Cool, huh? Wednesday, 1/26/22

Yes, it's January, but you see it here:  Blooming daffies!

I'm still so not used to writing or typing 2022, though it's easier than 2021.  The other day I was relating something to someone and accidentally said 1982, or some such!  Guess that's what happens when you get older.  Besides, I've spent many more years in the 20th century than I have in this current one!

We still have a few small piles of snow on the ground from that huge Christmas snowstorm, but they won't last much longer.  Our daytime temps have been in the 50's and even touching 60 degrees, which doesn't sound very wintry.  No rain or snow, either, this month.  None at all.

Olmstead Loop Trail

Since the days are so fine, we go hiking.  Lucky us to have many choices.  If it's hot, we go to the high country.  If it's chilly, we head down the hill.  Today we met up with our friends, Laurie and Odel, who live south of us near Placerville, to try a new site in the Town of Cool, elevation roughly 1500'.  Part of the Auburn State Recreation Area, Olmstead Loop Trail, is an 8.6 mile loop that parallels Hwy 49 on one side and the American River Canyon on the other, passing through open, rolling hills dotted with beautiful oak trees.  We'll come back in spring when wildflowers abound, and those oaks have leafed out.  It'll be gorgeous.

Odel, Laurie and Jimmy on the move!

We started out with jackets and vests (a 45° morning), but shed clothes as the temp rose to rousing 64°! We didn't do the entire 8.6 miles, hiking a bit less than 4 miles today, but this loop trail is intermingled with lots of offshoots and cutoffs.  We ended up on the Knickerbocker Trail.  All of us plan on returning, 'cause we want to see the rest of the trail.

We found our way to an old cement foundation, with bits and pieces of another life in evidence, old pans, and a wire coiled box springs (bottom right).  It was a great place to sit and visit and eat lunch.  It had been a while since we've seen each other ... nice to play catchup.

We saw a couple of stately hawks in the distance and watched Acorn Woodpeckers flit through the oaks overhead.  Above is a foot-long piece of bark from a dead tree that shows the holes these woodpeckers drill in a tree, which they fill with acorns, though obviously, the acorns are long gone.

We jumped this tiny creek ... some more gracefully than others.

Not naming any names.

A road runs through the area, cutting into the hill above, which we believe was used for the potential Confluence Dam construction.  No vehicle traffic allowed these days.  Laurie and I both thought we'd like to climb the hill (next time) -- we just know the views would be great.  That tangle of brownish stuff?  Blackberry vines.  We made our way back to the cars via the horse trailer parking lot.

And we stopped to have a chat with two big dark horses.  The one above (can't remember her name) was BIG, part Friesian.  I don't know a thing about horses and, truthfully, am a little scared of them, but these two seemed kinda nice.  But BIG.

This guy was called Max, and he liked to paw the ground.

Max got his snoot sort of close to the camera!

Well, Jimmy and I are kinda wacky, I suppose.  Instead of driving straight home, we went on a bit of explore.  To the Town of Foresthill (noting trail signs along the way for possible future hikes), which we discovered is The End of the Line.  The road dead ends.  Phooey.  Rather than backtrack to Auburn and then home, we spied a tiny sign in Forest Hill that read:  Colfax - 15 miles.  OK, we'd go home via Colfax; we knew how to do that.  We crossed several streams in the process.

I'll just say that this road to Colfax turned into a dirt track!  Downed trees from last month's storm had been cut away so at least it was clear.  Twice we came upon forks in the track that baffled us since no signs were posted indicating which way to go.  We ended up taking Shirttail Canyon, which went on and on, up and down on switchbacks over hills and into canyons.  We were despairing of ever seeing Colfax!  This was the longest 15 miles I've ever driven!  Eventually it led us to Iowa Hill.  Iowa Hill?  Or did we just drive all the way to Iowa!  The sun was setting!

