On the other side of 80 from Eagle Lakes it looked like one could drive or hike up to a lake on the other side of the railroad tracks. It's more scenic than it sounds. One could drive up to the tracks, but the fenced property on the other side said "No Trespassing" about 100 times so I figured they were serious.
We then exited at Big Bend and looked at the Yuba River. We strolled around the closed Hampshire Rocks campground and explored the river a bit. Commando got wet and enjoyed trying to chase the pitiful excuses for sticks I threw for him. At the end of a season of camping, even the twigs are puny and weak.
Finally we drove down to Soda Springs and explored Lake Van Norden and the surrounding valley. It's a beautiful valley in the fall, although it could use some aspens on the surrounding hills. The grass is golden yellow and the center of the valley is dry. It must be quite a bog in the spring or in a wet year. Commando really had a great job leaping all over the terrain occasionally stopping to terrify the rodent population by sniffing at a rodent hole. I could see signs of other predators in a pile of game bird feathers with nary a bone left of the carcass. There was a gaggle of Canada geese and ruined part of Commando's afternoon by leashing him up so he wouldn't chase them. A part of me would like to see him chase them. I suspect they would be more than a match for him, and I might enjoy him watching him running away from a particularly aggressive specimen. However, I try to be a good citizen and harassing wild life is not in the handbook...even if the wild life is more like a flying rat that converts meadow grass to copious poo.
He slept soundly on the ride home and was only able to chase one tennis ball before falling into a nice nap before going to bed. A tired dog is a good dog.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Eagle Lakes hike
Drove up 80 to the Eagle Lakes exit. This was the first time I've had Commando in the dog seatbelt. He wasn't too happy about it, but I felt more secure knowing he wouldn't fly out the windshield.
We stopped for a rest break at the Indian Creek staging area and then drove up the pretty bad road for a bit. Most forest service roads are marked "high clearance 4WD" but many aren't that bad. This one was pretty bad, and it got worse the further we travelled.
I parked about 1/4 mile past the staging area and hiked from there on. We soon came to a signed fork saying only 2 miles to Eagle Lakes. Various OHV clubs are maintaining the trail and they have done a good job. The road is relatively flat, going gradually uphill with some minor steep bits. From an OHV perspective, it's really strewn with big boulders and there are granite or sandstone ledges with varying degrees of steepness every tenth of a mile or so.
We never made it to the lakes because I got sidetracked at some muddy ponds. Commando was hot and thirsty and we kept going off trail to check out likely looking places. One was very, very boggy and Commando sank in up to his stomach in the mud. We kept on and reached a actual pond with water and spent some time gazing around. He drank and cleaned some of the mud off chasing sticks.
We headed back to the OHV road and continued on to a summit. There is a faint OHV road intersection to Fordyce creek and it said Eagle Lakes was 3/4 of a mile ahead. We were out of water and I had forgotten to bring food and was pretty hungry. We did spend some time at this summit sitting on a granite rock looking over the (spectacular) view. Although I'm not a fan of logging, a lightning strike on a particularly large, old growth tree would have improved my view of the Old Man Mountain (looks kinda like Half Dome).
Quite a few small birds flew around to enliven the view.
We finally headed back and I was so hungry that the mild climb back to the truck really took it out of me. Commando was also extremely thirsty! I guess I'll have to carry more water for him. When we got to the store at Cisco grove he was butting my hands trying to hurry me along in serving him the water.
This looks like a nice snowshoe hike this winter, and I'd like to explore the area more next summer and try to get to Old Man Mountain. It looks like Fordyce Lake might be car accessible and might be within hiking distance.
We stopped for a rest break at the Indian Creek staging area and then drove up the pretty bad road for a bit. Most forest service roads are marked "high clearance 4WD" but many aren't that bad. This one was pretty bad, and it got worse the further we travelled.
