Up to the Snow! Monday, 4/29/19

Proceeding from the very warm and lovely flower kingdom at Crystal Hermitage Gardens a few days ago, Jimmy and I wanted to see the other side of our NorCal spectrum -- the deep snow of the Sierras.  The first of May is around the corner, but it'll be another month or more before all this snow melts!  While the lower elevations were inundated with multiple inches of rain (plus some snow) -- 66+ inches in the Nevada City foothills -- the higher elevations were slammed with snow.  At last count, I read that the high peaks of Squaw Valley received 682" of snow this season.  Let's see ... 682" divided by 12 = 56.83 FEET of snow -- holy cannoli!  They'll be skiing till July!

We missed seeing the snow in all its glory, but we had no interest in tackling slick roads that might require chains.   Today was just fine for us.  Looking at the photo above, you see a house beside the raging South Yuba River, or should I say, you barely see a house.  Much of the deeper stuff has already melted in temps like we saw this afternoon, 61°, so I can only imagine this house was literally buried a couple of weeks ago.

At the Donner Summit (7,227') Rest Area off I-80, the snow is packed solid where the plow has pushed it or it's been blown and compacted.  Kind of chilly standing next to this ten-plus foot solid wall of "dirty" snow. 

It'll be some time before anyone enjoys a picnic at this Rest Area table!

It really made us happy to see so much snowpack on the Sierras.  Yup, we sure feel fortunate living so close to these beautiful mountains ... only about an hour's drive to Donner Pass summit.

We parked in our usual place at Squaw Valley Park (and Hwy 89), where it's easy to access the Truckee River Bike Trail.  No biking for us, but a fairly vigorous walk would do us well.  You see how deep the snow is right here, though in some areas, all was gone.  I looked for brilliant red Snow Plants beneath conifer trees alongside the river, but it was too early for them.  In fact, we saw no wildflowers.  Not here, not yet.

A fly fisherman casts into the wild-wild-wild Truckee River!

I found a spot where I could dip my fingers in to see if the water was cold.  Hah!  It was more than cold.  It was frigid.  Glad I didn't fall in!

One of my favorite spring plants is Pussy Willow.  I was tempted to snip off a branch or two, but I didn't.  I can get some closer to home.

At the intersection of Hwy 89 and Alpine Meadows and around the bend from this restaurant/inn building is the takeout point for summer rafting on the Truckee.  Looks like it'll be a good year for rafting companies!  I'm sure the water will remain high enough for floating through the summer.

Incredible white water!  Not many years ago, maybe two or three, the Truckee's water level was so low we could almost step from one side of the river to the other without getting our feet wet.  All this snowpack means water to fill our thirsty reservoirs.  I think we "stuck a sock in" the state's years-long drought -- hooray!

At Squaw Valley, gondolas ply skiers up and they race gracefully downhill.  At least it appears graceful to us standing below and watching.  Children, too!  We weren't surprised to see a goodly number of snowboarders and skiers Out and About.

At Squaw Creek, this shot looks toward the mountains above Squaw Valley.  Clouds build as a new weather system approaches.  Perhaps fresh snow will fall above 7,000'.

Check out the video.

We managed to put about four miles on our feet without getting them wet!  The weather was perfect for walking.  I had my down parka with me (in case it was cold), which I didn't need, and which encumbered me for most of our hike.  A late lunch found us at Moody's Bistro in the Truckee Hotel -- good food (but lousy and loud music).  A most enjoyable day up in the high country, ogling not spring flowers, but winter's bountiful snows.  When will we be able to hike up in these parts, sans snow?  Well, I don't know, exactly, but the end of May might be a good time to see what's new on the Sage Hen trail.  Alpine Lakes might not be doable till July!

Table Mountain, Wednesday, 4/25/19

Jimmy and I finally made it to Table Mountain north of Oroville, an hour-and-a-half's drive from us ... a favored spot for spring wildflowers in California.  I've been wanting to visit since I first heard that it was a great area for flowers, but I wasn't sure how to find the exact location.  A few days ago, Kial of Nevada City Scenics gave me the address, many thanks.  Well, most of you know that NorCal had a banner season for rainfall -- thus, everyone knew we'd have a superb wildflower season!  And it has been glorious!  Time was running out to see the spectacle, however, as the days were heating up fast.  I wonder how cool winter temps can morph into summer heat in less than a week!  What happened to spring?  Behold the wildflowers!

