Away we go! Tues, 6-23-20

Like everyone else, our traveling plans in 2020 were dashed to bits by COVID-19. We didn't go; we stayed home. We limited our activities to local hikes by ourselves and trips to the grocery store. Sure we thought about going, but didn't. Till now. Jimmy had finished installing our irrigation system, so we could safely leave without everything in the yard withering like a dried prune. With a heat wave forecast for Nevada City and a burning desire to "get outa Dodge," we filled Tergel with essentials on Monday and took off Tuesday morning. Headed north, into eastern Oregon, the arid, sage-covered high desert area of Hart Mountain NWR.  Hopefully the heat wave would stay in California!

Several major roads would take us to Oregon, but in the end, we chose Hwy 395, eastern California's north-south highway.  From our place, we'd travel east on I-80 to Reno, where we'd pick up Hwy 395, returning into California, and begin our trek north.  Much of the road would be two-lane travel.  Above is Honey Lake, an "endemic sink" in Honey Lake Valley.  I assumed the lake was named Honey because it was honey-colored, but, no ...  it received its name due to honeydew produced by the abundant aphids inhabiting the area, so sayeth Wiki.  Bleah.  I like my version better.

Scenes along the way ....

Straddling the California-Oregon border, Goose Lake is a large alkaline lake whose water levels fluctuate from overfull to completely dried up.  The other time we camped at Goose Lake SRA was in 2013 and the lake level was way down, owing to the drought we were experiencing.  When we drove in the entrance this afternoon, it dawned on us that, a) we had no reservation, b) the campground might be closed due to the coronavirus, and c) we hadn't bothered to check any of the above.  Happily, the c/g was open with plenty of availability (because of its remote location), and we parked in a lovely, tree-shaded site.  We were greeted by hordes of mosquitoes, but we went walking anyway.  We still couldn't walk to the lake itself, but we could see where it was (above).  Shorebirds abound, with rails, snipes and plovers right in front of us.

Lots of history here, too.  Emigrants using the Applegate Trail first viewed Oregon from Fandango Pass in the Warner Mountains.  After months of weary travel, Thomas Fletcher Royal in 1853 was one of the many travelers who found "a charming landscape."  ... For nearly five months, we had been trudging along over the sunburnt desert, among the prickly pears and sage brush, enveloped in sand and dust and poisoned with alkali.  No wonder this seemed a paradise.  Jimmy and I are camped at the star, by the red x (below).

We were one in a handful of campers; thus, it was easy to maintain distance.  It's a well-maintained, very nice park, and affordable -- $24 for W/E.  And lots of wildlife.  The night was warm and we left the window open at the head of our bed. I laid awake for a long time, looking out at the stars and waiting to hear coyotes and an owl.  I wasn't disappointed!  Later I was awakened by thunder and strobes of lightning, followed by the pitter-pat of raindrops on the roof.   I got up to check windows, but without wind, no rain was blowing in, so I left them open.

Our destination was Hart Mountain NWR, some miles northeast, so we packed it in next morning and hit the road, appreciating the scenery as we passed.  Those horses above, with their wagon, were so slow, they rusted in place 😉!  Something neither Jimmy nor I desires to do!

We made it!  Yup, we saw antelope.

Now all we had to do was find the campground.  That's for tomorrow's post.

Shirley Canyon, Thurs, 6/18/20

We're always on the lookout for information on new hiking places.  Our friend, Terry, knows we like to be Out and About, and she gave us a magazine section showing "hikes with waterfalls."  Terrific -- we're especially fond of being near water!  One of them -- the hike we did today -- is near Olympic Valley, a spot we've frequented in the past. Again, we didn't know what to expect, although we read that it was "difficult."  The beauty of trails like these is the options:  You can go and do as much or as little as you want.  Initially we didn't know if we wanted to hike to Shirley Lake or to High Camp (doubtful), but the answer became abundantly clear at a certain point.

Our starting elevation was about 6200'.  Above, you see one of the towers (Red X) for the aerial tram from Olympic Valley to High Camp (8200').  If you made the hike all the way to High Camp, you could take the tram back to the valley (free on the downhill only).

The temp at home would be in the warm mid-80's, but here the snow-melt creek helped keep the day cooler.  I think it was only 70ish.  Clear, true-blue sky, fresh air ... who could ask for more?  For us, following rowdy Squaw Creek as it sprinted downhill made our Shirley Canyon Trail hike picturesque to the nth degree!

As soon as we set off on the trail, we began scrambling up rocks and boulders.  And the trail alternated between tough boulder climbing and welome shade from tall trees, with a comfy pine straw carpet beneath.  I didn't expect much foot traffic, so I was taken aback by the number of people, including children, attempting this climb.  OK, I said to myself, if they can do it, so can we.  But kids are more resilient than we older dudes.  If they fall, they probably wouldn't break a hip.