Aw, heck, the road became paved again at Iowa Hill, and eight miles later, we hit Colfax!  Altogether the 15 miles was more like 25-30 miles of total back country.  We survived another Nickie and Jimmy wild adventure, one we don't have to repeat!  Nice to learn new things, and now we know there's an old gold mining town called Iowa Hill, and the road to the Town of Forest Hill ends there.  Period.

Nevertheless, it was a fun day.  And we really weren't too worried about being lost and having to spend a night in the Prius.  Really.

January 2022

 

Sometimes a change of scenery will do the trick, take us out of the usual, everyday life.  Often this variation is just the ticket.  Jimmy and I live in tall tree country, in Nevada County, where every January our Incense Cedar trees begin spitting pollen, and every January, my eyes begin to weep, I sneeze ferociously and my nose runs, and so I seem to be allergic to these very trees that surround us.  In January, for heavens sake!  Snow on the ground, pollen on the roof!  I'm on eye drops, nose spray, and allergy pills now, but allergy shots may be in my future.  I love to be outdoors, but not here, not now.  Where to go?

In Yuba County (among others), 30 miles downhill, down Highway 20, rice is planted on a large scale.  In winter many rice growers flood their fields to soften the stubble and make it easier to till in the spring.  It's a win-win for migratory birds, as the rice fields provide food and a resting place for nearly 230 wildlife species.  According to the California Rice Commission, these flooded fields are the source of 60% of the food for 7 to 10 million ducks and geese that migrate along the Pacific Flyway each winter.  Woodruff Lane in Yuba County is where we headed today, to see the birds.

Ahhhh, magnificent!

We saw a number of observant hawks.

Some of the flooded fields showed stubble, while others held more water.  Sutter Buttes appears hazy in the distance.  Be fun to hike in The Buttes come spring, but I believe only guided hiking is allowed.

While this area isn't quite as packed with birds as Gray Lodge, which we visited over two years ago and which is twice the distance from our house, we saw plenty to make us happy -- including Tundra Swans, Snow geese, White-fronted geese, and lots of duck species.  And many others.

We parked the car off Woodruff and set out on one of the levees that separates the rice ponds.  All the birds would eye us warily and if they thought we were too close, up they'd go!  What's funny to us was, when we'd walk to the other side of a pond, via levee, to get closer to the birds, those birds would've already paddled far away from us!  I know, no winning that one.

Cattails -- falling apart!

When flying overhead, Tundra Swans sound a little like Sandhill Cranes and initially we thought "sandhills."  All my pictures are zoomed in.  You couldn't sneak up on any of the birds since no cover could be had on a levee.  Tundra Swans, which are one of the largest migrating birds, travel across the sky in a Vee shape.

Away they go!

Jimmy stands on a wide levee with Shintaffer Rice Dryers behind him and Mathews Rice Dryer in the distance (behind Shintaffer).  Good place to start our explore.

Walking alongside Jack Slough, binocs in hand, Jimmy walks on the far side of the pond.  The birds, of course, have dispersed.

Northern Pintails were prevalent in this pond.

In this area, White-fronted geese were sitting peacefully ... till we came along.  Mind you, we weren't too close, but apparently not far enough away.  We didn't mean for them to fly, didn't want them to fly, but ....

Up, up, and away!

Swans, ducks, and a Whimbrel in the foreground.

They're noisy at takeoff.

We enjoyed hiking around the ponds.  Our elevation here was about 75 feet, or roughly 3100 feet less than where we live, so the flora was totally unlike our neck of the woods (good for me).  I was surprised that we didn't see any snakes or raccoons or other wildlife; just waterfowl of many types, and that was okay by us.  It felt grand to be Out and About today, tromp around some, feel the sunshine on our cheeks.  I hope we can do it again before the Great Migration starts north.

