Stepping Out ... Monday, 8/7/17

... and About on an ordinary Monday morning.  Looking for a fairly easy, but exceptionally fine hike in the high country, we suggested Sagehen Creek Trail to our friends, Marlene and Cliff of Tumbling Creek Farm here in Nevada City.  They hadn't been hiking in quite a while, so this was a good choice for them.  It'd been over two years since we'd trod this trail (think:  two knee replacement surgeries), but when you find a "good one," it's always a pleasure to return.  Today's Sagehen hike marks our fifth in as many years.  Click here to see those past hikes.  Use your back arrow to return to this post.

To get a parking spot in the small dirt lot off Hwy 89, and get a head start on a potential army of trekkers on the path, we four were up and away at 8ish.  It takes a little over an hour to get into the Sierras, which meant the air temp would feel nice and cool.  Surprise -- the parking lot was empty, because it was Monday?  In fact, we drove right past it and had to turn around!  We not only had the lot to ourselves, we had the feeling that we were in our own private park for the entire six-mile R/T hike!   Quiet and serene.  Only one other lady leading a collie dog (Lassie?) with fluffy, satiny fur passed us.  That was it.  Amazing, as we've seen the trail crowded.  

Undammed and nearly pristine, the trail follows tiny Sagehen Creek for its final 2.5 miles, from the Hwy 89 bridge to Stampede Reservoir.  Tack on the section to the Sheepherder's defunct cabin, and you've added another mile.  The creek is home to a variety of fish, including kokanee salmon, but we saw nary a fishie today.

Sagehen Creek trail is well-known for it's spring wildflowers, when the trailsides are covered with yellow Mule's Ears blossoms, among others.  However, in the blaze of summer's sun, wildflowers were sparse.  Above is a Corn Lily on the left, an unknown yellow, and a wild Geranium bottom right.

One of our favorite parts, Jimmy's and mine, is strolling through the Aspen grove.  

Too early for any color other than green.  They were quaking, too.

Imagine the Mule's Ears solidly in bloom on either side of the trail.

Whoa, it's something to see.

Jimmy found this fungus (see his foot?).  Cliff named it.  I forgot it. 😏

We walked through Lodgepole pines, firs, cedars and Jeffrey pines  -- their bark smells like vanilla to many, but I smelled butterscotch.  Yum, either way!  Beautiful, stately trees that grow above 5,000'.  I think Sagehen Creek elevation is about 6,000'.

The trail eventually breaks out into a sunny meadow,

this day dotted with a collection of white wildflowers.

And here's where my jaw dropped, and so did Jimmy's.  We've never seen Stampede Reservoir with water "up to here!"  This winter's snow and spring rains filled the reservoir like we've never seen, maybe even to capacity.  We were literally open-mouthed.

Dudes!

We watched the sky.  Thunderstorms were forecast for late afternoon; we'd be home by then.  We ate our lunches under the pines west of the lake (above).  Though we could've easily lay back on the grass in this peaceful spot, we needed to get a move on.  Back on our feet and into the sun, it grew hot, but I don't think the temperature reached 80.  (It was above 90 when we got home.)  We all commented, more than once, on the warm fragrance we smelled as we walked along: the heady scents of summer prevailed in the mountains today, and we savored each snootful.  

Posing for pictures in a bog, of all places!  We'd already visited the sheepherder's cabin (all that's left are foundations), were startled by a Golden Eagle taking off from a nearby branch, and spied on Sandhill Cranes.  As we made our way back to where we ate lunch, Cliff eye-balled a coyote stoogin' around in the light-colored meadow (above, in the distance).  It sure was after something in the tall grass.

Clouds had moved in, and back in the trees near the creek (instant A/C), we cooled off.

Goldenrod and Purple Asters ... 

can autumn be far behind in the high country?

We were all plumb tuckered out by the time we reached the car.  Six miles can feel like a million if you're not used to hiking.  But, I'm pretty sure Marlene and Cliff enjoyed the hike. I know we did.  Fun to be Out and About on a Monday!

(Curious about how Sagehen Creek got its name?  I looked it up.  Before the Stampede Dam was constructed in 1970 there was a large meadow system where the creek converged with the Little Truckee River. A population of greater sage-grouse, commonly called “sagehens” at the time, lived in these meadows and gave rise to the names Sagehen Meadows and Sagehen Creek. Today, only a fraction of the meadow system remains due to the presence of Stampede Reservoir, although more is visible when the reservoir shrinks due to drought.)