TCT #28 -- Brian Kermeen

Our next hike will be on SUNDAY, April 5, 2020 (a deviation to our normal first Saturday schedule).  We're going to Red Hills ACEC in Chinese Camp and will be taking the Old Stage to Soaproot Loop Trail.  There's a long loop and a short loop.  The long loop is difficult due to length (9.1 miles round trip) and elevation gain (approx. 1,200').  At 2.5 miles round trip and a less than 500' elevation gain, the short loop is moderately easy.  This hike will be your choice: for views, take the long loop; for a pastoral saunter, take the short loop.  Since we'll be splitting into two groups, we've marked both trails (thank you, Gary Stockel!).  Regardless of which loop you take, you should see a profusion of poppies and some of the rare plants that are unique to the Red Hills:  Congdon's lomatium, Layne's bitterweed, Red Hills soaproot.  Critter-wise, be on the lookout for Bald Eagles, roadrunners, and foxes.

On Saturday, April 25, 2020, the Tuolumne County Land Trust will host its annual Ratto Ranch hike.  Ratto Ranch, in the Shaw's Flat area between Columbia and Jamestown, is a working cattle ranch and has been in the same family for over 150 years.  Learn more about the Ratto Ranch, the hike, and the Tuolumne County Land Trust in this month's Tuolumne County Trailhead radio program: TCT #28 -- Brian Kermeen:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1u1etJ7e4-43lYLFeDRTGwxgdSzK3IE30

For more information about Tuolumne County Land Trust, here's a link to their website:  http://tuolumnecountylandtrust.org/

Trail Heads at the historic Columbia Marble Quarry

In TCT #28 -- Brian Kermeen, we feature a trip report about our "Trio of Trails at Columbia College."  Yes, just one trip report.  Things were a little chaotic what with 37 hikers (aged 3 to 80+), intermittent light showers, several trails, and interpretation indoors and outside.  I decided to skip the traditional real-time "3 T's."  Instead, we go in depth with Trail Head Veronica Kristapovich.

Here are a few photos of our outing:

Donna in the Labyrinth

Sean Osborn presents at the
college's Me-Wuk cultural site

Trail between Columbia College and
Columbia State Historic Park