October 23, 2026 - Going Down Highway 49

 

Title: October 23, 2026 - Going Down Highway 49
Hike Info : Description : Background : Animals 

Hike Info:

Type: Car, Touring, Hiking

Trail head:  Shady Glen on Highway 49 near Auburn

Trail:  Robie Point Firebreak Road

Destination: Robie Point

Distance:  1.96 miles ¹

Elevation Rise:  890'

Descent: 890‘

Maximum Elevation: 1,226'

Minimum Elevation: 1,054'

¹The GPS was not turned on. The track shown is from plotting our route on Google Earth. Also the plot was one way. The mileage and elevation gain and loss are computed from this one way plot.

Description:

Stone wall next to road

I slept in until 6:40 this morning. The shades are really dark and I lost track of time until I looked at the clock. My computer was really slow. But it turned out there was no lightning in the area I looked at. There was some which was up in the Stanislaus, so I let them know. By this time, it is about 8:15. I took a shower and got packed up.

We are going to our friends up here in Sacramento for breakfast. Jamie has had some medical issues, but seems well enough to have us over. Sherri is doing her morning routine and we do not leave until after 10.

Peter gets all of us a breakfast burrito. It is both good and large. It was good talking with both Peter and Jamie. We last saw them in March. After an hour and a half, the conversation lagged and it was time for us to be on the road.

 

North Fork American River

Our first stop is Costco in Citrus Heights. Not to stock up on munchies, but to make sure we have enough fuel for the remainder of our trip. Then we went on up Highway 80, as if we were going to Reno. But we turned off well before then at Auburn. It seems like a nice little town to wander through. Except we need to find a place to park. But we do not find any place. We circle around Auburn before giving up and heading down Highway 49, the start of our return trip.

Bridge and North Fork

A little ways out of Auburn we come to a sign saying Auburn State Recreation Area. There is a turn out with what looks like a trailhead. This is the start of the Robie Point Firebreak Trail. Google Maps calls this Shady Glen, but I cannot find any other references to this name. It looks more like a road than anything else. The start has a pretty steep down slope. Then it is just a slight downhill. We are wondering how well we will be going back up this. While there are not true autumn colors, mixed in with the greens there is some yellows peeking through.

In the distance, there is an enormous steel, green bridge, which I think it must be for Highway 49. Later on, looking at a map, I realize it is for a road called the Old Foresthill Road. Wonder how it rated such a bridge. This crosses the North Fork of the American River. We continue our walk and come out at Robie Point parking area. The last third of a mile is mostly uphill. We go on to the top of a knoll, but there does not seem to be a very good view as the top is surrounded by trees.

Sherri on Robie Pt Trail

We do a return trip back to the car, getting back at 2:05. We travel for about 20 minutes when we get to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. We have a Senior/Golden Bear pass which admits us into most California State Parks during the off season. We walked around a bit, not far, and read various signs talking about the discovery of gold in California. They emphasized that Sutter was not wild about this as he was well on the way to setting himself up and feared the loss of his workers to gold fever as well as the influx of people who would disregard any property rights he had. There was a phrase on one of the signs which did not get explained. The sign noted that Sutter did not own the land, but had coerced the Nisenan into allowing his mill to be built there. While Wikipedia does not directly address this, it does not Sutter’s inhuman treatment of Indians. Also that he broke his promises to the Mexican governor about what he was going to do, so it is not far fetched to think that Sutter would not have been honorable to the Nisenan.

Sutter's Mille

Sherri really wants to stop at an apple store-not an Apple Store--to get a box of apples to cook with and enjoy. We are aiming for 24Carrot Apple. Later on, I realized that we had gone to another place further up called Rainbow Orchards. Our friend Cathey had recommended this one. After buying the box, Sherri has some apple cider and an apple donut. We also finished off the burrito from this morning for our evening meal. I think this will be enough for me.

