jo, Karen, John, and Elly decided the sunniest non-blacktop hike would probably be Rice's Crossing. Some local residents met us at a road intersection, one expressing surprise at our intended destination. He thinks old ladies and one old man can't hike? After Maureen collected her usual dog names (Bodie and Kiara), we hiked down to the Yuba, noting the unusual prints in the mud. Did a horse carefully complete his horse shoe arc by turning the other way? We still don't know what we were looking at...a peg leg horse? Any horse or cattle experts out there? Not content with the hike's length, we continued up the dirt road from Rice's Crossing to explore and find a sunny spot to eat lunch. We ended up on some rocks and logs above the river between it and the road, soaking up the sun and quiet of the woodland.

Priscilla and the rest of us presented Karen with a stunning China Doll plant replete with Christmas ornaments for the loss of her mother. Actually Karen seemed good and looked great.

Hopefully more of you will be in town next week for another hike. We decided that the snow shoe group should go another day - maybe next week to Plantation. Besides John and Elly, Frank and Ellen, Jo, Tianna and Tammy; dies anyone else want to be included?

the Neighborhood

Pictures are in opposite order from story.

Since our driveway continues to be an ice sheet, John and I took advantage of the sun's melting rays to explore a walk up to the the Chicago Park NID ditch on the other side of 174. It was there, just as a lady had told us and wow, what a lovely level walk. We were all alone as we followed the meandering trail and have no idea how much further we could have gone.

But we started getting nervous about how long we had walked so we retraced some trail and went down an icy road to 174. To our surprise we were way past the Peardale area and had to retrace at least a mile on the busy highway which in spite of speeding vehicles, was slippery on the sides.

We went down Peardale and waded through the snow of the land trust area, and returning along the lake path to our meadow.

The hike had taken hours, must have been at least 5 miles, many of them cautiously slow due to the ice. I include this hike to show how beautiful local hiking can be. That said, we wonder if there was an official hike today. If so, please send description and pix. Thanks.

Spenceville

We were happy for Clarence's triphumpant return from miserable rotator cuff surgery. His ability to lead hikes through new and unfamiliar areas such as Spenceville excited enough people that 18 of us showed up!!
Eighteen of us hiked over 7 miles in long-shadowed, sunny, crispy weather in open California savana out to a pond. Lunch was at cement (brrrrrrr) picnic tables by a pond. Conversation was lively as our trail alternated between single track and dirt roads.

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Present were: Selma, Clarence, Frank, Jim, Jo, Grace, Tammy, Priscilla, Cyndi, Mary, Kim, Tiana, Karen, Barbara G., Marilyn N., Paula (came on a summer hike), Dorothea (old time hiker from before my time), and Elly.

Next week we are talking about Hidden Falls out of Auburn. There was also some talk of the American River but we were having a hard time thinking of a long enough hike (6-7.5 miles)that we hadn't done recently.

Pictures by Clarence and Elly. Map from Clarence.

South Yuba Thanksgiving

Starting at the South Yuba campground across the river north of the Edwards Crossing,

six hikers hiked six miles round trip down the sunny cliff to the Yuba. Akiko, Maureen, Priscilla, Jo, John and Elly relaxed near the river eating lunch, moving every few minutes with the sun slipping behind the opposite high cliff .

Maureen tells us a story about a dread-wearing guy who broke a bottle of olive oil that ruined her recent purchases as well as filling his shoes with oil. He exiting squooshing but not paying.

Cronan Ranch

John writes:


Kim led us on a very pleasant hike to a new destination (new to most of us, at least). It was a sunny mild day, we had ten hikers (including Barbara G., welcome back!) in two cars heading south on 49 past Auburn and Cool to Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park. Kim thoughtfully had us stop just short of the park at the historic Bayley House to make use of their first class flush toilets. The hike at Cronan was about five miles in a loop, starting up a ridge and following it a couple of miles with fine views in all directions, including the south fork of the American River, which was our lunch stop goal. We dropped from the ridge gradually, eventually making our way to the banks of the river, which was beautiful and swift. Frank surmised that every inch of gravel had been combed through for gold in the past 150 years, but it didn't stop him from poking around a bit with the toe of his boot. He didn't find anything. We returned via the central trail up the middle of the valley, past the old homestead, which contained a small lending library "take one, leave one". Karen saw a book she wanted, but didn't have one to leave, so settled for writing the title down, hoping to order it when she got home, I presume. The park has a number of trails and would be suitable for a return visit one of these days. Hikers this week were Kim, Frank Harpold, Barbara G., Karen, Selma, Jim, Marilyn, Tiana, Jo, and John. Next week? It's the day before Thanksgiving, but are some of you interested in working up an appetite for Turkey Day?

