TCT #25 -- Trips to Take

Snowshoeing @ Pinecrest, March 2011

Trail Heads, we're gonna go snowshoeing!  Our first outing of 2020 will be on Saturday, 1/4 (remember, our hikes are FIRST SATURDAYS year-round rain or shine).  So far, the outlook looks promising for a snowshoe hike.  If somehow all the snow melts by 1/4, we'll take a hike to Catfish Lake, east of Pinecrest.

You'll need to provide your own snowshoes.  Here are some FAQs about snowshoes:

• May I rent snowshoes locally?  Yes, at Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. (downtown Sonora, Murphys, and Arnold) or Heidi's (Cold Springs).  Also, try borrowing by putting the word out within your social network.
• Are snowshoes big and bulky?  The comical snowshoes of Saturday morning cartoons are long-gone.  Today's snowshoes are light and easy to walk in, and there's usually crampons in the toe at least to help with traction.  I use a pair where each "shoe" is about 8" wide and about 26" long.
• Do you need special shoes or bindings for snowshoes?  No.  Actually, "snowshoes" is kind of a misnomer; they probably should be called "snowframes."  They're really just a wide platform with built-in bindings that attach to your snow boots and keep you aloft as you walk in unpacked snow.  You can also wear galoshes or your regular hiking boots with waterproof gaiters.  You step into the binding attached to the snowshoe frame and tighten it onto your foot using clips or straps.
• Is there any other gear I need to snowshoe?  You should bring your hiking poles with the tips converted to snow baskets.  You'll need these to help you get up if you fall -- which I invariably do!

We lucked out on our December 7 hike on the Lakeside Trail

at the Blue Oaks Recreation Area at Don Pedro Lake near La Grange.  We dodged the expected atmospheric river and had a largely rain-free outing under dramatic clouds.  Our reward:  A double rainbow!  The trailhead for the Lakeside Trail is adjacent to the Blue Oaks Group Area at Don Pedro Lake near La Grange.  If you go, be aware that there is a $10/vehicle parking fee and dogs are NOT allowed.  The trail skirts the lake's high-water mark.  It's fairly easy with some hills but no appreciable elevation gain.  It ends at Buzzard Point, for a one-way distance just shy of 6 miles.  Our friend Seth Connolly from Tuolumne River Trust and a couple of interns, Jenna and Caitlyn, joined the trip.  They shared info about the lake's natural history and construction.  Seth says TRT will be hosting some snowshoe trips at Pinecrest this winter.  Keep up with TRT's news and activities through this link to the Tuolumne River Trust webpage: tuolumne.org

As the year ends, I have a lot thank yous to people who helped make this project successful, starting with interviewees and resources: Diana Fredlund, Molly Day, Curtis Kvamme, Sabra Purdy, Leslie Smith, Guy McCarthy, Joel Silverman, Hilary Maxworthy, Pat Sanders, Karie Lew, Lisa Murphy, Erin Naegle, Kathi Joye, John Buckley, Anca Husher, Tom Hofstra, and Jeff Tolhurst.  Thanks to Diana Beasley for her fantastic art work which yielded our great logo and cool t-shirt design.  I'm grateful for friends who joined me on special hikes:  Sheri Betz, Ann Thompson and Sabine Wahl-Berry, Andria Hernandez, Corinne Grandstaff, Shelly Davis-King, Gary Stockel, and Barbara Balen.  To Trail Head Brian Burns, thanks for all your help with the human herding!  Super-special thanks to Ellen Stewart and fond, loving memories of David Purdy, KAAD'-LP's mom and pop.  Thanks to Robin Eschner for permission to use her late husband's composition for our theme music; when you hear "Switchback" by Bill Horvitz, it's time for TCT!  Big love and endless thanks to my husband, Dean Zaharias.

Wendy & Rebecca

A bittersweet thanks and farewell to Rebecca Andrade.  Getting to know Rebecca better and to work with her was one of the highlights of my year.  She's moving on, though, in a full-circle way: she'll be working with the California Conservation Corps., where she started out in her wilderness career, up in Humboldt County, where she went to college.