I parked about 1/4 mile past the staging area and hiked from there on. We soon came to a signed fork saying only 2 miles to Eagle Lakes. Various OHV clubs are maintaining the trail and they have done a good job. The road is relatively flat, going gradually uphill with some minor steep bits. From an OHV perspective, it's really strewn with big boulders and there are granite or sandstone ledges with varying degrees of steepness every tenth of a mile or so.
We never made it to the lakes because I got sidetracked at some muddy ponds. Commando was hot and thirsty and we kept going off trail to check out likely looking places. One was very, very boggy and Commando sank in up to his stomach in the mud. We kept on and reached a actual pond with water and spent some time gazing around. He drank and cleaned some of the mud off chasing sticks.
We headed back to the OHV road and continued on to a summit. There is a faint OHV road intersection to Fordyce creek and it said Eagle Lakes was 3/4 of a mile ahead. We were out of water and I had forgotten to bring food and was pretty hungry. We did spend some time at this summit sitting on a granite rock looking over the (spectacular) view. Although I'm not a fan of logging, a lightning strike on a particularly large, old growth tree would have improved my view of the Old Man Mountain (looks kinda like Half Dome).
Quite a few small birds flew around to enliven the view.
We finally headed back and I was so hungry that the mild climb back to the truck really took it out of me. Commando was also extremely thirsty! I guess I'll have to carry more water for him. When we got to the store at Cisco grove he was butting my hands trying to hurry me along in serving him the water.
This looks like a nice snowshoe hike this winter, and I'd like to explore the area more next summer and try to get to Old Man Mountain. It looks like Fordyce Lake might be car accessible and might be within hiking distance.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Andesite Peak
My goal was to reach the Peter Grubb hut, but I miscalculated the route and didn't make it. I also let the last 100 feet of Andesite Peak defeat me. I scrambled up maybe about 30 feet, then considered the loose rocks and the steepness and considered how I would get down without breaking any bones. Perhaps I was a wuss, but I'm not the most graceful person and I really did not want a cast for my 49th birthday.
We drove up the snowmobile trail/road. It looked like if I followed the road to the end, we'd be very, very near the Andesite Ridge and the trail to PGH. I took a wrong turn and we ended up about 1/2 way to Andesite Peak. I bushwhacked along the ridge through a mature forest which desperately needs a cleansing fire. We reached a small meadow and I gave Commando some water and sat on a perfectly lovely bent tree and surveyed the pretty view.
I could hear voices so knew I was close to Hole in the Wall trail. Sure enough, about a football field away was the trail. Hiked up, ate my snack at the top, hiked down. It was a beautiful fall day and I enjoyed the views over Donner Summit.
We drove up the snowmobile trail/road. It looked like if I followed the road to the end, we'd be very, very near the Andesite Ridge and the trail to PGH. I took a wrong turn and we ended up about 1/2 way to Andesite Peak. I bushwhacked along the ridge through a mature forest which desperately needs a cleansing fire. We reached a small meadow and I gave Commando some water and sat on a perfectly lovely bent tree and surveyed the pretty view.
I could hear voices so knew I was close to Hole in the Wall trail. Sure enough, about a football field away was the trail. Hiked up, ate my snack at the top, hiked down. It was a beautiful fall day and I enjoyed the views over Donner Summit.
Texas Hill Road
Drove up to Emigrant Gap and took the Texas Hill road. I was planning on hiking from the campground down the stream to the waterfall, but ended up exploring THR until the pavement ended and then hiking up the Helester Point road for a bit. (Side note, read the Helester Point link, then go to the linked blog home page. It's a special story)
The fire had burnt through here in a good way. Plenty of pines were left and there is a lot of new shrub growth from the roots. There are lots of critters as evidenced by Commando running off pell mell to try to catch them. He ended up a little soot blackened, but not too dirty.
We tried to drive over to Foresthill and got lost (the map is not clear) and then stopped by the expected gate. Along the way we saw some spectacular views of the North Fork of the American River. There was one particular place that was breathtaking!
The fire had burnt through here in a good way. Plenty of pines were left and there is a lot of new shrub growth from the roots. There are lots of critters as evidenced by Commando running off pell mell to try to catch them. He ended up a little soot blackened, but not too dirty.