The drive didn't seem too long or disagreeable.  Hwy 70 took us north through the almond and walnut orchards, but no wildflowers.  On winding Cherokee Road we drove up and around a leg of Lake Oroville, eventually reaching Table Mountain parking lot ... where we were greeted by acres of Sky Lupines and Goldfields.   

Our hike began on brittle basalt that forms the mesa that is Table Mountain, surrounded by green -- green fields, green trees, green shrubs -- a brilliant contrast to the dark rock, and interspersed with vivid swaths of blue and yellow.  A tiny rivulet splashed downhill to Jimmy's left.  We saw no signs at the trailhead, but the parking lot was filled with cars and we saw plenty of people on this trail, so we followed them.  Unfortunately, we had no map and I'd forgotten my phone, so I couldn't access AllTrails (sigh).  Ho hum, off we went, happy as people can be who don't know where they're going and don't mind it, only that they ARE going!

We had to share the Ecological Reserve with bovines.  Many were close enough to touch, but I doubt anybody did.  They're probably skittish if approached too closely.  They don't mind leaving calling cards directly on the trail, however, fresh and juicy, to be avoided at any cost!  We also had to shoo them off the trail in front of us.  Hiyah - get on there!

Other tiny streams met up with each other and formed Campbell Creek.

Wherever we turned, we spied more wildflowers.  Above is a cluster of Bitterroot, mixed with a white blossom I couldn't identify.  We were atop the mesa, looking down into a pool formed by the drop of Hollow Falls.  Below us, a group of (high school?) girls were splashing in the water.  We heard them before we saw them!

They were having lots o' fun, though accompanied by several adults.  They look tiny that far below.  Our trail took us down-down-down, as those girls dashed up (oh to be young!).  

Top:  White-tipped clover, Blue Dicks, Seep Monkey Flower

Bottom:  Purple Owl's Clover, Larkspur, Bitterroot

Hollow Falls is one of the shorter falls (69') on Table Mountain that flows well but only after a lot of rain.  It's a lovely cascade down a gradual slope where the waterfall has cut into the rock face.  Kind of dramatic from below!

From Hollow Falls, we kept walking, meeting fewer and fewer people.  The canyon was glowing with colors.  The hike took longer for us as we kept stopping to take pictures, the scenery was that breathtaking.

We wandered into and through an oak savanna,

cascades of flowers flowing down the hillsides.

A wildfire ravaged parts of Table Mountain in the last couple of years, felling giants and burning vegetation.  This appears to be one of the victims.

The trail converged several times, and we guessed, right or left ...?  We met no more people, and really didn't know if we were on a loop or would have to return via the same path.  Above is Campbell Creek and its lovely canyon.  At this point, a figure appeared on top of the mesa, heading down our way.  When we asked if this was a loop trail, he said no, that we'd have to go back the way we came, but if we kept going, a fantastic waterfall was ahead that we really shouldn't miss.  Just follow the path up the ridge and ... keep going.  In the full sun.  On the first hot day we'd had since last year.  OK, we decided we wanted to see the waterfall.  But I was wishing for shade or clouds ....

At the fringe of the blooming season, we didn't see entire hillsides blanketed in purple owl's clover, but it was a color I'd not seen before. and it was fantastic.

Looking back toward the trees from whence we came, with hillsides ablaze in wildflowers -- the Sky Lupines and Goldfields and Purple Owl's Clover and Foothill Poppies, and lots of others, and Campbell Creek leading us toward a waterfall.  We'd heard about the waterfall from folks who'd been here and knew we wanted to see it.

By gum, we'd hiked so far that we could see the valley to the west!  And smoke!  Someone was burning something, but it must have been controlled 'cause we heard no planes, etc.  Surely we had to be close to the waterfall or we'd reach the valley!  Loved that purple clover!

Much of the area on the ridge was covered in chunks of sharp basalt, which made for hazardous and slow walking.  Fertile ground for poppies, though.  We kept walking and after crossing one more short canyon, we heard the waterfall.