Out of the snow! Sunday, 1/9/22

 

A fair day was in the offing today.  Notwithstanding Jimmy deciding to take his bathroom sink apart to look for a missing gold cross (not found in the drain) and making an unholy mess, I reiterated my request to get the heck outa snowy Dodge and head down the hill for a nice hike.  So, he left the yucky bathroom, we stuck feet into hikers, and off we went.  We had to add a few gallons to the Prius, which set us back a bit at $4.49/gallon.  That's the cheap stuff, too (haha).

Every morning I look out our windows and I see lingering snow ... six +/- inches remain, covering the driveway and most of the yard.  Plus, those BIG piles where we've shoveled.  Reminds me of winters in Niagara Falls. where I grew up!  This is the most snow we've had since we moved to Nevada City almost ten years ago.  Warmer temps are forecast for next week, and I hope this old snow (no longer pretty) will melt, 'cause I'm done with it! 

Look!  Here's the feisty American River confluence, where the Middle Fork (center, rear) meets the North Fork, at upper left, and together they're ripping downstream!  Not a snowflake in evidence!  What a beautiful sight!

We were dressed in layers, but the temp was mild, around 55 degrees.  You'd think we'd remember that parking would be at a premium on a sunny Sunday, but it didn't occur to us till we saw cars parked far from the trailheads.  We got lucky and snagged the very last spot (as in, the furthest-away spot), a quarter of a mile from the TH, and happily started out.  Our trail is to the right of Jimmy, with the North Fork below the bridge. 

We've been here before, on the Lake Clementine trail, with our friends, Laurie and Odel, back in 2015.  Seven years ago?  Seriously?  Time is flying by too fast.  You can read about that hike here.

All the rain and snow in December, even in Auburn, made for some muddy places to avoid.  This is a fairly easy 4.6 mile R/T trail, with a slight incline most of the way up to the dam, a roughly 700' elevation gain.  As usual, though we got a late start, we weren't in a hurry; it felt so good to be Out and About and on our feet in the fresh air.  The Foresthill Bridge wows everyone who sees it -- it's 730' above the river (just below the trail on our left).  Highest bridge in California and fourth highest in the US.

Of course, no wildflowers were blooming, not in early January.  This small tree, above, however, was in full bloom.  I'm not sure what it is, but the flowers had a slightly sweet scent.

I believe this is called Clark's Pool.  The water looks deep and cold, but back in the 1900's Clark's Pool was managed by the City of Auburn as a municipal swimming pool, complete with concession stands and lifeguards!  The water would be shallower in summer, and, hopefully, warmer!

Walking along in part sun, lots of shade, and the north-facing cliffs sparkle with dewy green ferns.  Taking pictures offers a brief respite from walking uphill, and I can catch my breath.  Smart, huh?

We could hear the thundering waterfall long before we saw it.

Being on slippery, wet rocks in the mist, no thanks.

I'm not sure how she/he got down there, but it seemed kind of dangerous to me.  I don't know how far above the river she/he is, but I wouldn't do it.  Everything was slippery, and a muddy mess near the dam.  Water seems to be flowing pretty good over the spillway.  After a few minutes, we turned around and made for the car.

I was sort of surprised by the number of people we encountered on the trail, even a number of large families.  Bicyclists, too, riding uphill, with a train of speckled mud up their shirt tails.  A sunny Sunday will bring 'em out.

I love the ferns on the cliffs, they look so refreshing.  If you look closer, you can see several different kind of ferns in this one spot.  Outdoor decoration!  While not an overly-long hike (5 miles), it was just what we needed.  

* * * * *

Lest you think I'm getting grumpy in my old age, look below.  Yesterday, we finally shoveled a path to Jimmy's shop, almost two weeks after our Christmas snowmageddon.  The snow there was so deep, we couldn't tackle it till now.  A snow "bomb" out of the Incense Cedar high over the shop door broke the plastic out of the awning.  We continued shoveling till we had a cleared path all the way around the house, except, of course, not in the back yard, which is still buried.

And, now we can get the Prius in and out of the driveway easily, but still not into the garage.  I guess the snow is shrinking, and melting, but I'm ready to look out a window and not see white!