Higher Ground! Thursday, 7/30/20

We did it!  Well, we got close, really close.  Almost there.  Another five hundred feet or less and we'd have it.  Though it wasn't our plan to hike to the top of Castle Peak or to hike this section of the PCT, this is what happened.  And it was one of our best hikes ever ... all seven miles' worth!

Jimmy and I "do" our neighborhood streets, and our canal trail several times a week, but if you don't get out early (or late), it's too hot to be Out and About.  A big advantage of hiking in the high Sierras is their cooler temps.  This summer, it seems as though Thursdays are the day we pick to head to "higher ground!"  Above, we took the trail to the left.

In case you're wondering, I'll tell you up front that the corn lilies were a non-event, a no-show, nada.  Most of the masses of plants didn't even form a flower stalk.  Maybe the snowpack was too thin or they didn't get enough rain, or I don't know, but this is the third time we've been here this year and nothing.  So be it.  We saw plenty of other flowers.

Including poison hemlock and cow parsnip, and the clusters of Lewis' Monkeyflower (above) near tiny stream crossings of the trail.

Nice and shady in the tall trees.

We love hiking in the Sierras.

These trees are so amazing.

Did the rock embrace the tree or did the tree swallow the rock?  

Winding up through the trees and into the rocks.  Castle Peak stands tall, but it wasn't till we got to Castle Pass that we looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and said, "Let's give it a try."  It sure looks far away in the above photo!  The turreted summit is 9100'.

If you're looking at these pics on your phone, you're missing a lot of detail.  We've started up to the peak in this shot (see above).  That last zigzag bit close to the check mark looks steep, IS STEEP.  In this section, we were in full sun, but it didn't feel hot.  Two weeks ago I struggled to "get up the hill;" today I felt pumped.  Go figure.  Maybe it's my new vitamins.

I placed a red x where someone is very carefully coming down the trail.

Honest.  You might want to enlarge the pic!

Not too bad right here.

I found a new-to-me flower way up here -- Lobb's Buckwheat.  It's a low grower owing to the altitude and exposure.  Cool beans!

We scrambled up this far and are looking out a "porthole" at the trail beyond.  I believe we got as far as the black rocks in the middle of the pic, or just before the last steep incline, roughly 8700'.  You see the rest of the trail angling up by the check mark.

The views were incredible.  When we got beyond those trees, I told Jimmy that, though I wanted to, I just didn't have it in me to climb any further; my legs were done.  Our elevation gain was already about 1400'.  Another thought:  maybe next time!  Get an earlier start and bring more food/drink.

Then there was the treacherous, sharp zigzag descent.  We were NOT looking forward to that.  As it was, even with our careful footing, we both ended up on our heinies as our feet slid on the scree.  No harm done.  You didn't dare build up any momentum or you'd slide down to the Pacific Ocean!  Behind Jimmy, you see our trail snaking off into the distance.

So we clambered down, and back into the shade and the easier part of the trail.  The boles on some of the trees are outlandishly big.  This pic shows just a bit of it ... I couldn't get it all in on one photo!

And then there's this:  Why is the lichen growing in rings on so many of the trees?  I don't know the answer, but maybe it isn't important.  Neat to see.  So, we returned to the car, happy at our accomplishment, and immediately got caught in a road construction traffic jam on I-80, but ... eventually made it home all in one piece.  Kinda looking forward to our next foray to Castle Peak!

We said we'd return ... Thurs, 7/9/20

It was one month ago that Jimmy and I tied on our hikers to check out Castle Peak/Round Valley in the Sierras, but using snowshoes to navigate the trail would have been just as appropriate!  I thought then that our timing would be perfect-o to see the Corn Lily bloom spectacle, but we were way too early.  We said we'd return.  And today we did.  I worried that we might be too late!  Click here to see what the trail looked like a month ago.

Oh heck, I might as well say it now and get it over with:  This has to be the Year of Mosquitoes.  Fits right in with the word "pandemic!"  As usual, I slathered Skin-so-Soft and sprayed with a natural Cutter before setting out.  Didn't matter.  I'm guessing skeeters love the stuff ... almost as much as they love me!  

Nevada City was in the midst of a heat wave, with temps in the high 90's, and we wanted to escape the heat.  It was definitely cooler where we were hiking, at close to 8,000 ft, but I still overheated on the initial uphill slog!

Yet, it was nice to get Out and About again, appreciate the beauty of this area and see what had changed.  No snow was the major difference; it had all melted, so no snowshoes required!  Lots more flowers now, too.  Above, Parish's Yampah covered large patches of ground.  We spied a couple of horses clip-clopping along in the distance.

The Woolley Mule's Ears put on a good showing.

Clockwise, beginning top left:  Seep Monkey Flower, Alpine Aster, Crimson Columbine, Sulphur Buckwheat and Spreading Phlox.  Oodles of pop-up color today.

A thrush (I'm guessing Swainson's Thrush) sang for us as we walked through the forested area -- as it did the last time we followed this trail.  Such a lovely, plaintive tune.

