October fun -- to 10/13/24

 

Happy Days!  The relentless summer heat has dissipated!  Now is the time of year we can really enjoy the great outdoors, and so we have.  Sometimes we look at each other, questioning where to go today, wanting someplace new.  Or perhaps just a favored trail we haven't been on in a long time?  It's amazing to me how often we draw a blank.  Oct 2nd, was one of those "where to?" days, when Jimmy had an "aha" moment and suggested BYLT's Independence East Trail.  Perfect, haven't been there in a couple of years.

You might recognize this image from our past hikes.  However, this one is different.  Here Jimmy holds up that danged boulder with ONE hand!  Good job.  The boulder stayed put.

Autumn is when Buckeyes (left) decorate bare branches, the trees' leaves falling to the ground in summer.  I couldn't reach one to pick.  We were surprised to see an abundance of black acorns on the ground -- products of Black Oak trees.  Jimmy stuffed one pocket full, only because these are unusual, unlike the millions of basic brown acorns littering our yard.  We're experiencing another mast year!

Not to be shown up, but yes, I suppose I was.

I needed both hands on our return.

After East's four miles R/T, we wanted to see if Independence West had reopened after the disastrous Jones fire in 2020 that burned bridges, flumes, and boardwalks.  After a mile or so, the trail was barred to hikers. Reconstruction of the trail is underway, but likely won't be completed till 2025.  Lots of burned/downed trees still need to be cleared.  OK, we learned the answer, and added another couple of miles on our fitbits.  Enjoyable day.

* * * * *

Last week, we had a sleepover with Evie in Fair Oaks so her parents could attend a late-night concert.  Since she had school the next day, we brought our bikes to ride the American River Pkwy.  Win-win! Playing with Evie and riding our bikes!  A nice 19-mile pedal From Fair Oaks to Folsom and back.  We had a great time!

 

Noticed some river traffic, including this canoe.

Interesting cliff face opposite.

Beauty, doubled.

* * * * *

Finally, on Sunday, 10/13, we awoke to glorious sunshine and temps in the mid-50's.  (I wish I was in my mid-50's!)  The kind of day that shouldn't be wasted on any-ole-thing.  There was no question in my mind what I wanted to do, and when I suggested it, Jimmy said, "let's go."  I knew it was a now-or-never venture, so we packed a quick lunch, filled water bottles, and fired up the Subaru.  Destination:  Sagehen Creek Trail, seven miles north of Truckee, CA ... in Tahoe National Forest.  And (fingers crossed!) autumn leaves!

At 6000+ feet, the Aspens start to turn yellow/orange in early October.  We couldn't wait or we'd be too late.  Sagehen creek (above) boggies along, as always.

Though we usually leave weekends to worker-bees, I surmised I-80 road construction crews would take Sunday off, too, and we wouldn't get stuck in stop 'n go, and sure enough, we sailed on through!

But that also meant a full parking area at the Trail.  Hah, we parked across Hwy 89 (in the shade, woo-hoo!).  Would the trail itself be crowded?  Actually, no.  Yes, we saw people coming and going, but there were many long stretches where we encountered no one.  It was a grand day to be Out and About.  Temp of 68 when we started, high 75.  And quaking Aspens were aglow in the sunlight.

Lucky, lucky us to be on this dusty trail today.  It felt so right to be here, even the smells seemed sweeter.  There's something about this place ....  Yonder beaver pond was low; summer has been brutal.  I see many shades of autumn in this spot.

We stepped off the trail, down to the creek, to investigate the flattened grass, deciding it was grass that lays down when it's grown.  Oops, what's that?  I just missed stepping in that mess!  You got it -- fresh bear poop.

Into the meadow.  Crispy dried grass.  Away from the creek, wildflowers and grasses looked as though they'd been too long in an air fryer -- the major air fryer:  El Sol.  Of course, no wildflowers bloomed.

When we were here in July of last year, we couldn't get near this plank bridge due to flood waters.  Sagehen Creek empties into Stampede Reservoir, which we call a lake, and it's receded dramatically since then.  Clark's Nutcrackers were making a ruckus through the pines as we neared the aspen grove.

Ahhh, the Aspens near the ol' sheepherder's cabin.

Still colorful.  Glorious.

A sampling of other sights -- top row, a sharp thistle stalk, Jeffrey pine cones (lots and lots), and bottom row near the lake, tiny Fleabane, and one dinky dwarf lupine confused about the season (it's not spring).

Stunning display in person.

You can't see me if I don't move.

Sagehen approaching the lake (on the right).  The entire area was underwater in July 2023, up to and beyond the pines.  Amazing transformation from one year to the next.  That's nature!

