Humbug Trail

Twelve of us went down the steep Humbug Trail to the picnic table where the Humbug joins the So. Yuba. There we met up with Jo W., who opted for a more level walk along the So. Yuba trail from the campground parking lot. The Humbug ran furiously over rocks and down falls at it rushed it's way lower. As you can imagine, this made for fantastic viewing as the Humbug Trail skirts pretty close. Some of us ate lunch at the picnic table, while others went down to the Yuba to be up close and personal. Jo had several hikers for company for her return trip.

Wildflowers were fairly abundant: especially bleeding heart, but also brown bells, Indian pinks, white nemophilus, hound's tongue, and yellow Douglas' violets could be seen as well as mosses, succulents, and ferns. More plants were getting ready to bloom: columbine and what looked like fairy bells. Large oaks, fir, and cedar grow in abundance, some lying across the trail necessitated maneuvering around or over. One of the bridges along the rocks is sound, while the other one is rotting, so going over it should be done with care and on top of the underlying beam.

Some of you might be interested in Frank's plan for hiking along the Yuba from the Humbug to Washington. He has sent out a separate email detailing his idea. We can't make next week but hopefully will make the week after.

Pix by Maureen and Elly top to bottom.

Independence Trail

Eight hikers braved the impending rain and hiked locally both ways (9 miles) on the Independence Trail. We were very lucky to be under trees and between drops, which only got heavier as we were getting in the cars. Phew.

Wildflowers were abundant: Indian pinks, paintbrush, cat's ears, brown bells, redbud, buttercups, white nemophila, fawn lilies, indian warriors, and larkspur. What have I forgotten?

The most dramatic part of the trip was the white foaming Yuba as well as the tributary creeks. It was expecially apparent at the exit of the Miner's Tunnel that takes the water from Hoyt's crossing to the lower outlet. It was running so turbulently strong that we couldn't make out where had picniced a few years ago. The steep road from Independence Trail to the tunnel is quite washed out and somewhat slippery but was well worth it.

The congenial group included new hiker, David, who is quite knowledgeable in geology and history. During lunch we all decided that when we're quite worn out from hiking, our group will descend on Quail Ridge probably causing a bit of a ruckus but think how fun!

Table Mountain

Sorry for the delay on this but I have a brand new computer and am trying to understand what I am doing...hope this works...

Only 10 of us met on a Friday to take the long drive to Oroville. With us was a new (to us but not to hiking), Dave, a geologist. Clarence did an excellent job leading us in such a way that we saw 4 waterfalls, all the while warning us to not cross where the Meadow Foam was (white flowers) - as that usually said: "wet". Table Mountain did not disappoint as our pictures show. The usual vast displays of lupines, owl's clover, meadow foam, stone crop, poppies, along with a few bitter root, violets, buttercups, and other yellow flowers. You will see a few oddities among the flowers: a horny toad - never seen one of those before, a bumble bee that impaled itself on a barb of the barbed wire, and a swarm of flies or wasps who are fighting over the delicious morsel underneath: one of their own, dead and served up on a cow pattie. Another oddity was that the Coal Canyon falls were NOT running like last year, in spite of the increased water drainage. Once we walked away from the parking lot, the crowds thinned and we were the only the ones at Coal Canyon falls for lunch. Not many miles hiked (4) and they were slow as we thoroughly inspected the ground.

At Dave's suggestion, we went to the Chinese temple in Oroville on the way back. Although we arrived at closing time, the lady stayed open to give us a tour for another hour. A special place - quite a few buildings and some interesting plantings, carvings, and period embroidered clothing.

Pictures by Maureen, Clarence, and Elly (bottom to top...sorry for any duplicates)