Loch Leven again

Sixteen overheated hikers tried to block out freeway noise as we struggled up the steep trail that begins at Big Bend outhouse. Akiko, Becky, Clarence and his grandson Matthew, Jo, Grace, both Marilyns, Stan, Jeff, his friend Dawn, Tiana, Maureen, Tammy, John and Elly hiked up to the middle lake for lunch. Tiana picked up a splinter in her foot after she and Elly went swimming. Removal became a major project as Elly, Maureen, and finally Akiko successfully removed the stubborn offender. Some of us dawdled as we descended from shade to shade, let our knees rest, took pictures, and drank yet more water.

Next week is the Mt. Juno challenge (oops - Mr. Lola is correct - as John commented below) for those who want to meet at 8 and Summit for all others meeting at 8:30.

Northstar

Map by Frank, pictures by Clarence.

Another inauspicious start. Our car waited and waited for Clarence, for whom we had just cleared the front seat. We looked around and noooo Clarence...so Tiana called out the window to him. No answer. As we drove up 20 we realized we did have Clarence's backpack so we turned around and went back to the meeting area. There was Clarence's truck but noooooo Clarence. Remembering that our brother-in-law had once fallen off the side of the road while peeing, we decided to search the areas to the side where we parked the vehicles. Nooooo Clarence. So back up 20 we went, worried to death that Clarence was still somewhere nearby - a payphone at Safeway? Do they even have those? We turned on Clarence's phone and discovered he had a number of the hikers. So we called them all but no one answered. We were still disparing over leaving him until right before we met the others, when Cyndi called us. A very nervous ride. (Clarence maintains he TOLD us he was riding with Cyndi. But none of us heard him. Next time in writing, please.)

Okay - we're all together now!! Nineteen of us: Laurie, Mary, Priscilla, Jo, Tammy, Tiana, Stan, Clarence, Cyndi, Karen, Maureen, Frank and Ellen, Jeff, both Marilyn's, Barbara G., John and Elly. Let's get our tickets! We marched up the steps, past people wearing NOT frumpy hiking clothes, and inquired at the office. What? The gondola is closed on Wednesdays during July? This is NOT funny. What to do? We decided to hike up the ski run and go laterally to Sawmill Lake at mid-level. Clarence went to get the maps and was informed that the area was closed and we were not to go hiking there.

Unphased, we continued on up and were never bothered. Beautiful scenery? Hardly. Very disturbed ground - like someone who went haywire with a bulldozer. When we got to Sawmill, we discovered it was driveable, hence a few fishermen in the small, muddy, dammed up lake. As we sat on rocks or in the woods, we were treated to a Western Tanager flying back and forth as well as a large trout swimming right under us.

To add more mileage, most of us circled the reservoir before heading down to rendezvous with the others at Starbucks. On the way we stopped at a large but empty pavillion to regroup and Maureen treated us to the moonwalk in honor of Michael. Clarence did too. Sort of. All told we hiked about 5.25 miles.

Northstar seemed like a big investment for so little to do on the mountain during the off season. There was a giant chess board, and checker board. People rollerskated around a rink. Some kind of bungy jumping thing was up on the hill. A large sandbox sported toys but no one was using it. There were ice cream cone chairs in front of the ice cream store where they not only didn't offer cones but charged $4 for a tiny "baby" dish of ice cream.

Next week we are talking about a trip to Summit Lake. Please feel free to put your favorites on the list. Hint: there is a comment button on the blog. But an email will do and I will add your comment. Please read John's comment below (when he adds it).

Lazing at Lovely Lakes

Photo by Clarence

Yesterday 19 of us (Jim n' Jan, Stan, Barbara B., Selma, Akiko, both Marilyns, Karen, Clarence, Tiana, Tami, Grace, John, and Elly, and new hikers: Jeff, Frank, and Ellen,) hiked in the spectacular high country. We started at Donner Ski Ranch on old route 40 and hiked to the three lakes between there and route 80. A hike of about 6 miles with some elevation gain, the trail climbed evenly up hill on the switchbacks among the giant granite outcroppings with their sprays of penstemmon, mariposa lily, heather, spirea, and other small bushes. At the top, it descended to the three lakes: Azalea, Flora, and Angela. We stopped for a leisurely lunch at Flora where Tianna and Elly took their noonday dip, crossing the small lake.