The dazzling colors will soon be gone.  Snow may fly in the upcoming week.  But today we got to see it all, everything I hoped for; once again Sagehen touched all my senses.  Plus exercise!  Roughly six miles R/T of wonderment.  Color me grateful.  Jimmy, too.

 

Miscellany, through 3/24/24

How fast can a month disappear?  Apparently pretty darned fast!  Our month has been a hodgepodge of the usual comings and goings, riding bikes, taxes, hiking, RV repairs, a couple of birthdays, and even a few fine sunny days, a sneak peak, if you will, of warm and pleasant weather ahead.  Probably not anytime soon, though.

Every photo I'm posting is a phone picture (which is okay, I guess) -- I can't find my camera!  Jimmy and I both draw blanks when we search our brains on its last usage.  I've made a plea to St Anthony, but there's no answer yet.  I really dislike losing things.  Or misplacing things.

On the Ides of March, my sweetheart and I elected to hike to Beale (Fairy) Falls again in Spenceville Wildlife Area, maybe 25 miles southwest of us.  First we dropped off our Tergel at the fix-it store to have new (needed) brake$ installed.  Hallelujah, the day was bright and the sky was blue!

As you see, the spring-green leaves on these imposing oaks are a sight to behold, especially in person.  This tree tops a rise; below is a wonderful view of an open, broad, pastoral valley, ringed with oaks, covered with wildflowers and filled with free-range cows.

We've previously hiked to the falls, but never took the lower path, so this time we chose the path to the right.  We returned via the upper path.  Win-win whichever way you go.  No matter, the distance is a solid 5+ miles R/T.

NorCal has had a lot of rain since the first of the year,

and below the falls, "Dry Creek" was ripping!

Some call this Beale Falls, for others it's Fairy Falls.  It tumbles over a steep rocky cliff into a large pool set in a rocky bowl and people swim at its base in summer.  We could hear the falling water long before we saw it.

Honestly, we'd never seen as many moo-cows as we did today.  This gal was eating the tiny white wildflowers.  I said, "boo" to one cow and she skedaddled like she'd been hit with an electric prod.  My bad.  It was a great day for a hike and, while we were footsore by the time we reached the car, we really enjoyed being Out and About on this trail.

* * *

We traveled to Fair Oaks several times to help with moving and to watch Evie, as the younger set (Matt, Jen, and Evie) bought a new house not too far from their previous place.  Son, Matt turned 44 on Feb 28th, lucky him to miss being a leap year baby by only a few hours!  We sang Happy Birthday to him, but he was too busy for a party.

I captured sweet Evie by this lovely yellow-flowering tree (what is it?) one day when she and I were on a walkabout.  We celebrated her 7th birthday on Sunday, the 17th.  Her folks bought her a new, bigger bike which she couldn't wait to hop on and ride!  How can she already be 7 when it seems only minutes ago she was born.  ** sigh **

* * *

Our two Forsythia bushes are convinced Spring has Sprung, and their cheerful yellow flowers can fool you into believing the same.  But, with today's cold rain and a daytime high temp of 41°, I know we're now in "second winter."  No fooling me -- I won't put away my woollies till the end of May!

 * * *

One of the pluses for us when we bought our house on Banner Lava Cap Road in June 2012 was close access to the Cascade Canal trail (9 miles R/T).  We don't need a vehicle to get to the trail; we walk out our door and a couple of short streets later, voilà, we're there.  An offshoot of the CC trail is the Orene Wetherall loop trail, which we combine on occasion, like we did Friday, the 22nd.  This is also a woodpecker preserve.  We listened to a loud rat-a-tat, but couldn't identify which woodpecker (in silhouette).

We can see downtown Nevada City from our starting point on the trail.

Water levels in the canal fluctuate.  It's low right now.

Ferns are happy.

We seldom encounter others on this one, probably 'cause it's a bit strenuous (well, moderately) since it's all down and then (whew!) back up those switchbacks.  But, it's wonderfully peaceful, filled with flora of all kinds and, of course, the big trees we have at this elevation.

Trees that grow up, despite ...!

Down by the DS canal (off the trail) we spied this stout rod between two trees and debated as to its reason.  Keep the trees from marrying?  A chinning bar?  If you fell, you'd land in a heap at the bottom of a hill.

The Madrone tree bark is peeling.  It's that time of year.  Its new bark is smooth as silk, almost lustrous, and a reddish-blond color.

Two different and very small (left is teeny-tiny) fungi.  The biggest round ball on the right pic was only about an inch in diameter.  That's all the 'shrooms I saw this trip.

Several benches have been strategically placed.

