Drove up to Icehouse to try the hike Andy and I did the other weekend except this time turn right at the intersection. The weather was supposed to be bad, but it was worse than I thought. Ran into fog so heavy in Pollock Pines that the CHP was escorting vehicles west bound. It rained almost constantly with occasional gusts of downpour. There was no snow until we got to the top of Icehouse road and there was only about a foot of snow left.
I put the raincoat and snowshoes on and Commando and I headed off down the forest service road. The snow was very slushy and not supportive. The snow turned to mush underfoot. Commando had the worst of it as his feet just aren't as good as snowshoes.
When we got to the steel bridge, that was the end of the trip. I carefully crossed the bridge with the snow breaking down underneath my feet and hissing into icy Silver Creak. I tried to coax Commando across, and even tried to get him to lie on my jacket and drag him across but he would have none of it. His feet kept dropping into the abyss and he didn't like it.
We headed back to the car and then drove to Icehouse Lake. We parked at the dam and walked across. My plan, before it got very dark, was to walk to a little prominence just past the dam. Well, we were stopped by a steep cut that let overflow water bypass the dam in wet seasons. If it had been earlier in the day I might have tried to go down and back up to continue, but the sun was setting and I didn't want to get covered in mud and soaked to the skin and discover that there was a wet, muddy climb back up in the pitch dark.
We finished up with a tiny bit of stick throwing on the shore and then drove home through the pouring rain.
Oh well, there were some good views of water vapor rising from the dark green hills on the drive down so the day wasn't a complete waste.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Coldstream Canyon
Drove to Truckee and took the Coldstream Canyon trail out past some small nameless ponds and then headed back. At the beginning we ran into a state parks ranger and kept Commando leashed until he left (scofflaw!). We encountered several sets of dogs and Commando even played his favorite running game with one pup. The trail is nice but busy and I imagine it will be even busier in the summer. I was dismayed by the many, many, many piles of dog poo everywhere. We certainly don't make many friends when we don't pick up our dog shit!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Snow, snow, snow
Several trips to the snow and I've decided to abandon x-c skiing for now and stick with snowshoeing.
The day after Christmas we drove up to Hope Valley and rented skis and took a short trip on the flat area. Commando got to play with a lab and they really tore around like loons. We didn't stay out too long. The snow was deep and powdery so Commando found it tough going. It was also bitterly cold, about 9 degrees Farenheit and I wasn't sure how Commando would tolerate the temperature. He kept lifting his paws off the snow. The traffic was also horrible and very near Red Hawk casino there was a bad accident. The views were spectacular though with fresh powdery snow shining in the sun.
Drove up to Truckee on New Year's and rented x-c skis at the BackCountry store. They are really nice with no attitude so I highly recommend them. Drove up 89 almost to the big valley and skiied up a small road that leads to a closed for the season shooting range. The skis did well going uphill although it was no easier than snowshoes. I found going downhill to be harder than I thought and I was so afraid I would fall and break another bone that it just wasn't fun. These skis are easier to handle than the skinnier kind. That was nice. Still, it's on this trip that I decided to just stick with snowshoes.
Andy came up and we drove to Icehouse. We stopped at REI in Folsom first and were dismayed to see an enormously long line. An employee handing out tickets outside said it was the used gear sale. So much for our quick trip! Andy spent heavily on new boots, new snowshoes and new gloves.
We stopped somewhat randomly at forest service road 12N28 and hiked up about 2 miles and then back down. This road passes Jones Camp and skirts Bosworth Meadow. I'll have to explore the meadow a little more next time.
The day after Christmas we drove up to Hope Valley and rented skis and took a short trip on the flat area. Commando got to play with a lab and they really tore around like loons. We didn't stay out too long. The snow was deep and powdery so Commando found it tough going. It was also bitterly cold, about 9 degrees Farenheit and I wasn't sure how Commando would tolerate the temperature. He kept lifting his paws off the snow. The traffic was also horrible and very near Red Hawk casino there was a bad accident. The views were spectacular though with fresh powdery snow shining in the sun.
Drove up to Truckee on New Year's and rented x-c skis at the BackCountry store. They are really nice with no attitude so I highly recommend them. Drove up 89 almost to the big valley and skiied up a small road that leads to a closed for the season shooting range. The skis did well going uphill although it was no easier than snowshoes. I found going downhill to be harder than I thought and I was so afraid I would fall and break another bone that it just wasn't fun. These skis are easier to handle than the skinnier kind. That was nice. Still, it's on this trip that I decided to just stick with snowshoes.
Andy came up and we drove to Icehouse. We stopped at REI in Folsom first and were dismayed to see an enormously long line. An employee handing out tickets outside said it was the used gear sale. So much for our quick trip! Andy spent heavily on new boots, new snowshoes and new gloves.
We stopped somewhat randomly at forest service road 12N28 and hiked up about 2 miles and then back down. This road passes Jones Camp and skirts Bosworth Meadow. I'll have to explore the meadow a little more next time.
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