Mt. Lola

Considering the extreme heat of the last few weeks, a hard-core (crazy?) subsection of the larger group trepidatiously headed off to face more miles and elevation gain than usual. Becky, Akiko, Tammy and her friend (a new hiker? - Susan), John, and Elly headed off to face the additional miles and elevation gain - more than usual, anyway.

After the 2 hour drive, we found the trailhead and were pleasantly surprised the by trail's condition (after some of the others we have been on this summer). After a few minutes we could hear a sweet little creek called Cold Stream, coming down the mountain and which made for many wet meadows along the way. In fact all we could think of was The Sound of Music as we hiked through these gardens with their carpets of gray-green, yellow-flowered Mule's Ears; punctuated with large stands of corn lily, columbine, paintbrush, both pink and yellow monkey flowers, purple penstemon, lupine, larkspur, mountain bluebells (a borage), asters, and daisies. That doesn't include them all, but... It was definitely delightful!!

We left the meadowy areas and started climbing quickly. Soon we saw patches of snow as we achieved an incredible viewy ridge. Already we could see far slopes to the south as we headed up steeply through areas of snow and/or mud where it has just melted. Just below the summit we actually had to carve steps in the snow lest we slide backwards to the bottom of the bank (hey - coming down was going to be FUN!) We summited 4 hours from the trail head, moaning a bit but very proud and excited. And what a view!! Lassen to the north, Grouse Ridge, with many lakes and peaks visible, Sierra Buttes, Castle Peak and even Frog Lake overlook. To the south we got a peak of Tahoe and a big storm beyond. A cooling wind was blowing as we attempted to identify some of the peaks and lakes.

After a leisurely lunch, we took a small detour to a postpile type outcropping - a steep cliffy-affair that stuck out on one side of the trail, calling for examination and conquering. Then we headed back to our snow bank for a speedy slide down on our butts...we didn't reckon with the mud on the bottom so spent then next while with dirty, drippy seats. Two hours and 40 minutes after leaving the summit we got to the cars: a welcome sight, indeed.

According to John's GPS, we had hiked 11 1/2 miles up the 9143 foot mountain, having started at 6600 feet. Our exhausted, dirty, hungry selves arrived home at 8.

I haven't heard from the other group - how was Summit Lake? I will see you Aug. 3 as I have a workshop next week. I have several paintings in the Figurative Art Show Starts July 31 - opening that evening 5-8...and running 3 weeks at ASIF on Idaho Maryland...

Loch Leven again

Sixteen overheated hikers tried to block out freeway noise as we struggled up the steep trail that begins at Big Bend outhouse. Akiko, Becky, Clarence and his grandson Matthew, Jo, Grace, both Marilyns, Stan, Jeff, his friend Dawn, Tiana, Maureen, Tammy, John and Elly hiked up to the middle lake for lunch. Tiana picked up a splinter in her foot after she and Elly went swimming. Removal became a major project as Elly, Maureen, and finally Akiko successfully removed the stubborn offender. Some of us dawdled as we descended from shade to shade, let our knees rest, took pictures, and drank yet more water.

Next week is the Mt. Juno challenge (oops - Mr. Lola is correct - as John commented below) for those who want to meet at 8 and Summit for all others meeting at 8:30.

Northstar

Map by Frank, pictures by Clarence.

Another inauspicious start. Our car waited and waited for Clarence, for whom we had just cleared the front seat. We looked around and noooo Clarence...so Tiana called out the window to him. No answer. As we drove up 20 we realized we did have Clarence's backpack so we turned around and went back to the meeting area. There was Clarence's truck but noooooo Clarence. Remembering that our brother-in-law had once fallen off the side of the road while peeing, we decided to search the areas to the side where we parked the vehicles. Nooooo Clarence. So back up 20 we went, worried to death that Clarence was still somewhere nearby - a payphone at Safeway? Do they even have those? We turned on Clarence's phone and discovered he had a number of the hikers. So we called them all but no one answered. We were still disparing over leaving him until right before we met the others, when Cyndi called us. A very nervous ride. (Clarence maintains he TOLD us he was riding with Cyndi. But none of us heard him. Next time in writing, please.)

Okay - we're all together now!! Nineteen of us: Laurie, Mary, Priscilla, Jo, Tammy, Tiana, Stan, Clarence, Cyndi, Karen, Maureen, Frank and Ellen, Jeff, both Marilyn's, Barbara G., John and Elly. Let's get our tickets! We marched up the steps, past people wearing NOT frumpy hiking clothes, and inquired at the office. What? The gondola is closed on Wednesdays during July? This is NOT funny. What to do? We decided to hike up the ski run and go laterally to Sawmill Lake at mid-level. Clarence went to get the maps and was informed that the area was closed and we were not to go hiking there.

Unphased, we continued on up and were never bothered. Beautiful scenery? Hardly. Very disturbed ground - like someone who went haywire with a bulldozer. When we got to Sawmill, we discovered it was driveable, hence a few fishermen in the small, muddy, dammed up lake. As we sat on rocks or in the woods, we were treated to a Western Tanager flying back and forth as well as a large trout swimming right under us.

To add more mileage, most of us circled the reservoir before heading down to rendezvous with the others at Starbucks. On the way we stopped at a large but empty pavillion to regroup and Maureen treated us to the moonwalk in honor of Michael. Clarence did too. Sort of. All told we hiked about 5.25 miles.

Northstar seemed like a big investment for so little to do on the mountain during the off season. There was a giant chess board, and checker board. People rollerskated around a rink. Some kind of bungy jumping thing was up on the hill. A large sandbox sported toys but no one was using it. There were ice cream cone chairs in front of the ice cream store where they not only didn't offer cones but charged $4 for a tiny "baby" dish of ice cream.

Next week we are talking about a trip to Summit Lake. Please feel free to put your favorites on the list. Hint: there is a comment button on the blog. But an email will do and I will add your comment. Please read John's comment below (when he adds it).

Lazing at Lovely Lakes

Photo by Clarence

Yesterday 19 of us (Jim n' Jan, Stan, Barbara B., Selma, Akiko, both Marilyns, Karen, Clarence, Tiana, Tami, Grace, John, and Elly, and new hikers: Jeff, Frank, and Ellen,) hiked in the spectacular high country. We started at Donner Ski Ranch on old route 40 and hiked to the three lakes between there and route 80. A hike of about 6 miles with some elevation gain, the trail climbed evenly up hill on the switchbacks among the giant granite outcroppings with their sprays of penstemmon, mariposa lily, heather, spirea, and other small bushes. At the top, it descended to the three lakes: Azalea, Flora, and Angela. We stopped for a leisurely lunch at Flora where Tianna and Elly took their noonday dip, crossing the small lake.

Photo by Clarence

There were only a few glitches when we couldn't find the trail. Marilyn N. was nice enough to play Hansel, leaving us her signature flour arrows for the laggard swimmers. We hoped the sky wouldn't open up, erasing them and leaving us wholey dependent on the GPS which wasn't showing trails in the section we were in. Another group had to bushwack back to a trail from a viewpoint they were visiting.

Next week we will go to Northstar and Cyndi will lead us. The cost of the lift will be $5.oo.