Lots of dogs, too.  This one couldn't wait to jump in the water, with that long stick in its beak.  Please don't stand next to me when you get out and shake off! 😉

Based on the number of cascades we passed, we weren't sure if "this" was the waterfall described in the magazine.  Never mind!  Isn't this a lovely sight (Jimmy, too!).  We could hear the splashing water 95% of our time on the trail. 

Oh my!

We kept climbing, but appreciated flat/ish sections where the shade was.  So many pretty waterfalls.  Betcha there's trout in this creek!  Near this spot we saw two grouse, but they didn't want to pose for a picture.

Much of the trail was like this!

At roughly a mile-and-a-half, we came upon these large flat granite slabs, with incredible 360° views.  The 1960 Winter Olympics were held just over the ridge, to the left, out of this picture.

This amazing cascade surely was the featured Shirley Canyon waterfalls!  It went down and down and down.  Photos above and below.  Look at the colors on the watercourse.

We sat in the shade of a tall tree to eat our lunch ... inches away from the water descending the granite slope.  Very enjoyable sitting there.  So much lush greenery, wildflowers, too.  It was wonderful. 

We climbed some more, saw another aerial tower, and then we spied the High Camp tram station (Red X, above).  Looks a lot nearer than my header photo of a tower.  Yup, that's snow up there.  Luckily we didn't have to traipse through snow today!

Aha!  Here's where we turned around, thanks for the sign.  We'd had enough climbing for the day, and we still had the downhill to tackle.  Our legs were tired, so the decision was made.  We were two-thirds the way to Shirley Lake (you can see the graph in the sign).  Next time, we'll get an earlier start and hike to the lake.  We put four miles on our feet today, and had a ton o' fun.

The sign in the photo above this one?

Here's where the rest of the steep trail begins (blue blaze).

But, opposite the sign, oh boy, one more dramatic waterfall, slipping down the cliff face to pool at my feet before continuing on.

High Camp is somewhere up there.

A lean-to in the woods?  Shelter in a storm, although not much!  Ya never know what you're going to see!  We're grateful we can get out to immerse ourselves in nature like this, like this beautiful Shirley Canyon.  Very grateful.  What's next?  Now that our irrigation system is up and running, maybe we'll take a short RV trip.  Oh, let's do it!

Cascade Canal Trail, June 2020

We are so fortunate to live close enough that we can walk to this trail, accessing it from different points, with or without using our car.  We've walked it in every season, during each month, and in all types of weather.  We've biked it, and we've even shared it with friends.  You've seen plenty of our pictures, so you know how often we're trooping along here.  Cascade Canal is four-and-a-half miles long one way, from Gracie Rd to Red Dog Rd, with parking at either end, as well as at Banner Mtn Trail, at roughly the half-way mark.  It's a popular trail, but we're fortunate many times to have it almost entirely to ourselves.  No matter what, we so appreciate being on this peaceful, pleasant path.

We vary our routine.  Sometimes we do the "upper" part, often the lower section, occasionally we'll throw in the steep, winding Orene Wetherall loop.  And we always get lots o' steps in.  It's relatively flat, follows a shallow canal, with plenty of very pretty, tall-tree canopy overhead.  The leafy shade makes walking here quite tolerable in summer heat.  Today's photos were taken over the past few weeks.

Look what's blooming just outside where we enter -- the fantastic, saucer-sized Matilija poppy (with friends)! This perennial is a show-stopper, and we're trying to grow some in our front yard. Deer don't seem to eat them, even though they're often called the "fried egg plant." The rounded, large yellow center looks just like a golf ball. 

On the trail, berry plants are flowering.  Above is Thimbleberry, which I've always called Salmonberry, because the ripe berry is the color of salmon meat.  In the Pacific Northwest, it's said salmon begin their runs when the salmonberries are ready to eat.  Or maybe it's vice versa. 

If little Evie had been with us, she'd have blown this puffer into the winds.

Crimson Columbines add bright color to our walk. 

Although, this time of year, the landscape is painted with many brushes. 

When blackberry vines dig in, they spread like a wildfire.  A few areas beside the trail are lined with thorny blackberries.  Their flowers are covered with tiny butterflies, bees, and a teeny black fly.

Dainty Pine Violets appeared in the Oak leaf litter.

A couple of weeks ago, we came across young Liam on the upper trail.  He'd laid his bike to the side, with his gear next to it, and he had two fishing poles positioned at the opening of a long pipe (chute).  He told us he hadn't caught anything yet.  We talked fishing for a few minutes with this personable and enthusiastic guy, and then continued on.  Mind you, Jimmy and I have seen small fishies in the canal, but never anything worth catching.  On our return, Liam was waiting for us!  "Look!" he shouted, "I caught one!"  He added, "It's gonna be my dinner!"  We were as excited as he was, and -- boy howdy -- he made our day!  I hope he makes yours, too.