Our December 2019 episode, TCT #25 -- Trips to Take, includes a farewell chat with Rebecca (warning: we met at Serventes, and there's some background noise).  Instead of our regular "3 T" audio trip reports, the Trail Heads who went on the Don Pedro hike share their hiking (and backpacking) wish lists.  We're gonna do our best to hit 'em all in 2020, haha!  Also, we include Anca Husher's smartphone astronomy app recommendations.  Here's a link to the audio of the episode:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16FkNamgePjbOwTgHQzgSlYX9aZ7W31qS/view?usp=sharing

Sharing some upcoming non-TCT events:

• 12/14/19, Saturday - Central Sierra Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count - Sonora.  Contact Steven Umland (stevenum71@gmail.com)
• 12/14/19, Saturday - Geminid Meteor Shower viewing event at New Melones Lake, Tuttletown Recreation Area.  Meet at 6pm at Eagle Point Picnic Area.
• 12/16/19, Monday - Central Sierra Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count - Groveland.  Contact Steven Umland (stevenum71@gmail.com)
• 12/21/19, Saturday - Winter Solstice Trail Work Day at Dragoon Gulch.  Contact Kevin Anderson (anderson95370@gmail.com) for details.  (By the way, here's a link to a sweet video about the VO-Cal Dragoon Gulch Trail Extension work weekend: https://vimeo.com/368934792.)
• 12/28/19, Saturday - Central Sierra Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count - Calaveras.  Contact Keith Maurer (kandsmaurer@goldrush.com) for details
• 1/1/20, Wednesday - New Year's Day Hike at Peoria Mountain, New Melones Lake.  Meet at 10am at Peoria Wildlife Area, end of Old Melones Dam Rd.
• 1/25/20, Saturday - Lunar New Year (Year of the Rat!) Trail Work Day at Dragoon Gulch.  Contact Kevin Anderson (anderson95370@gmail.com) for details.

TCT #24 -- Columbia College

Columbia College campus trails - don't walk un-signed trails alone!

Over the last few months, we've been steering you to events at Columbia College (Bat Night, Madagascar).  Besides a revolving calendar of fun programs to engage your intellect, Columbia always has a variety of recreational venues available to you anytime any day: The Labyrinth for rock climbers, the Fitness Trail/Par Course which circumnavigates the campus and follows the Gold Rush-era ditch, and the Arboretum Nature Trail which showcases rock formations and native plants.  In this episode, we talk to professors Tom Hofstra and Jeff Tolhurst about the trails at Columbia College.  The Arboretum Nature Walk handout is available in our "Pages" section.  We also talk to Columbia College physics professor Anca Husher about another alluring event:  Starry Nights Moon Gazing on November 22 at 4:30pm at the college's astronomical observatory.

Our next hike will be on Saturday, December 7, 2019.  We are going to Don Pedro Lake to walk the Shoreline Trail out of the Blue Oaks Group Area.  This is a little less than 6 miles.  We'll be walking above the high water level of the lake; there will be ups and downs, but no appreciable elevation gain.  If the visibility is good, we have a chance of seeing some high Yosemite peaks such Mt. Lyell.  We'll probably see a variety of waterfowl including Great Blue Herons.  Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and Red-tail Hawks like the area, too.  Dogs aren't allowed on Don Pedro trails, and there's a $10/car parking fee.  We're excited that Seth Connolly, our friend from Tuolumne River Trust, will join us on the hike!

Here's a link to the Don Pedro Recreation Area Shoreline Trail brochure:
https://www.donpedrolake.com/sites/default/files/2016%20trail%20brochure%20web%20version.pdf

As usual, our radio show includes our "Three T" audio trip reports from the trail.  Listen as the Trail Heads share what was trippy, tough, and tremendous about our outing along the Middle Fork Stanislaus River from Sand Bar Flat to Spring Gap.  The easy-to-moderate 7-mile hike is a riot of color in the fall as the deciduous trees drop their leaves.  The adventurous aspect of this hike was the drive to the trailhead, over 10 miles on a warren of unpaved, 4WD, high-clearance-required forest roads.  Put "Sand Bar Flat Dam" (or GPS coordinates 38.1844, -120.1565) into your navigation, and you'll get there.  Basically, though, you take Highway 108 east toward Cold Springs, Turn left on Fraser Flat Road.  It will be 45 minutes to the destination from here.  Cross the bridge and pass the campground.  Then the pavement ends and you'll take the following forest roads: 4N42, 4N01, 4N88, and finally 4N85.  Please review the route on a map before and as you travel!  Here are some photos from our fun outing:

Connie, Deverie, Brian, Dexter, Gay, Robert, Steve, Gary, Katie,

 Sue, Ruben, Brett & Mike

For scale: the boots are size 9.5!

Middle Fork Stanislaus River

Deverie and the

"Dalmatian Tree"

Ruben made a flute!

