Prepping for the May program

4/18/18 -- Just back from a meeting with Lisa DeHart, the archaeologist for the Summit Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest.  Quite an interesting talk about our steady march up Highway 108 to Sonora Pass starting with the June hike on the Sugar Pine Railroad Grade, Strawberry Branch then the July hike to Relief Reservoir and finally the September hike to Sonora Peak/Stanislaus Peak.  We're basically reversing and intersecting the route of the early emigrants.  I'm having a time wrapping my mind about what they went through with those wagons and those mountains!  Anyway, looking forward to the hikes and putting together what I hope is a compelling program for May.  And, our June hike, Saturday 6/2/18, falls on NATIONAL TRAILS DAY!  You gotta make it to this hike!

TCT #5 -- Preston Falls, Groveland

Save Cinco de Mayo for an expedition to Preston Falls in the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River Gorge east of Groveland. View the effects of the Rim Fire and the restoration efforts of the Forest Service and various agencies, organizations, and volunteers. Seth Connolly of the Tuolumne River Trust and a few AmeriCorps volunteers will come along and offer interpretation and insight. The hike is 8 miles round trip without much elevation gain but considered moderate due to distance, exposure, trail surface, uneven footing, and stepping on and over rocks.  Allow all day for this hike due the distance to the trailhead and the length of the hike.  We will hike from 10am until about 4pm.  Carpoolers/caravaners meet at 8:15am at the Jamestown Day-O Espresso stand.  We will leave by 8:30.  Those not carpooling or caravanning may meet us at the trailhead: Early Intake/Kirkwood Powerhouse off of Cherry Lake Rd (Forest Road 1N07) outside of Groveland/Buck Meadows. On-leash dogs are OK, but Seth warns that there's a lot of poison oak, and, in his experience, folks who bring dogs tend not to make it to the falls (the poochies get pooped).  Dress in layers and wear a hat.  Bring sunscreen, water, lunch and cameras.

Trip Report - Melones Railroad Grade, 4/7/18

Ranger Hilary Maxworthy of the Bureau of Reclamation promised to take us on a wildflower hike, and boy, she delivered! As about 30 Trail Heads gathered in an April shower to walk the usually restricted (Homeland Security) Melones Railroad Grade in the Peoria area near Jamestown, we were immediately treated to tiny Butter and Eggs carpeting the parking area of the Equestrian Staging Area. While she was awaiting us, Ranger Hilary said that she watched an Osprey return with a fish to a nest in a nearby power pole. A promising start to our hike!

The overnight “atmospheric river” and continuing light drizzle rendered the trail – normally dirt – into sloppy, slippery mud. We had to watch our footing, and many of us used hiking poles for stability. This initial section of the route took us through a grassy, green oak woodland with rolling hills and inspiring views ending in distant mist. And Brewers Lupine, lots and lots of lupine. After about 3/4-mile, we were rain-free and soon on the well-drained railroad grade which we followed for most of our 4.25 mile hike. The railroad grade was hewn out of the north-facing wall of the Stanislaus River canyon to get materials out to the construction site of the original Melones Dam (now beneath the waters of New Melones Lake). This provides a protected environment for diminutive, delicate wildflowers. Some of the names I remember are Fairy Lantern, Chinese House, Sticky Monkeyflower, Seep-spring

Monkeyflower, Buck Brush, Popcorn Flower, Frying Pan Poppy, Miners Lettuce, Hairy Fringepod, Phacelia, Gold Field, asters, Blue Dick, Paintbrush, Liveforever, Bush Lupine, Redbud, Buckeye. There was also a very healthy crop of Poison Oak. Along the way, Ranger Hilary related stories and showed photos of the building of the railroad and the first Melones Dam. She also talked about the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere thanks to gymnosperms and angiosperms and pollenators and what we can do to help the wildflowers which give us diversity, life, and beauty (what we can do is NOT pick them so they can do their jobs!). We got up close and personal with the earthen New Melones Dam (2nd highest, after Oroville, in CA) then retraced the two miles back to our cars for a bonus jaunt up to the Dam Overlook (Ranger Hilary opened the gate for our party). While taking another look at the dam and part of the trail we'd just walked, we spotted several immature Bald Eagles soaring above!

The Peoria area of New Melones Lake is northwest of Jamestown. Take O’Byrnes Ferry Rd. toward Copperopolis. Turn right at New Peoria Flat Rd. (the sign for “Baseline Conservation Camp” is prominent). Take a hard right at the Baseline Conservation Camp onto Old Melones Dam Rd. The first trailhead is on the left, the Equestrian Staging Area with a port-a-potty and ample parking. The second trailhead is further up Old Melones Dam Rd. at the closed gate. There is limited parking here.

We were originally going to use this second trailhead for our Peoria area outing which was to be a 4-mile loop up the strenuous Peoria Mountain trail with a moderate traverse to the ridge then down via the Green Springs trail. Because of its low elevation, the Peoria area is accessible year-round. It's especially lovely in the spring with poppies, vetch, green grass, and oaks leafing-out. However, it can be very hot in late spring and summer -- bring WATER! It's also popular with deer hunters during the season -- wear ORANGE! If you go on our own, be aware that this area isn't well-signed; you'll have to use your "trail sense" to find your way. However, the trails seem to connect and it’s fairly easy to get oriented due to the prominent landmarks of the lake and/or the mountain.

Here's a map of the trails in the Peoria area:
https://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/docs/maps/map-peoria-wildlife-area.pdf

Here's a map of all the trails at New Melones Lake:

https://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/docs/maps/map-new-melones-lake-trail.pdf

Listen to the May TCT radio program for Trail Head reviews of the New Melones RR Grade Wildflower Hike.