Nice to sit and rest.

Bear Yuba Land Trust has also put informational signs on some of the native plants.  As above.  I always think of this soap plant as a "corn plant" because the leaves looks like corn.

One delicate Pine Violet blooms beside the trail.  And one Bleeding Heart is flowering alongside the canal.  It's too early for many blossoms.

Haha, we came across one still-alive banana slug, and the thing was truly sluggish!  At least it wasn't squished!  We hit the trail this morning because rain and cold were forecast beginning tonight and lasting for -- who knows? -- days.  While the sky was gray, we weren't chilly.  Altogether just four fun miles because we didn't hurry, no racing -- no, we stopped frequently to look or admire or verify, and then home.  That's our month in a sort of nutshell.  Happy Spring, y'all.

3/26/24:  Camera found hiding in the Subaru!

You never know ... Monday, 11/21/22

 

... what you're going to see when you're Out and About.  That's a given.  Today seemed like a good day for us to go a-walkin'.  Where we live, we're lucky to have lots o' choices, as in, forest or lakeside or next to a river or canal.  Or, heck, even through the neighborhood.  We remembered the Independence Trail down near the South Yuba River, but couldn't recall when we'd last been on it.  It's fairly level until trail's end, when it's down-down-down 200' to the river at Hoyt's Crossing (and then it's back up!).  Tis a lovely and quiet setting to spend an afternoon.  Jimmy and I are used to being lone hikers these days, but we encountered several people on today's hike.

Independence Trail is on the north-facing side of the Yuba River.  Mostly shady and cool.  You see the other side of the river is in full sun.  Bet it's a lot warmer over there.  The river doesn't look like much, above, but we could hear it rushing far below us; otherwise, all was silent.

Prerequisite photo of Jimmy holding UP this giant boulder -- with only one arm!!  Oh gosh, Jimmy, don't let it fall.

This time of year the tree color is outstanding, mostly from Big Leaf Maple (Oregon Maple) trees' deep yellow leaves (above and below).  The leaves are roughly the size of a sheet of letter paper.

The first of many "low bridges" we had to duck under.  Well, I'm so short these days that I don't have to duck, but I usually do anyway, just in case!  Don't lose your head!  Haha, short people like me have an advantage this way. Time to get out the buzz saw.

It seems as though the Bear Yuba Land Trust people have fallen behind in trail repair, but, in their defense, hundreds and hundreds of trees came down all over the county during last Christmas' snowmageddon. We saw a number of downed/broken trees along the trail.  This wooden walkway doesn't look good,

 

It was refreshing to see this little stream still pouring from its rock cave.

Walking the ditch.

Here's a tidbit:  Independence Trail was the first identified wheelchair accessible wilderness trail in the country (the first mile only). The trail utilizes the old Excelsior Ditch, built around 1859 to carry water for hydraulic mining. After two miles it ends at an unmarked, deeply rutted road, and this year that dirt road was so bad we chose not to use it.  A nearby single track path also leads 200' down to the river, and we gave it a try.  Going down:  Not strenuous and scary.  Returning up:  Strenuous and not scary.  While the Independence Trail is easy, short trails to the river are rated moderate to difficult. They're all seriously steep.

 

A few steps more to the river.  We merely had to hop over a boatload of mossy boulders to get there.  Still and all, it was beautiful here.

Really beautiful.  To us, anyway.

Hey, Nickie, is the water cold?

YOU BETCHA!

Like I said, you never know what you'll see.  Above, at top, some gray-haired old fart is burning his buns in the sun!  Laying on granite can't be comfortable!  (go ahead, enlarge the picture, you know you want to)  In the bottom photo, the fella in his shorts was making enchanting music on that long instrument, like a flute.

Meanwhile, across the river in the shade, I'm dressed in long pants, a sweat shirt, a down vest and a jacket.  And my hands were cold.  Go figure.

In fact, on our side of the river, we came across these ice crystals!

We didn't tarry too long before returning to the trail and heading back.

Watch your step.  Time to get after the repairs.

Isn't this fabulous?

As we made our way to the car, it was my turn to make sure the boulder didn't drop.  I did my best.

Another plus on this trail, for me at least, is the abundance of ferns.  Shady and cool and damp in some sections, ferns thrive.  I saw maybe five different varieties.  Love the green!

Entire walls of ferns.  Zowee!

Jimmy picked the above photo.  I liked the one below.  So, why not?  Both pics are boardwalks toward the end of the trail (near the car).  In total we put in five-and-a-half miles, quite a nice number, plus some vital aerobics slogging up the hill.

Summing up:  A very nice day.

Great trail.