Dexter and Gay

Here's a link to the program, TCT #24 -- Columbia College:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzYMtoLDW8lNNC2TqXCLvZbV7CJS93PT/view?usp=sharing

TCT #23 -- John Buckley

Middle Fork Stanislaus River,
east of Sand Bar Flat

A palette of autumn colors will please your eye on our November 2, 2019 hike up the Middle Fork Stanislaus River from Sand Bar Flat (near Cold Springs) to Spring Gap, a 7-mile round trip.  It's hard to say what's the most compelling attraction:  the river (always!), the Dogwoods and the Big-leaf Maples (duh!), the bright, pillow-y mosses on the rocks, the wildlife (all possible: Osprey, American Dipper, bears, river otters), or the remnants of hydro-electric infrastructure.

Listen to TCT #23 -- John Buckley for more about this hike which has become one of my annual fall traditions.

Nature journal!

As the episode title suggests, the program features an interview with John Buckley, the Executive Director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC).  John discusses the organization's beginnings, challenges, joys, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy work.  We also hear three-T trip reviews of the South Grove Calaveras Big Trees hike.  On that hike, Rebecca introduced us to nature journaling.  Listen as she shares reasons why keeping a nature journal enriches your experiences on hikes and in the wilderness.

Here's a link to the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) webpage: https://www.cserc.org/

Here's a link to the radio program, TCT #23 -- John Buckley:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1idf66wxIZ-G3pb6VGcpNU-kHiYDI4KnN/view?usp=sharing

Trail Heads at the Big Trees

Donna & Sharon

Also, on 9/21, we took a "bonus hike" to the flank of Stanislaus Peak (via St. Mary's Pass Trailhead).  Here are a few photos:

Trail Heads @ 10k'

Brian

TCT #22 -- Summer Round Up

Wendy at the Shoshone Geyser Basin

August was a whirlwind of end-of-summer activities.  I was off in Yellowstone National Park's back country.  One of the group suffered back trouble, so we cut our 100-mile trip by A LOT.  We ended up doing a 25 miles in 4 days and 3 nights.  We returned to sivilization and followed up with two more day-hikes west of the Tetons and a tourist day in Jackson.

Many other Trail Heads took hikes and backpacking trips on their own.  And the group went up to Inspiration Point near Lake Alpine for stupendous trip.  If you missed it (as did I) watch for a "make up trip" in the near future.

Trail Heads at Inspiration Point

In early September we took a hike out of the Clark Fork Trailhead.  This was cause for celebration, as many trails in the area have been closed since last year's devastating Donnells Fire.  We had a robust group of 19 who enjoyed a picture-perfect day on the trail.

Listen to reviews of both Inspiration Point and Clark Fork River/Meadow on this month's TCT

Trail Heads at Clark Fork River Falls Overlook

episode.  We also hear about Rebecca's historic trails hike in the Carson Pass area which tied both trips together.  We catch up with Karie Lew about the upcoming Dragoon Gulch Trail Project (in Sonora on 10/12 and 10/13).  If you've been thinking, "I want to volunteer for that," well, now is the time!  Early commitment will aid in planning.  Here's the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4fa4a823aafc1-dragoon

Wondering where we'll be going for our October 5th hike?  South Grove Calaveras Big Trees State Park.  Mark your calendar!

Here's audio of the radio show:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nDA0dfIOdPrSaWZVtliI0AIAf95cJuNB/view?usp=sharing

Evening Bat Hike, Jamestown - 8/20/19

Lisa Murphy, Erin Naegle & their bat gear

Hello, Trail Heads!

Next Tuesday, 8/20/19, we're having an evening activity:  a "Bat Hike," led by Lisa Murphy and Erin Naegle of Gold Country Bat Project (https://www.goldcountrybats.org/; interviewed in TCT episode 19, June 2019, available on demand here).

The "hike" is really more of an activity.  We've secured permission from Tuolumne Utilities District to use Quartz Reservoir, in Jamestown.  The hike will be a short, easy one along the gravel access road.  The focus is the bats!  We'll meet to carpool/caravan at 7; program starts at 7:30 and will run until about 9pm.

To receive meet-up instructions, email Wendy (wendylhesse@gmail.com) by 8:30pm Monday, 8/19.

If you miss this TCT event, don't fret!  MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Thursday, September 19.  Erin and Lisa are doing a bat program that evening at 6:30 at Columbia College.  The event starts with a short lecture in the Dogwood Forum then moves to the campus lake (San Diego Reservoir) for observation.

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)