Western Wallflowers looking radiant.

Strange as it may seem, we seldom see any "wildlife" while Out and About on the trail.  Birds, yes; otherwise, nada.  The other day we saw our first sneaky (dinky) snake, sunning itself on a piece of wood (sorry it's a bit out of focus, I was in a hurry).  It bolted one second later.

Foxgloves are my favorites.  They're interspersed with ferns and blackberry vines along the canal. I'm collecting seeds in the hopes of growing these stately beauties in my yard.  We do enjoy our walks here ... there's something new to see every time. 💞  

I haven't mentioned this before, so I will now.  Our beloved Cascade Canal Trail is under BYLT (Bear Yuba Land Trust) jurisdiction -- they keep it up and keep it nice, although the canal water is ministered by NID (Nevada Irrigation District).  

to Round Valley, Thurs, 6/12/20

I don't use the word brilliant very often, but it seemed like everything -- the azure blue sky, perfectly clear air with those 360° views, dazzling snow (snow?), verdant meadows, evergreen trees -- about this hike to Round Valley was brilliant.  We picked the right day to head into the Sierras to hike near the Castle Peak-Boreal area, by Donner Summit, 'cause tomorrow was forecast to be chilly and windy.  We'd not been on this trail before, so we didn't know what to expect, certainly not snow!  Our starting elevation was 7200 ft.

Wait!  We begin in snow ...?

Well, patches of snow anyway.  Jimmy is gazing at 9,103' Castle Peak, a beautiful sight we can see from the I-80 freeway.  It's named for the volcanic extrusions on its jagged summit that resemble castle turrets.  We've often talked about hiking in this area, but never got around to it till today.  I was hoping the Corn Lilies would be in bloom, but we were much too early in the season.  The temp here was roughly 70°, whereas at home the temp would rise to 86° -- happier in the cool mountains!

I adore the trees up here, even the dismantled ones.

So much beauty in these trees.

This sign was a bit helpful, but otherwise we didn't see any signage, and had to ask a couple of times if we were on the right path.  We didn't see many people, because other trails branch off from here, so foot traffic was minimal .. though enough to help us out. 

Much of the trail was clear of snow, but not of snow melt.  We stepped over many tiny rills, streams, muddy courses, and walked through the rest.  The trail was awash with thin snow melt.  And neither of us got wet feet (till the end, when I made a misstep).  Walking on this stuff wasn't easy since it was slick and very slippery.  

None of the taller wildflowers was in bloom yet, so we'll have to return to see those wonderful Corn Lilies, etc.  We didn't see many flowers, period, just tiny groups as you see above, plus Pussy Willows growing near some of the permanent streams.

As I mentioned, the views were spectacular, no matter which way you looked.  Again, here are the sheer, dramatic cliffs of Castle Peak.  We continued trekking up toward Castle Pass (7,880') and Round Valley, approximately 2.5 miles.  It was awesome.  (There is a steep trail to the top of Castle Peak, not one we want to tackle.  Jimmy said I should add the word "yet.")

At Castle Pass, junction with the Castle Peak Trail and the PCT.  Along here, we met a couple heading downhill.  They advised us we'd encounter a lot of snow on the trail further along toward the Peter Grubb Hut and Round Valley.  They'd been hiking for four days -- 38 miles -- from the Sierra Buttes.  That's endurance! 

It was so tall, with a commanding presence even in death.

Look up!  Brute strength in those big ol' arms!

Here we are on the granite boulders above Round Valley, with small spruce twisted into bizarre shapes by fierce winter gales.  The views up here had me turning in all directions, saying, "wow!" over and over.  It was worth the climb!

Breathtaking .... 💖

Yes, when we began hiking down to Round Valley, we said, ixnay -- slippery snow covered the trail all the way down.  We stayed up here where it was safer.  Besides the valley was a bog at this time, with no spring or summer wildflowers; hence, no reason to chance it.  The panorama of the long, open ridgeline between Castle and Basin Peaks suited us just fine. 

Growing out of granite, how do they do it?

When they fall, they don't simply disappear,

it takes them a very, very long time to vanish.

Unabashed tree-hugger!  (see me?)

Love these massive Western White Pines and Jeffrey Pines.

Imagine how spectacular this will look when these guys grow football-sized leaves, with white three-to-four-foot high flower stalks!  There are thousands of Corn Lilies along this trail.

Another passing couple (coming from the PCT) offered to take our picture, with yonder snow-capped mountains as our backdrop.  Sure!  Have you noticed when out hiking -- it certainly takes less time to return to the starting point than to get to where you got to!?  (nice sentence)  Our plan is to come back here in about three weeks, when (hopefully) the snow is gone from the trail and flowers are a-bloomin'.  We put around five miles on our feet today, a most enjoyable way to spend a brilliant day.