I climbed down a bit (not too far, please) and got a pic of Jimmy up on the granite boulders.  The small dark pink wildflower shrubs in the foreground are called Mountain Pride; they seem to grow out of rock!  We picked a lovely day for a hike, though it was hot in the sun; blue sky all around ... nary a cloud in sight.

Approaching Round Valley ... each green clump is a potential pretty blossom ... and I didn't step on any, not a one.  

On the left is one giant clump of Arrowleaf Balsamroot.  At Castle Pass, we encountered lots o' delicate Leichtlin's Mariposa Lilies, and one my fav's, bottom right, is pink Pussy Paws -- the flower that feels and looks like chenille.  They were abundant trailside.

Here we are at Round Valley, the place we couldn't get to a month ago because of snow -- and a verdant, lush meadow.  In front of Jimmy is teeny Lower Castle Creek, which nurtures the valley as it winds through it.  Three Forest Service Women were on the job with their nets, looking for the endangered Yellow-legged Frog.  They didn't spot any frogs, but they did see tadpoles.  Gad, I couldn't stand still here for a second.  The mosquitoes ate me alive!  I finally sprayed DEET, but not on my hands, so I got bit on my fingers!  Egad!  One of the ladies said, "Come back in a couple of weeks and this entire valley will be thick with wildflowers." Yes, and hopefully those wildflowers will replace the danged skeeters!

We've never seen a Wild Forget-me-not Moth, but we did today!  They're tiny!  Sierran Stickseed and Jessica Sticktight are two of its host flowers and there's plenty of these in bloom right now.  The other pics are a Larkspur, top right, and Mountain Pride, bottom right, and a Lupine blossom.  I don't know how many lupine species there are, but we saw a number of them today.

We made it to our destination:  the Peter Grubb Hut at Round Valley.  Built in the late 1930s by friends and family as a tribute to Peter Grubb (an avid skier and mountaineer from San Francisco), this scrappy hut is one of four popular cabins operated by the Sierra Club in the area.  Next to the hut is the upstairs/downstairs outhouse!  Peeyew!  

The door was unlocked.  We entered a hut complete with necessaries for mountain travelers:  tools, a wood stove (and lots of wood), camp stove, guitar (guitar?), cards, hooch, picnic benches, clothes lines (with pins for drying clothes) above the stove, and a sign-in log.  I believe the hut is largely used by snowshoeing folks and possibly cross country skiers.  This would also be a good hideaway in a summer thunderstorm.

Back on the trail for the return hike to the car.  This is approx a six-mile out and back hike, with roughly 1000' elevation gain.  In the heat, I'd rate the ascents as strenuous, but that was me today.  Quite a few trails branch off; plenty of options.  One goes to Castle Peak, and another is a loop that includes Basin Peak.  Maybe one day we'll attempt these, but it'll have to be cooler!

Here's another option, heading down into the Upper Castle Creek basin, which somehow connects to something, somewhere.  Sounds like our kind of trail!  Turreted Castle Peak looms in the distance.

Were you waiting to see the Corn Lily flower display?  We're still TOO EARLY!  Above, mixed in with blue Sierran Stickseed, you see Corn Lily buds, but no blooms.  Not today.  Come back in two weeks!  Okay, will do. 😊  Hope we won't be TOO LATE!

Rye Patch to home, June 29-30, 2020

Thank goodness for our portable catalytic propane heater!  The morning's low at Virgin Valley c/g in Sheldon NWR (Nevada) was a chilly 44°, with clouds and wind.  That heater kept us toasty.  We've run the weather gamut for our week's trip:  Hot, cold, dry, wet, windy and stormy -- not bad for one week!  We certainly didn't expect so much drama, either, but at least we beat the high temps at home.  We decided to carry on south since the day here didn't look too good, weather-wise.

But first, we wanted to check out the Royal Peacock Opal Mine, located at the end of a gravel road eight or ten miles in from the campground.  (These dusty gravel roads no longer faze Smartie.)  Anyway, we were this close, why not?

Kokopelli (aka Piccolo Pete).

Who knows why.

As you see, exciting skies this morning!  With shallow lakes/wetlands on one side and unusual, picturesque rock formations on the other, our drive to the mine was not boring!  

The road dead-ends at Royal Peacock Opal Mine.  There, a surprise vista opened up before us:  Shade trees and a wide, well-cared for campground with FHU's and a few campers, cabins, a gift shop and the owners' home -- a small Eden.  Julie (bundled in a parka!) came out to greet us and gave us a bit of background info.  She told us the fees for camping and for digging, but then advised us that without sun, today wouldn't be the best for opal digging.  Okay, we said, thanks, and we'll come back another time.  She was very nice.

We had to return the way we came, and admired the scenery a second time.  It always looks different approaching from the other direction.  These hills are fascinating!

She doesn't look really bad, but, boy howdy,

does she ever need a thorough cleaning!