And then we saw it!  Beatson Falls.  It was loud and it was beautiful, with an impressive 104' drop.  Perched high atop the mesa, the falls disappeared from our sight before it hit bottom.  We sat and admired and rested and ate a granola bar.  The sun was hot.  We were feeling "done in" and still had miles to go to get back to our car, though happy to have attained our goal of experiencing another gonzo wildflower display and hiking to the waterfall.  Two fellas came along as we sat, with a MAP of Table Mountain, and told us we were at Beatson Falls.  Not THE falls everyone talked about (Phantom Falls).  Harumph.  Never mind.  Time to turn tail and head for the car.  

Basalt hoodoos in the canyon below the falls. 

We turned around at 3pm, two hours after beginning, retracing our steps with the sun on the wane and the flowers glowing brighter than they had earlier.  The hillsides were, well, you see for yourself.

We've never seen so many lupines!

As we walked along, we realized that the entire time we were on the trail, we heard a continual, a pervasive humming from above.  Zillions of bees were droning in the oaks and in the flowers.  We ate our apples as we made our way through the oaks.

This really is a great place to hike but be prepared.  We were not.  We'd started out late, didn't have a map (or a clue!), no phone, inadequate hydration, no bug spray for mosquitoes (in the wet canyon bottoms), no sunscreen, and probably one or two more "why didn't we bring?" items.  When we reached the car, the temp was 88 degrees, much MUCH warmer than what we'd been used to.  Heck, we'd been standing in front of our toasty fireplace till last week!  One of these days we'll have it all together!  Maybe. 😊

When son, Matt, read this last paragraph, he kind of laughed and said, "You guys sound like rookies!"  I guess sometimes we do, although we're not and know better!

THE END.

Springtime, plus -- Thursday, 4/18/19

On Thursday evening, Jimmy and I joined Kial James of Nevada City Scenics and Mai Lee, Crystal Hermitage Marketing Manager for a private photo walk of Ananda Village and the most extraordinary Crystal Hermitage gardens.  This time of year, it's all about tulips!  What began 40 years ago as a small private garden is now frequently a top "​Gorgeous Gardens" stop in the West. Visiting the gardens is an annual springtime tradition in the Sierra Foothills for over 12,000 visitors.  Many of our friends make seeing the gardens an annual excursion.  Jimmy and I each carried a camera.

Imagine this:  Every year a new crop of Dutch bulbs is planted.  I've read that at the end of the blooming season, all the tulip bulbs are dug up and given away, but either it's a raffle or you have to be one of the first to sign up to receive bulbs.  I tried to sign up this evening, but the list was full.  Darn!  Maybe next year!  I've also heard that maple scones (to die for) are served, but we have yet to taste one.  Like I said, maybe next year!

The flowering cherry trees are frosting on the cake.

These photos are from the "red" Olympus camera, aka the underwater camera, which Jimmy wielded this evening.  Some of the 111 varieties planted are Brown Sugar, Louvre, Whispering Dream, Leen Van der Mark, Blue Berry Ripple, Amazing Parrot, Miranda (the Peony/Double, sorry, no photo), Hocus Pocus, Purple Dream, Virichic, and Happy Family (didn't find this one).

On a lower terrace is the radiant "Moksha Mandir" -- it was erected in honor of Swami Kriyananda’s life (the founder of Ananda).  In this sacred mandir, Swamiji’s remains were placed in their final resting place.

St Francis of Assisi.

The grounds include a lovely chapel, modeled after St. Francis of Assisi’s chapel in Italy.  Weddings are frequently held in here, as well as outdoors amid the flowers.

Crystal Hermitage gardens aren't huge like other tulip extravaganzas in the country.  Consisting of winding pathways and terraces filled with flowers for everyone to enjoy, the gardens overlook the forested North Yuba River Canyon (above and below).  In the photo below you can make out a bit of the river at center, near the bottom.  Above, I've got my camera aimed and ready!

We visited Crystal Hermitage gardens the first time in 2013.

We weren't sure what the flowering tree was, but guessed a weeping cherry.  The Japanese maple in the foreground was aglow with new leaves.  Ponds and pools add to the overall beauty and tranquility.

Kial was kind enough to take a group photo and forward a copy.

Can you spot me and Jimmy?

After leaving the gardens, we drove/walked to the nearby ridge for sunset views.  Ananda Village is set among 700+ acres of rolling foothills in Nevada County, and quite a picturesque backdrop for the wonderful tulip display.  The gardens are open all year ... lucky us to live close enough to make the trek several times a year if we chose to.  My prediction is ... we'll come back again soon.  I hope you enjoyed our pictures.