Photo by Clarence

There were only a few glitches when we couldn't find the trail. Marilyn N. was nice enough to play Hansel, leaving us her signature flour arrows for the laggard swimmers. We hoped the sky wouldn't open up, erasing them and leaving us wholey dependent on the GPS which wasn't showing trails in the section we were in. Another group had to bushwack back to a trail from a viewpoint they were visiting.

Next week we will go to Northstar and Cyndi will lead us. The cost of the lift will be $5.oo.

Loney Meadow/Rock Lake

Photos by Clarence...

Starting from either end:

End of hike: Dissension at Loney Meadow parking: We were met by understandably disgruntled hikers who had waited an inordinate amount of time in the heat of the parking lot for the group who had gone the extra miles. Solution? How about dividing into carpool groups more carefully at the beginning. Those of us who want to add an extra mile or so could be in one car. Hint: John and I always enjoy extending these hikes.

Confusion at takeoff: John and I arrive later than most and made decision NOT to go on proferred hike as it was going to be hot and we wanted to go high. A few wanted to go with us and before we knew it, everyone was going. Wow! Okay - happy to have everyone but...and guilt set in.

That off my chest, the hike was drop-dead gorgeous!! Every bit of it. We passed beautiful lakes, saw snowy mountains, and wildflowers to beat the band! How could I name them all? Oh so beautiful...I felt like being Miss Piggy and skipping through the meadows to meet Kermit.

Those who hiked to Rock Lake, did about 9 miles and all of us had a fair amount of elevation gain. We took time for lunch and a foot dip there (even a body dip but it was too chilly) and headed back. Which brings up another problem: Some of us would like to linger longer for lunch. Should that be a beginning carpool decision too? We drive all that way, hike all those miles, and would like to sit and enjoy a destination for a bit.

Participants: Stan, Jo, Barbara Blackford, both Marilyns, Clarence, Selma, Akiko, Steve and Ellen, Priscilla, Maureen, Karen, Cyndi, Tiana, Becky, John and Elly. And mosquitos too numerous to mention.

Wildflowers (some):

fields of Mules Ears and Pussy Paws

Columbine

Bleeding Heart

Marisposa Lilly

Lupine

Paintbrush

Pretty face

Blue-eyed Grass

Snow Plant

Pine drops

Corn Lily

Arctic Mine

Three cars drove out of Washington on the dirty, sometimes dicey, Maybert Road built in 1876 to the Canyon Creek bridge. After driving across the bridge, built 20 years after the road (how did those Maybertians cross that Creek?) we eeked out parking spots back where we came from, by the bridge. The road was definitely for high-clearance vehicles past that spot. We hiked up Maybert further to what we figured was Arctic Mine Road (bless the GPS and Marilyn N.'s memory). Pretty soon we arrived at the No Trespassing gate which we ignored by climbing through it and continuing on the road. The buggy (insect variety) road led to the Canyon Creek crossing where the bridge was long gone, as was the fallen log that used to suffice. As the creek was raging, rock hopping appeared out of the question and the women sat down, figuring this was as good a lunch spot as any.

But John was not satisfied and went looking for a crossing. Using his long legs he hopped around on the rocks but we were in the mode of a sitdown strike and only humored him along waiting for him to give it up. Not to be deterred, John and Clarence brought planks from the mining site there to bridge the longest hop over the raging torrent. John demoed the crossing repeatedly for the skeptical hikers and finally Akiko, Elly, and Clarence decided it was good enough and took it. And so followed most of the pack. As Elly scrambled to take a picture on the other side, she almost stepped on a rattling rattler (silenced by the rushing water) who, luckily for her, scurried away to the shade and protection of a small tree. Yikes! How do you treat rattlesnake bites, anyway?