Two more pics at Virgin Valley Campground.  Above is obviously an old brick structure, but neither of us got close enough to peek in.  It's surrounded by a wire fence.  Below is the warm springs swimming hole that we enjoyed last evening.  The bathhouse, with two flowing, warm showers, is at right.

Not much work to pack up Tergel, then it was back on Hwy 140 to Denio and south to Winnemucca and the I-80 freeway.  Our goal was west, to a spot off the freeway called Rye Patch Reservoir; we hoped we could snag a site for the night.  No problem -- on Monday, there were lots of sites available.

We backed Tergel into the site above, overlooking the reservoir.  The afternoon was pleasant, warm, not hot, and nice enough to sit outside (Jimmy) or go for a walk (me), till the sun nosedived toward the horizon.  Elevation here is 4150 ft, so the night will no doubt be pretty cool.  Good park, $15, no hookups.

The reservoir comes from a dam on the generally east-to-west Humboldt River which rises in the mountains near Wells, Nevada, and terminates in the Humboldt Sink, approximately 225 miles away in the desert.  [The sink and its surrounding area was a notorious and dreaded portion (called the Forty Mile Desert) of overland travel to California during the westward migrations of the mid-1800s, which were mostly undertaken along the California Trail.]  Fun for some of us to read up on this era.  Nowadays, Rye Patch Reservoir is a State Recreation Area, with lots of fishing and boating.

Is it real?  A Hollywood caricature?  Yes, it's real.  While I was dipping my toes at lake's edge, I turned around and spied this guy standing tall above the lake, like a prince o'erlooking his kingdom.  Wow.

After a quiet night, we packed it in and took off for home.  When we left a week ago, we'd had no specific itinerary, except to go to Hart Mountain NWR.  Neither did we have a time frame, but sort of figured we'd be away a week-to-ten-days.  As it turned out, we left on Tuesday and returned the following Tuesday.  Most enjoyable and just right for our first COVID Getaway.  And now ... looking forward to going Out and About again soon.  After mosquito season!

To Sheldon NWR, Sunday, 6/28/20

A real change occurred in the nighttime, 'cause dawn broke cloudy and cool and windy, with rain in the forecast.  Long-sleeve weather.  Since a) the weekend was over, b) we weren't going to camp at Page Springs near Frenchglen,  and c) we discovered Hwy 205 was paved all the way south, we decided to continue to Virgin Valley campground in Sheldon NWR (top west corner of Nevada) -- see map below.

For Our Getaway, we started at Hart Mountain, drove north to Malheur, and now south to Sheldon.  All National Wildlife Refuges.  Was this our plan?  I don't know ... I think it just evolved.  But it was a good choice.

The drive was great, no traffic AT ALL, a brisk north (tail) wind, and plenty of fine scenery; I enjoyed being behind the wheel.  Plus, the weather improved as we made our way south.  We knew nothing about Sheldon, though I remember my friend, Lyn, talking many years ago about nearby Denio and an opal mine.  I'd forgotten about it, but when I saw we'd drive through Denio to get to our campground (no fee, first-come/first-served, no hookups), I recalled she'd suggested we go there.  Hmmm ....

Awww, at the vacant entrance kiosk, these li'l cuties had taken up residence.  They were waiting for Mom/Dad to bring home some bacon.  Or skeeeters!  Eat more skeeters!

Our campground is fairly exposed (above), but we chose a decently level site, with no other campers around us.  By the time we arrived, the wind had turned into a gale.  Birds were having trouble flying!  We watched a blackbird aiming for a cottonwood, overshoot the mark, try to flyback (like backtrack) into the wind, fly sideways, and finally reach a branch.  It was kinda funny, but probably not to the bird.  A Nighthawk sitting on the ground was nearly upended by the wind. I'm sure it didn't enjoy being jostled about like that.  We were happy to be camped and off the road.  We decided to take a walk into the desert, enjoy the moment Out and About ... but had to hang onto our hats!  The best news is the wind kept the skeeters at bay!

Does time stand still?

Littering is not a new trend.

People have been dumping stuff 'n junk since forever.

Appears as though the weather might be catching up to us here at Sheldon.  Notice the clouds?  We were on an explore and could've walked for hours, but ... the time.  Dinner and all that.  We did spot a newly headless small game bird (??) and several bleached old bones, but no gold or opals.  Darn!

Sure enough, we watched a big ol' thunderstorm close in while we were cozily installed inside Tergel, and drops fell, but we had no rainstorm.  A draw for this campground was the warm springs pool, which we used!!  Had our bathing suits with us in Tergel and, by gum, in we went -- water maybe 90 degrees?  Very nice.  You don't often see a photo of me in a bathing suit!  After our swim, we hurried to get our towels in the lee of the rustic bathhouse, then a shower, and warm duds for the walk to Tergel.  By this time, the temp was plunging, and we felt cold (wind chill).  I know my sister, broiling in the deep south, won't believe it, but we climbed back into our sweats!

Tomorrow we'll probably move on ....