We tried to drive over to Foresthill and got lost (the map is not clear) and then stopped by the expected gate. Along the way we saw some spectacular views of the North Fork of the American River. There was one particular place that was breathtaking!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Meiss Country, Scott's Lake to Big Meadows Trailhead
Drove up to Hope Valley to see the aspens and the fire damage around Burnside Lake road from this spring, and of course, to take a hike somewhere. I had decided that either Crater Lake or Scott's Lake would make good hikes from highway 88. Although the climb was steep, the distance was relatively short.
As it turned out, the forest service road to Scott's Lake was open and we drove all the long way up to the lake. It isn't much of a lake now with the water level down almost to dry.
It has pretty views of the peaks around Hope Valley and there were some small groves of aspens framing the lake. I was going to hike back down, but a hiker said there was a well marked trail down to the Big Meadows trailhead that was less than 3 miles. Commando and I headed off and let our shuttle driver take the car to meet us.
It was a beautiful trail, although probably too crowded in the summer for us. Easy to follow and not very steep. It generally follows a creek and watershed down from the peaks. The forest is mixed with pines and aspens. We passed several golden meadows with willow thickets and ate our lunch sitting on an ancient log still impervious to rotting.
We did pass a few mountain bikers (or they passed us) and only 1 other set of hikers so at a more popular time of year I'm not sure Commando would have been so welcome.
Close to the trailhead there's a junction to head to Meiss Lake and that looks like a great hike for another day.
As it turned out, the forest service road to Scott's Lake was open and we drove all the long way up to the lake. It isn't much of a lake now with the water level down almost to dry.
It has pretty views of the peaks around Hope Valley and there were some small groves of aspens framing the lake. I was going to hike back down, but a hiker said there was a well marked trail down to the Big Meadows trailhead that was less than 3 miles. Commando and I headed off and let our shuttle driver take the car to meet us.
It was a beautiful trail, although probably too crowded in the summer for us. Easy to follow and not very steep. It generally follows a creek and watershed down from the peaks. The forest is mixed with pines and aspens. We passed several golden meadows with willow thickets and ate our lunch sitting on an ancient log still impervious to rotting.
We did pass a few mountain bikers (or they passed us) and only 1 other set of hikers so at a more popular time of year I'm not sure Commando would have been so welcome.
Close to the trailhead there's a junction to head to Meiss Lake and that looks like a great hike for another day.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Cascade Lakes to Long Lake
Drove to Soda Springs, then took Pahatsi road until it turns to dirt and continued following it till it ends at Cascade lakes. These were pretty unimpressive although the glacier erratics boulder field we passed through to get to the lakes was interesting.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and was pleased to see a trailhead sign, "Palisades Creek Trail." The mileages were a bit much for me. About 1/2 mile down, the trail forked and I took the non-trail fork and ended up at Long Lake. This is a very pretty lake, and natural too. We hiked along an easy path on the east side of the lake and took a trip down into a watershed declivity that is probably more like a waterfall in the spring.
Then we crossed the lake and went trail less back to the trail head. This was a little more difficult than it sounds because there wasn't a shore, more of a series of boulder cliffs to scale interspersed with willow and manzanita thickets. I came home with plenty of pine needles in my hair!
This is a pretty, pretty area and I think I'll try the Palisades Creek trail for a bit longer.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and was pleased to see a trailhead sign, "Palisades Creek Trail." The mileages were a bit much for me. About 1/2 mile down, the trail forked and I took the non-trail fork and ended up at Long Lake. This is a very pretty lake, and natural too. We hiked along an easy path on the east side of the lake and took a trip down into a watershed declivity that is probably more like a waterfall in the spring.
Then we crossed the lake and went trail less back to the trail head. This was a little more difficult than it sounds because there wasn't a shore, more of a series of boulder cliffs to scale interspersed with willow and manzanita thickets. I came home with plenty of pine needles in my hair!
This is a pretty, pretty area and I think I'll try the Palisades Creek trail for a bit longer.
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