We continued up the creek to the various mines, the biggest being Arctic, where we sat down on the foundation of some building for lunch. There, we enjoyed Maureen's leftover party cookies shaped like little bears, clubs, etc.

We reunited with Jo, who had napped and waiting at the crossing. She was surrounded by butterflies, sucking the water out of the wet sand and the lovely spot didn't look half bad. When we returned to the Maybert Road we were as seduced by the Golden Quartz picnic area where we took off our shoes and cooled our feet. Grace, Cyndi, Selma, Akiko, Tiana, Marilyn N., Clarence, Jo, Becky, Maureen, John, and Elly had hiked either 7, 8, or 9 miles - take your pick...so probably close to 8 - a fairly good hot hike with a fair amount of elevation gain.

After the fabulous BBQ/potluck last Sunday, there have been many requests for recipes. I forwarded Becky's dips as printing them in the blog was not as readable as the email.

Robie Point

Noting the continuing cool, cloudy weather, thirteen hikers braved Highway 49 to park on its flank and hike the easy last 3 miles of the Western States Trail. Led by Clarence; Selma, Akiko, Stan, Cyndi, Jo, Becky, Karen, Maureen, Marilyn S., Barbara G., John, and Elly took the correct trail in the maze of dirt roads to the finish line/horse station/skateboard park at the Newcastle canal where we had a leisurely and pleasant lunch. The route afforded many views of the aborted Auburn Dam site. It made several members think of the Ackerman editorial in the previous day's Union: where were the well-paid planners/engineers? They hadn't known that earthquakes could be set off by lots of water? This huge engineering fiasco was righted by yet more engineering to make a passably pleasing site, a recreation area for kayaks, and the bringing back of the American from its diversion.

Our mouths watered as we noted the many fig trees around what must have been an old homestead near the trail beginning. Wildflowers abounded in the bushes and trees: blooming Buckeyes, as well as Farewell to Spring, Paintbrush, St. John's Wort, various composites - mostly yellow, a spectacular stand of Sticky Chinese Houses (same family as snapdragons, paintbrush, monkeyflower), Scarlet Monkeyflower, and Milkweed and Chicory up by the skateboard park.

See you all Sunday at 4 or before - for tours and exploration...

Pictures by Elly and Clarence - last week by Clarence...

Hidden Falls

Gathering under overcast skies, we concurred that the high country would be out for the day. It was decided that Hidden Falls, over beautiful country roads near Auburn, would be the ideal hike of the day. According to my CA Native Plant Society's fabulous Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer County book (available at Bookseller), the regional park is fairly new (2006) with more acreage created from 2 adjacent ranches, making it one of largest such parks in the state.

The group consisted of 19 with 2 hikers who could not stay for the piece de resistance: the Falls. Kim, Karen, Laurie, Stan, Becky, both Marilyns, Barbara G., Mary, Grace, Jim, Maureen, Priscilla, Tami, Clarence, John and Elly plus Terry and Nancy (for a part of the time) followed Jim on his circuitous 5 mile hike that followed the wide switch backs down to Coon Creek. The air was pleasantly muggy - not too hot - quite remindful of eastern and mid-western summers.

Hiking up to where foresters were working on removing and grinding wood, we asked one of them how to get to the falls. This was the big surprise: all kinds of work had been done since the few months some of the group had been there before: new benches, steps, and a large, boat-shaped platform for viewing. I couldn't get the whole falls with my camera but there is a real good picture of it in my book. Deadman's Creek was rushing over huge falls that went down to Coon Creek (I think). Retracing our steps on the trail, we went down the rock steps to the creek for lunch.

Wildflowers were plentiful, mostly members of the Clarkia genus which is in the Evening Primrose family. Even the purple flowers that we thought were a Brodiaea seem to be Winecup Clarkias. Lovely Maidenhair ferns and some kind of onions were growing among the poison oak.

So NEXT WEEK we will try for Sagehen in the Sierra. Remember the 8:30 start time. I hope no one got confused this time.

POTLUCK UPDATE: June 14 at 4 PM - earlier if you want to...tour and set-up help...we have somewhere over 20 coming.