Clockwise Grouse Ridge around Island, up to Penner, Down to Shotgun and back UP

from Frank

Six of us decided to repeat parts of a hike we took at the end of September 2013.  That time we started at Carr/Feeley and did this hike counterclockwise.  This time we started at Grouse Ridge and went clockwise, hiking down hill south of Island Lake to start.  Then we hiked up to Penner and ate lunch there.  Occasionally we saw dustings of snow in the north-facing protected areas, but the air was clear and crisp, the trail no longer dusty. 

After lunch we cross-countried down to Shotgun Lake, cutting off a few miles of hiking out of Penner and around past Rock Lake.  The cross-country was a bit steep in its descent with a few rolling rocks and hiking through brush.  Once down to Shotgun the remainder of the trail was  mostly uphill, some of it steep.

We saw no one else.  Over 8 miles with a 1600 ft elevation gain.

Sierra Buttes

from Peter

from Peter

American River Confluence

Quarry area from across the middle fork

With one member needing to have a short meeting in Auburn, and a couple of others needing to be back a bit early, we decided to hike at the American River Confluence.  Six started on the south side of the bridge and headed up the middle fork to the divide.  The trail is somewhat blocked off from the highway so we headed down Murderer's Gulch (black diamond bike trail) a short way and then up the road.  Once there, it was somewhat confusing so we headed west before we crossed to continue the divide section to the road that leads down to Lake Clementine.  There are some new facilities at the lake:  decent bathrooms and picnic tables, which we used.  My having been stung by a yellow jacket necessitated our walking hastily back along the north fork.  The most beautiful parts of that hike are the Middle Fork and North Fork.  We had hiked 8 1/2 miles with an elevation gain of 2K ft.

3 Peaks: Donner, Judah, & Lincoln

 Continuing from last week's idea, four of us started from route 40 at Donner Pass, heading south on the PCT.  We headed up to Mt. Judah after detouring to gain the top of Donner Summit.  That took a little rock climbing at the top.  A couple of young guys had come up the north side free climbing without ropes and were surprised to find us on top.  They had never been on the peak and didn't know there was a trail to the top.

Heading to Donner Peak

We went on to climb the long trail to the top of Judah.  There, we met more hikers happy to be out in the spectacular weather.  Judah is higher than Donner but Lincoln tops them all.  Not wanting to lose elevation, we lingered for lunch at Roller Pass before figuring out how we were going to ascend Lincoln.

After lunch we headed cross country for a short way to gain access to the Sugar Bowl Service Road.  We followed it to the top, noting the signs for advanced ski runs that looked like the skiers would be headed into thin air.  On the top was a guy on a small excavator preparing the trails.  To us it looked like he was putting himself in great danger to groom them.  We could see the Coast Range and the newly started Applegate Fire.

From Donner Peak

After much exploring, we headed down on the south side to intersect the PCT as it finishes crossing the east face of Lincoln.  From that intersection we returned on the marvelous PCT.  We had hiked 9 miles with a total elevation gain of 2K ft.


Looking over to Mt. Judah

Top of Donner



From Donner



From Lincoln

Mt Disney

Seven of us gathered to hike after trips and atmosphere dwindled the group during September.  We decided to find a better way up Crow's Nest in Royal Gorge by stopping sooner on the dirt road that goes down eventually to the American River.  There was actually a bit of a parking lot by Sterling Canyon where we headed up the steep rutted road to the trails.  It was odd hiking over areas I formerly skied.  We took a footpath up to the ridge of what I think is called Lola's Lookout and Razorback Ridge (black diamond).  The views were magnificent without a trace of smoke.  The ridge then drops some, then climbs steeply up to Crow's Nest.  Sugar Bowl Ski Resort has put a new chairlift up the steep area right below the lava outcropping that forms the summit.  After lunch on the top, we went on, steeply descending again to the saddle ("Disney Traverse") to go back up even  more steeply to the Disney Summit.  California's first ski lift resides there but is no longer in use. It was built in 1939, according to a plaque.  We explored the summit with it's well polished chairs and tables inside what must be a café in the winter.  Oddly enough, we found an open can of gas which might have belonged to the technician who had used a quad (before he, too had to go on foot) to work on the Crow's Nest chairlift.  The hike was about 8 miles with a 2,000 ft. elevation gain.  Areas were very steep.

This hike gave us the idea to explore the other two mountains that Sugar Bowl uses: Judah and Lincoln.  We might throw in Donner at the same time.  Maybe next week - starting at Donner Ski Ranch and the PCT south.  Another idea would be to explore the Snow Mountain area of Royal Gorge.