TCT #21 -- Kathi Joye

Kathi Joye & Stefano (a few years ago)

Wendy took a ditch walk with Kathi Joye, author of the "Day Hikes Along the Highway 108 Corridor" guide books, AKA, our bibles!  Most of the episode is devoted to Kathi's insights on writing guidebooks, favorite trails (it's hard to pick just one!), Leave No Trace, and staying found and safe when hiking.

Shelly Davis-King & Mi-Wok dwelling

Last November, we observed Native American Heritage Month with an interpretive presentation by Shelly Davis-King at the Shadow of the Mi-Wok Trail at Pinecrest (followed by a hike at Bell Meadow).  Shelly's talk was informative and evocative.  You Trail Heads responded with your hearts when you saw the disheveled state of the exhibit, a replica of a Mi-Wok village.  We're dedicating $5 of each T-shirt and sticker sale to whatever it takes to refurbish the site.  We've been in touch with Diana Fredlund, Public Information Officer for the Stanislaus National Forest.  Diana reports that there's major traction on the project!  She already has a team of volunteers set up for a trail service day in August (willing Trail Heads are welcome; we'll post dates and details here and on the Facebook page).  Over the winter work will be completed on new interpretive panels (this is where the money we raise will go).  In spring there will be a re-dedication ceremony.  Thanks for your generosity, Trail Heads!  We'll take orders for T-shirts again soon, and we'll provide contact information if you want to donate directly.  Photos of the merch below:

T-shirt front

T-shirt back

Slap a sticker on your car,
water bottle, or bear canister!

Iceberg Meadow

A year after the Donnell Fire raged through the Highway 108 high country, Clark Fork Road is open.
  Not all the trails are open to hikers, but the Clark Fork Trailhead is open, and it leads to a couple of worthy destinations -- Boulder Lake and Clark Fork Meadow (you can also access the St. Mary's Pass trails via cross-country route-finding).  We've been eager to take the Trail Heads into this area and are happy to be able to announce that our September 7 hike will be to Clark Fork Meadow, about an 8 mile round trip that starts in scenic Iceberg Meadow, climbs via switchbacks, then follows the Clark Fork River, leading to lovely Clark Fork Meadow.  We're thinking of offering car camping at a nearby campground then adding a second bonus hike/drive the next day -- maybe to the Bennett Juniper or Eagle Meadow.  Again, "watch this space!"

And here's audio of the radio show:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=10Zuek420YosGEOxN9gWv2xjasGQ50dap

TCT #20 -- Excited

View from Inspiration Point (by R Andrade)

It's summer, and it's exciting!  Roads and trails at the higher elevations are opening and trip-planning options are expanding.  Be careful out there, though.  The snowy winter means lots of runoff with streams running fast and full.

In this episode:

• We get three T (what was tough, trippy, and tremendous) trail feedback about our acrobatic journey on the Tuolumne Main Ditch and Flume.
• We have a couple of updates from Lisa Murphy and Erin Naegle (both biology teachers at Columbia College) Lisa has sad news from the Gold Country Bat Project -- White Nose Syndrome has been detected in California -- be sure to clean yourself and your gear when going in and out of caves that may contain bats!  Erin gives us an update on the fundraising effort, "Skip a Latte/Lager; Save a Lemur."  The goal is to bring Gerard Bakarizafy of Lokobe National Park in Madagascar to the US (and Sonora!) to attend the International Seminar on Planning and Managing Tourism in Protected Areas hosted by Colorado State University and the US Forest Service.
• Rebecca talks about going to an off-the-grid wedding in Montana and how Independence Day was celebrated in 1850's off-the-grid Columbia.
• Wendy talks about the bonus hikes and training for her long backpack trip on the Continental Divide Trail.
• Finally, we divulge the destination of our August 3 hike: Powell Lake -- HOLD THAT THOUGHT!!  The trailhead for Powell Lake, Gianelli Cabin, is still closed, so our Plan B hike will be Inspiration Point at Lake Alpine.  Since the program gives no info about the hike, we'll share some of the reasons Rebecca landed on this hike: "The hike features the Emigrant trail following the shores of Lake Alpine, at 7350'.  The difficulty level varies along the hike.  Around the shore is easy, leading up to Inspiration Point is moderate, and getting on top of Inspiration Point is difficult for some (steep and hazardous footing).  Inspiration Point offers incredible views of Dardanelles, lakes and mountains of the Stanislaus National Forest.  Inspiration Point is a lava bluff, which in itself is a geological wonder of the local area.  The unique geology of the lava bluff also creates beautiful varieties of wildlife habitat and vegetation.  I hope you will join me for a fun-filled day, as Wendy is off enjoying her big hike!  I love the educational component of TCT; and, as a former Interpretive Ranger of Lake Alpine, I'm sure we will enjoy exploring together!" 

We'll save Powell Lake for a bonus hike later in the summer or early fall.

Here's a link to the audio of the July program.  Allow a moment for downloading: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MQyIsXfiZnBoard_zXErWCgcZcarqvf_/view?usp=sharing

Here are some photos from the Tuolumne Main Ditch and Flume hike.

Flume & S Fork Stanislaus River

The gang (by D. Morgan)

Trail Heads on flume on trestle (by D. Morgan)