I'd read a blurb, either online or in our local newspaper, about hiking opening up in Lower Carpenter Valley, a couple of miles north of Truckee, off Hwy 89. Last Tuesday, our IFM friend, Kathleen, mentioned that she'd just been there, and said, "You really need to go. It's beautiful!" Oh goodie a new trail! Until recently, the valley had been unavailable, concealed behind a locked gate, to keep the unspoiled area pristine.
It wasn't easy to find because the turn off for Carpenter Valley isn't marked, and Kathleen didn't tell me about the 2+ mile dirt road, filled with rollers, giant potholes, and monstrous mud puddles, all trying to swallow the Prius! But, we did okay. I'd read that mosquitoes were present even in August, so we wore long pants and brought long-sleeved shirts (but didn't put them on, big mistake), and we sprayed ourselves with repellant. I also tucked the repellant in Jimmy's day pack.
Starting out, we followed the quiet North Fork of Prosser Creek as it meandered in horseshoe-like shapes through the meadow. We were the only people here; ours was the only car in the parking lot.
Very nice sign! The round trip is 5.5 miles.
That's doable for us, even at 6200'.
The valley had been under private ownership, until Truckee Donner Land Trust and its partners, the Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Sierra Partnership, purchased 1,320 acres in 2017, permanently protecting Lower Carpenter Valley from development. Thanks to a recently completed nature trail, the public can now visit the valley for the first time in more than a century.
Prosser Creek is shallow, but clear. I saw small fishies at one point.
Boardwalks have been installed to protect sensitive wetlands.
It also keeps the feet dry.
Picnic tables and solid benches have been thoughtfully placed around the meadow. Each one has a plaque or sign thanking the individuals who sponsored their placement.
Here in the high country, summer is short-lived. While I wouldn't say the meadow was bursting with wildflowers, we were fortunate to see a number of them in bloom, some of which I'd never before seen. Sierra Penstemon, a perennial native with glowing purple flowers, was abundant in the meadow today. This valley is habitat for hundreds of species of plants. Do you see a sign in the photo above?
This is it. Lovely sentiment.
"May the beauty of this meadow fill you with joy"
Hiking below conifer-covered peaks, with willows crouching near the creek, a meadow alive with flowers and insects -- it was kind of magical. The only fly in the ointment, so to speak, was a different insect -- the voracious mosquito. We sprayed and sprayed. We still got bit. I was even nailed through my cotton jersey shirt. We saw a million grasshoppers, too, and were smacked by some of 'em, though they weren't really bothersome. Look ... blue sky, fleecy white clouds, 75 degrees, perfect ... almost.
Behind the dead snag, is the beginnings of another boardwalk. Much of the hike is on a single track through woods and abutting the meadow, but at one point we were directed onto a dirt road. Just past this area, we encountered a pick-up truck full of guys who were making the future boardwalk, above.
I had fun (yes, I did) looking up some of the flowers we saw, but I'm too lazy to list them. Lots of asters were already in bloom, as well as goldenrod. Autumn can't be far away!
The workers were using these fine-looking logs (above) that they're milling on site for the boardwalks. Neither Jimmy nor I could tell what the wood was, perhaps a pine?
These boardwalks will protect wet sections. When they're finished, the trail won't take hikers onto the road, either. The entire thing will be quite awesome. We hope to return when the skeeters are gone. Probably late October.
Oh my, more posies.
Look how expansive the meadow is! We didn't see much wildlife, but the meadow supports a wealth of bird and animal species, including northern goshawks, bald eagles, mule deer, mountain lions and black bears. I thought about black bears while we were wandering Out and About by ourselves. I felt easier knowing the workers were around. No dogs are allowed, even on a leash. Too many owners don't feel they need to obey the leash rule.
The indigenous Washoe were almost certainly the first people to inhabit this valley as part of their seasonal movement throughout the northern Sierra. I read somewhere that the landscape is unaltered, like a secret garden, appearing much as it did before European settlers arrived in early 1800's. That's almost unheard of. This has to be one of the last untouched landscapes so close to home.
Here I'm watching a "conspiracy" of Ravens in the meadow, perhaps picking at flower or grass stalks gone to seed. Jimmy had temporary custody of the camera!
If you're lucky, you'll see a bit of a snow in the distant mountains.
The mixed conifers were striking.
A few Woolly Mules Ears were still flowering, top left,
but my favorite today was the Pine Drops, center.
This is an out-and-back trail, with a lollipop loop at the end. We didn't stop much on our return to the car (in fact, we didn't stop much at all), because once stopped, you'd attract a swarm of insatiable skeeters. Still, I hope my pictures captured some of the beauty of Lower Carpenter Valley and easy-going Prosser Creek.
I kept imagining how this valley would look with yellow-flowering Woolley Mules Ears covering the hillsides, and so many others blanketing the meadow. As it was on Friday, the Lower Carpenter Valley was so full of wonderful sights that we want to come back. When the Aspen leaves turn yellow would be a good time. No pesky skeeters, either.
