American River: Confluence Loop

Pictures by: Elly, Maureen, Clarence

Glorious sunshine!! After many weeks of various forms of precipitation and repeated power outages, 18 of us decided getting out and exercising was exactly what we needed! The usual group plus a guest: Margaret, and the return of Susan and Rob. Even Kim! But Frank and Ellen, where are you? and Marilyn Shulman, recuperate. Wanting sun and possible wildflowers, we parked at the American River confluence, crossed the bridge, and went right (west) around the point and up the middle fork. You can see this trail across from the Quarry Trail, across the river. The water was wild although we climbed away from it as we went up river. A few flowers were out, buttercups, lupine and a lovely red flower: some kind of paintbrush (Applegate?). I stand corrected - somehow I thought it wasn't paintbrush because it was woody but apparently members of the figwort family (Scrophulariacae) can be either way. Maureen says she saw a shooting star, too. They are usually in boggy areas. After passing under the Foresthill Bridge* we saw some really showy flowers just stuck in the ground They turned out to be red carnations and Hawaiin Ti Plant (according to Susan) and must have been a memorial.

* From Maureen...about the bridge:

height-730 ft. above riverbed highest bridge in calif. 4th highest in united states--(was 3rd till 2010) fabricated in japan in 1971--completed 1973 original cost ---13 million retrofit cost--- approx. 65 million-(started this year as we saw yesterday)

We decided not to stop on the Lake Clementine Rd. but to walk another 2 miles to Lake Clementine to eat lunch. We ate next to the river, across from a waterfall. The water was flowing quickly, having been fed by the spillways at Lake Clementine.

TABLE MOUNTAIN: April 13th...don't know about next week: Stevens? Buttermilk?

Spencevillle bunkers...

Clarence once again led quite a few of us on a beautiful, 6 mile, Spenceville hike, introducing us to new areas. When we first crossed the cement bridge, he led us a few steps to our right show us the site of the original town of Spenceville. He had brought along a copy of a photograph taken at the time the army acquired this property at the beginning of WWII for use in training. It was interesting to see that there really had been a town right there beside the road/trail to Fairy Falls. He explained that the hills behind him used to be vermilion red due to sludge from the copper mine behind the town. It was used to make a lovely paint that everyone in the area used until they discovered that it rotted the nails. Even though the polluted earth has been largely carted away, you can still see the remnants of pollution in the seepage towards Little Dry Creek. If you are still a cow-eater, you might want to investigate where your meat was raised.

We then started our hike through the pastures, still wet with run-off and lots of mud. Although we all got nice and muddy, we were thankful that the mud wasn't clay and did not stick inordinately to our boots. We saw a lot of partial skeletons of the cattle and wondered what was menacing them. Also we sighted a coyote stopping for a bathroom break as he passed us warily. The countryside was typical pasture for that elevation: wide, Blue Oaks with large expanses of grassy land. The runoff formed streams and creeks that were fun to ford in their narrower spots. One of the highlights of the day was a number of cement bunkers we explored that were built for war games used in training for the Normandy invasion. We saw from a distance a set of "Dragon's Teeth" for tank traps. Off in the distance we could hear the continual pops and bangs from a shooting range that apparently gets lots of use. A fitting sonic backdrop, I suppose.

As you know, we will be in Colorado next week. If someone wants to write a synopsis of the hike, I will gladly post it. Also I would be able to post a few pictures. The pictures above are mine so hopefully I will get Clarence's soon and post them. Maureen's system is malfunctioning so there will be a delay until she will be able to send them to me. Anyone else with pictures is welcome to send them, but please no more than 5 as that is all I can add at one time.