South Yuba from Edwards

With the possibility of rain, 10 hikers hiked down river along the steep embankments of the Yuba. The iron rocks, fresh ferns, and deep blue as well as lighter green water of the river was a welcome sight in the flat light. Tiana, Grace, Marilyn S., Laurie, Kim and her renter, John, Frank and Ellen, and John and Elly ate lunch at the end of the trail that goes down to the river from the main trail. As you can see, we went almost 6 miles with an awful lot of serious up and down. (Frank took most of the pictures.)

Next week Kim suggested Sugar Pine Reservoir Loop near Iowa Hill with access from Colfax. Iowa Hill is an historic mining town with no electricity.

Frog and Summit

Missing each other both, groups started at the Boreal exit. Nineteen in all, we became 2 groups at the Summit Lake/Warren Lake split. Frank and Ellen, Jo, Akiko, Tammy, Maureen, John, and Elly headed up the steep and unforgiving grade. The others: were both Marilyns, Barbara B., new Frank, Priscilla, Selma, Stan (Yaaay - welcome back looks great), 2 new ladies Karen and Paula, Mary, and Karen.

The overlook afforded 360 degree view of Frog Lake around to Lola, Castle, Judah, etc. We enjoyed exploring after lunch to try to determine the Frog Lake access (Euer Valley) and that it was not a reservoir but a true lake. On the way down we explored some very gnarled trees that had survived splitting, growing together, and being pushed over by snow. They seem big for so much gnarling.

Thanks to Frank for the pictures - my camera broke at the beginning of the hike. Any ideas for next week? If Clarence is back we might want to go to Spenceville. (He's the expert. - also we should notify the west NC members. JUST IN - HE PROBABLY WON'T BE UP FOR IT QUITE YET - DOING WELL THOUGH. SO LET'S THINK OF ANOTHER IDEA FOR NEXT WEEK.

American River Canyon/2 groups

(3 hikers are there)

Ten of us took Stevens Trail down to the American River for an 8 mile round trip 1500 foot elevation change. Grace, Priscilla, Karen, Jo, Akiko, Tami, Frank and Ellen, John and Elly hiked the long but beautiful trail down to the end. Some down and outers were camped there and glared at us through their bushy faces as we approached their campfire around which they were shivering in the shade. We greeted each other, exchanged panning jokes, and went further along the rocks to a couple of small sunny spots to enjoy the river during lunch. After lazing around in the sun for quite a while we figured the trail was not going to tip the other way and we would have to go uphill all the way back. Passing the panners, we were sure we recognized at least one of these hairy homeless fellows. Their camp was quite spread out with buckets everywhere and we didn't see any panning while we were there. Is there a better time of day to pan? On the way back up we explored a cave that was man made for reasons we couldn't figure out.


(Both photos by Frank who says that everyone is in the one to the left but 3 eager beavers are impossible to spot.)

The other group was made up of 5 hikers (Marilyn S., Selma, Mary, Jim, and Jan) who hiked 6 miles and looked quite pink when we all showed up at the meeting place at the same time. They had gone somewhere in the American Canyon, too.

Seeking gold (leaves), 15 hikers headed to the hills for color. Maureen, Tiana, Akiko, Selma, Laurie, Frank, Grace, Jo, Mary, Tami, Karen, both Marilyns, John, and Elly hiked 6 miles around Loney Meadow and up to the Lakes: Culbertson, and the Lindsays. We lolled around Culbertson and did it again at Lower Lindsay. The sun felt good but after a while, so did the shade. Most Aspens had turned partly gold and there were spectacularly yellow Maples at the beginning of Bowman Lake Road. Dogwoods were a red or yellow color in the dark evergreen forests.

Maureen was feeling particularly frisky and ventured far afield at both lakes to take pictures. We had to call her in from some distance at Cuthbertson. She looked like she was in the gold and I'll bet she has some great pictures.

The stream below Culbertson tested our mettle, being deep and swift with partially submerged unstable rocks and floating logs. ALL made it across without mishap even though they thought they couldn't make it and at least one vowed never to attempt such foolhardiness again her life.

We all miss the Stan, Barbara, and Clarence who could not make it due to treatment, mishap, and surgery. We are thinking of you and hope you all make it back soon.

I thought of a possible hike for next week: Frog Lake Overlook, for those who want. Any other ideas?