Plantation/Bowman Mountain

Some photos from Frank.

Fall color on top.

Fall color at near Loney.

Sierra Buttes

John looking down on the climbers.

Tiana climbs the last hard bit.

Getting near top of Bowman Mtn.

Lightning tree 3 photos from Clarence.

8:30 hike notes from Clarence:

We were looking for shade all day on this unseasonably warm day. Seven of us hiked to the Bear Valley overlook. Then Grace, Tammy and I went another 20 min. to the wide view of the Yuba River Canyon.
We saw a tree that had taken a recent direct hit of lightning. Major damage! I wonder why it didn't start a fire. We also saw bear tracks and bear scat on the same dusty trail. I wondered if we were being watched!
We made a loop trail, back to the cars. I pointed out a "geocache" container that I had located a couple years ago. It is still hiding there for the next explorer.
The suggestion for next week's hike is to go to the Rocky Rest/ North Yuba trail. Fall is a good time for this hike. I remember it to be mostly in the shade. Barbara Gable remembers this hike for other reasons! Swimming available for lunch or at the end of the hike

8:00 trip

Nine of us met to attempt Frank's idea of a Bowman Mountain climb: Frank and Ellen, Tiana, Akiko, Paula, John and Elly, and new (to our group) hikers: Jim and Darlene Ward, who hiked Old Man Mountain with us a month ago. We parked at Loney Meadow and hiked up toward Rock Lake, making a hard left at the trail that goes around Bowman Mountain. That's when things got somewhat difficult. We waded through brush, some of it higher than we were, until the rock outcropping was visible. Since we had no trail, we crawled, stomped on branches, climbed rocks, etc. to divine our way to the clearer areas. If we were lucky, we climbed scree and often got to climb over talus with our hands and feet. Finally, we got to the bottom of the rock outdropping that would be more challenging. We were lucky that toeholds and handholds seemed mostly abundant and a good scramble brought everyone to the last pitch, which wasn't too difficult or brush-covered. Believe it or not, most of us enjoyed the challenge immensely even as Frank kept apologizing. Like the 8:30 hikers, we also battled the heat and dust. I doubt it was any cooler up there - maybe a bit of a breeze, but not enough. We ate lunch with the most incredible 360 degree view and great discussion ensued as to the identity of each lake and mountain. The Fall color was lovely with its colorful contrasts as we walked along the north ridge to the trail around the mountain. It was definitely the easier route to descend our 1600 foot elevation gain. We wended our way back on the dusty trail to the Loney Milk Barn and out.

Next week there are two options: North Fork of the Yuba/Rocky Rest, and a high Sierra hike: along Island Lake on the Round Lake Trail with some cross-country over to Crooked Lakes and back on the Crooked Lake Trail. We will all meet at 8:30. There probably aren't too many more hiking days for the high country and the colors are lovely.

Sierra Buttes

A small but enthusiastic group showed up early Wednesday to promptly divide into two carpools for hikes up the Sierra Buttes: Marilyn S. Tammy, and Selma went with Clarence to form the slightly shorter hike. Tiana, Jo, and Akiko went with John and Elly on the somewhat longer 7.5 mile hike with more elevation gain starting at Packer Lake. It was yet another stunningly beautiful day with quite a few hikers on the trail. Our two groups met at the bottom of the infamous exposed stairway and climbed together to the windy top. Having our fill of incredible views, (and the on-going gale), we descended to the bottom of the stairway and lunch, which we shared with a Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel or two. The two groups diverged where the PCT headed out to the car park and the other trail led steeply down, down, down. On the way back we were treated to a flock of southbound Sandhill Cranes that seemed closer than usual probably because we were so high. Both groups met for ice cream in Bassetts to close down the store at 4 PM. On the way home, Clarence led us on a short walk down the PCT just past Big Spring, to Love Falls on the Yuba River. Another day in Paradise.

Next week, at 8 AM, Frank will lead us on an adventure up and over Bowman Mtn. Most of you went around the mountain a while ago to Rock Lake. This time we will hike the same amount of miles (7.5) but climb 300 feet over the mountain as well. Sometimes there will be no trail and it will include a certain amount of climbing over rocks and through brush. Lunch will be on top with fantastic views.

If you would prefer a shorter and easier hike, Clarence will lead the group at the normal time (8:30) through Plantation. This trail is off Route 20 just before Bear Valley. The view sites are fantastic: Bear Valley and the Yuba.

I hope everyone got Kim's offer of shorter Saturday hikes. If not, email me and I wlll forward it to you.

Grouse Ridge/Sand Ridge/Glacier

tree hit by lightening

map from Frank

Although 10 of us met at Sutton Way, we had

only 9 by the time decisions were made. Seems everyone wanted to go to Grouse Ridge and was up for a loooooong day except Mary Cahier (who we were very glad to see after a prolonged absence.). So 2 cars wended their way up the punishing 5.75 miles of dirt road. Jo and Akiko (just recovering from the flu and ear infection) walked out to Glacier Lake for a very leisurely stay and wait for the rest of us. Frank and Ellen, Maureen, Tiana, Tammy, John and Elly detoured up Sand Ridge, enjoyed the stupendous view from the mile hike on top of the ridge, and then followed the ducks to the Five Lakes Basin area. After lunch at the lowest lake, we followed the ducks up the valley (and over the boulders) up to Glacier Lake. The entire hike (9.5 miles) was full of vistas, granite and even some fall color. I think the red plant was a member of the heath family.

