Humbug Creek

From Clarence: (Please note time change):
John had the idea to shuttle with this hike. This way we could walk one way, DOWN along Humbug Creek and along the Yuba to finish.
It was a cold, but beautiful start though the forest. We then found the nice trail was not always nice! Wash outs, trees down and dangerous small bridges in need of replacing. Sometimes the trail disappeared. Despite that, the scenery was great and we didn't have to retreat.
In the middle of no-where we found perfect picnic tables and a sunny spot for lunch. The rest of the hike was very warm and we had to stow the jackets and gloves. We successfully made the shuttled loop.
We decided next week we will start leaving at 9:00 AM . Spread the word to the rest of the group. There is still the effort to find nice Fall colors and ideas for a hike some where along Hwy 20.
I will send an invite to see more pictures with Snapfish. CLARENCE

Fall Creek Mountain

Nine hikers who enjoy a challenge and unknown trails (or lack of them) gleefully headed up from Carr/Feeley partway to Delaney Lake and then headed off the trail into the brush towards Fall Creek Mountain. We had no idea what we were doing so we went up and down, laughing at the silliness of creeping through the brush on deer trails. "Oh, let's look at that ridge!" We were quite taken with the precipitously balanced glacial erractics that looked like a strong wind would blow them over the cliff.When Hidden Lake appeared, we looked UP and saw our destination: rocky cliffs. Once again we used all fours and headed up the moutain on the least brushy route we could muster until we arrived at the top and the coveted prize: the Staff of Underwear. Sadly, we all had forgotten our extra undies and had nothing to contribute but we were happy to sit under others' castoffs to enjoy yet another stupendous view and lunch. Visible, were at least 5 lakes at a time, not to mention the outhouse next to the Quail Ridge Lookout which some of us wished were a bit closer.

Towards the beginning of the steep slide down the other side, John managed to misjudge a good place to change his GPS battery. Suddenly, between his legs, out buzzed a swarm of yellow jackets, quite happy to sting anyone in sight. They got both John, who was moving fast, but not fast enough, and Maureen, right under her Michael Jackson glove. Both sustained sufficient venom to deal with serious swelling to their hands. Even today (Thursday), John's hand resembles a rubber glove blown up like a balloon. He has a doctor appointment tomorrow so that we may each carry an epipen. After the descent towards a back road to Lindsay Lake, we found our way down below Carr/Feeley parking and returned to our cars. Was 4 miles enough of a hike? I guess all the rock climbing/bushwhacking and sliding down exhausted about everyone so that the enthusiasm for another hike didn't seem to be evident.

After running into the other group (of about the same size as ours) we had to satisfy Frank's curiosity about what the Emigrant Trail did when it crossed Bowman Lakes Road. Where did they actually lower those wagons down? Where did it hit Bear Valley? S0 we did a bit more exploring at those sites. The other group hiked about 6 miles round trip to Fordyce Falls...and seemed to have enjoyed it. I'm happy to post a report if anyone from that group wants to write one.

I have no idea what is supposed to happen next week. A number of us will not be able to hike that week. Anyone want to comment on the other hike? About next week?

warmer higher/colder lower

3 photos from Clarence

Fall Creek Mountain from Frank - next week?

Carence:

An interesting day on the North Fork of the Yuba. We started our hike in the cold! Surprisingly cold! We saw frost and ice on the river and everyone broke out their jackets and gloves. There was no sun in the canyon for quite a while.
My GPS would not "acquire" satellites in the narrow canyon so I turned it off until lunch time.
Eight of us set a good pace through the miners campsite and on to the Cherokee Creek footbridge, where we saw the first of the swarm of Lady bugs. Evidently they like this area for winter hibernation. They were thick. We continued the rest of the way to our lunch spot at the junction of the Yuba river and Canyon Creek. There we saw even more Lady Bugs. They were crawling and flying at our lunch spot. Good thing these are not the vicious type!!
The dry Autumn leaves completely covered the trail at times. This made it slippery and very hazardous at times when the trail was steep. Instead of sliding, Priscilla had to sit down and "scoot" down the path at one point. Of course this cleaned the leaves off for the rest of us following! Thanks Priscilla !
In the afternoon the temperature was up and we were sweating by the time we finished our 8 mile RT to the cars.
Yes, we did stop in NSJ for the bargain priced ice cream cones. We had a few strong willed people that resisted.
For next week we should look for a hike with Fall colors. Dogwood and Maple trees. Ideas were for: Omega road, Rock Creek area, or Lang Crossing to Spaulding . . . .

Elly:

With Jim as our leader our group of 6 hiked 9 miles clockwise from the Carr/Feeley parking up around Island Lake, bushwacking through the Crooked Lakes, wandering through a forest of down and logged trees, finally coming to the Grouse Ridge Trail. After about a mile, we took another right just short of Grouse Ridge to head back past Milk, Round, Long, Island, Delaney, Carr and Feeley Lakes. We paid our respects to each of the lakes, wondering what with all the Crooked Lakes, how many we had seen on one hike. As usual, we kept up a pretty good pace except when we were walking on rocks, logs, and flesh-tearing brush. It was a beauiful hike, with the usual fall color, beautiful granite rocks, perfect temperatures, and air clarity offered by the Sierra.

Our group came up with a Fall Creek Mountain hike for next week. It is somewhat short but there is plenty of rock climbing to be had for the mountain goat tendencies of some of us. If we feel we have not done enough miles at the end of our loop, maybe we will go to one of Clarence's suggestions.

North Yuba

4 photos and map
by Clarence

Despite the thunderstorms of the night before, nine of us drove to Rocky Rest campground on Hwy 49. Clarence pointed the way and we (Clarence, Frank Harpold, Jim, Tammy, Maureen, Frank and Ellen, and John and Elly hiked up the trail (Barbara Gable Memorial Trail) to the lunch site somewhat short of the halfway point to Goodyear Bar. During lunch Frank Hamlin suggested to John that they, as the drivers, could hike back to the cars, allowing the rest of us to hike the rest of the way to Goodyear's Bar. They drove around and hiked back along the trail to meet us. The trail was beautifully engineered - a single track the whole 7.5 miles (or was it actually almost 9 miles?) as it wended its way in and out of canyons and skirted immense rock outcroppings. Fall color was evident especially the yellow Big leafed Maples. The North Yuba was beautiful in it's race down the canyon. Clarence pointed out that during spring run-off , the falls make the trail impassable as immense waterfalls tumble down to the trail and fill the streams. Toward the end of the trail, the skies got gray and we got pelted for a while.

The weather makes it difficult for us to decide on a hike for next week. But meet the group at 8:30 for the options.