Next week we talked about starting a hike to Sierra Buttes at 8 instead of 8:30, due to the long car trip. This hike will possibly consist of 2 groups: one to start at Packer Lake (see hike on 8/27/09) which is somewhat over 7 miles to the open stairway to the top and the fire lookout. The other hike will start from a bit further up the same road to the PCT - about 4 miles. It is helpful if everyone decides beforehand which hike they want to do so we can fill the cars accordingly. Both groups might want to partake in the ice cream at the bottom of the road.

There may be another hike that leaves at 8:30 which won't take the whole day. If anyone wants to lead such a hike, I will post it here.

Day at the Mines

maps from Frank

Six of us, Tammy, Tiana, Frank and Ellen, and John and Elly, bagged the high-country hike due to overcast threatening weather and went on to explore an area on the other side of the Yuba: Orleans Flat, over past Malakoff Diggins. The day would bring terrific views of man's environmental desecration. Frank had a map that included a maze of dirt roads back to what looked like an abandonned farmouse. From there we started the trail which led to the first of 3 dump sites, and rocks piled upon rocks - that HAD to be man made. Then we started the steep downhill for a mile and a half. We dropped 1400 feet, remembering "what goes down had to come up." We passed dumpsite number 2 and dropped further down to private ("you will be prosecuted") dumpsite 3. We saw a cabin and vehicle and wondered if a shotgun was being loaded or the trespass police called. We had arrived at the Sleeping Beauty Mine so we had to explore it. Down we went towards the now-visible river to see some old RR Tracks, a compressor, a tunnel, and the requisite pile of trash. Shinnying down to the beach, completed our downhill trek so we ate our lunch a tad early down by the river. After lunch we went up the hill at a fast enough pace that we had time for another hike. Note: The Sleeping Beauty Mine is a hike you can skip.

We wended our way back to N. Bloomfield and headed out to the Diggins past the cemetary. The temperature in the pit was comfortable so we had a great 4.75 round trip past the colorful grand canyon of the Malakoff...drained through a mile and a half tunnel until the Sawyer Decision in 1884 put an end to hydraulic mining. Thank goodness. There was a beautiful swamp and lake in the middle of the pit which must have been where all those face flies came from.

All together we hiked almost 9 miles on both hikes. Next week we are talking about taking the long hike that starts at Grouse Ridge. Anyone want to join us? Does anyone from the other group want to report on your hike? As I remember, it was both Marilyn's, Priscilla, and Jo. Any others? They were supposed to go to Cascade Ditch. Marilyn S. writes that they did a leisurely 9 miles, sharing the trail with many runners and dog walkers. Following the leisurely hike they had a leisurely picnic at Pioneer Park.

Loch Leven from the Back Door

Nineteen of us (Kim, Priscilla, Maureen, Tiana, Jo, both Marilyns, Clarence, Walt and Nancy, Tammy, Selma, Cyndi, Paula, and Grace plus Frank and Ellen and John and Elly who climbed Old Man Mountain the day before) parked above Long Lake Reservoir to hike back to Lower Loch Leven. We passed Salmon Lake, came upon Lower LL where we left Kim, who was having back spasms. Then on to Middle Loch Leven, where we left Walt, Nancy, Selma, and Marilyn N.

With what happened next, I suspect quite a few more wish they had stayed back.

As we rounded the lake to head to Upper LL, we lost the trail due to the parallel nature of the trails and mistaken GPS's. We arrived at a rock stair climb that required hands and feet, which did not delight everyone equally. Frank retraced and led some of the group on an alternate route while John led the rest of the group another way and heard a bit of grumbling in the ranks. I headed straight up on the high rock to view the way and figure out which route would be most fun. Eventually we all came together and had a lovely picnic on a rock outcropping on the lake. It was a bit cool to swim so we just hung out and enjoyed ourselves for a while.

The trail down was more obvious but we got into another problem about who wanted to visit Salmon Lake and who didn't and what carpool they were in. As it turned out, Salmon Lake was so close that we all could have visited it rather easily. It was full of catfish who gathered below the rock we stood on...another hatchery for the Chinese workers? By that time a swim would have been nice but Salmon Lake with its algae and fish was hardly inviting. We had hiked about 7 miles in all.

But this brings up the problem of carpools. Priscilla was miffed that we all disappeared into cars and it left her with her own car which is a Camry that she didn't feel comfortable driving on a dirt road. Clarence solved the driving problem by driving her car. We usually look to fill our car with people who might want to extend the hike and/or stay longer. Is there a good way to solve this problem with such a big and diverse group?

Next week we are proposing a rather long and strenuous hike for those who desire. We would park at Grouse Ridge and hike Sand Ridge down to 5 Lakes, possibly explore there, and then up to Glacier Lake possibly exploring the Black Buttes there. It would be all day, at least 8.5 miles, but leave at the usual 8:30 time. I'm sure there will be a shorter hike for those who want - anyone who wants to lead it can contact the group or I will post it here.