By this time it is closing in on 4:30. We talked about various options. It did not seem like Placerville had a reasonable hotel-the rooms were going for over $200 a night. We thought about various places to go and settled on Quality Inn in Jackson. That should be pretty simple, right? After all, it is just an hour down Highway 49.

Things were going along fine, for a while. We went down Highway 50 to Placerville and got onto 49. We were rolling along quite nicely until we got to the town of El Dorado, We came to a stop sign. The truck on my left turned left and after stopping, I went straight. About five or six miles later I realized that I had not seen any highway 49 signs nor did it look like highway 49. I asked Sherri to confirm we were on 49 and she could not.

With the help of Google Maps we figured out that we were not on 49. The best way was to go through Shingle Springs and then Lapote, hitting highway 16 until we reached 49 again around Sutter Creek. And that is what we did. A bit of a different country than what we were used to.

When we get into Jackson, we find the Quality Inn-down a steep driveway. It does not seem to be well used tonight. We got a room, Room 104. My little detour cost us about half an hour, so we arrived at about 6:15. We rested much of the rest of the evening. Sherri had a sandwich, I just munched on peanut butter pretzels and granola. By 9:50, I am ready for bed.

 

 Background

Western States Trail. The History Expeditions web site has an extensive write up on this trail. The route was used by Native Americans, then by those going from the silver fields of the Comstock mines to the California gold fields and back. It is now the trail which the Western States 100 mile Endurance run is held from Lake Tahoe to Auburn.

Submitted to TripAdvisor:

Hampton Inn, Rancho Cordova. We stopped here because it is close to some friends of ours and had a king sized bed available. We got there in the early evening and stayed for one night. The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. We cannot speak much as we had breakfast with our friends. It was quiet, being on the third floor. There was a slight negative. You are charged for parking, which is on their website. What the website does not say is that there is also tax on top of the parking fee. When I brought this to the hotel’s attention, they provided compensation in the form of Honor points.

 
Animals

October 22, 2026 - Going to Sacramento

 

 

 Title: October 22, 2026 - Going to Sacramento

Hike Info : Description  

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

Today is the start of a three day trip where we loop up to Sacramento then come back to Fresno via Highway 49. We did something similar when we first retired and were gaining points for Capture California. That was fun and educational then. We hope to also get a few hikes in as well. But it rained yesterday and may rain some more. So we will see what we actually are able to do.

I got up at 5:30. There was some lightning yesterday and this morning. I reported that. I thought it would be a lot worse. I was mostly packed but I got a few more things together. Then I had breakfast at 7:30. Sherri got up around 8 and Rachel came over at 9 to do her work.

I have a 10:00 OSHER class, but I wanted to pick up some munchies from Target. I got to class a bit early. The OSHER session is on Tree Fresno, being given by my fellow lookout Mona. She noted the accomplishments of Tree Fresno, having planted over 55,000 trees in four counties, including Fresno.

I got back home at noon. The plan was to leave right after me getting home and eat in Turlock before seeing Ryan. But Sherri had discovered enough left overs so we ate at home. We did not leave until 1:40. Sherri was driving. It was there that we discovered that we had miscommunicated about what was going to happen Friday. I got Peter, whom we were going to see, on the phone-which was routed through the car, so Sherri got to talk with him. The plan is to have breakfast with them at 10 tomorrow.

We get to Ryan’s around 3:10. He had surgery a few days ago on his wrist and looks pretty good for all of that. Sherri talks and reads to him for about 45 minutes. We leave a few minutes before 4. I am now driving and there is both rain and traffic. 99 slows down all throughout Modesto and then again in Stockton. It is a bit tiring. I am glad Sherri drove to Turlock.

When we got to Elk Grove, we stopped to eat our sandwich by a pathway in a residential area. Then it is on the Leatherby’s. We share a Nicole’s Peanut Butter Cup Sundae. This will definitely send my number sky-high. But it tastes soooo gooood.

We do not get out of there until 6:15. It is only about a 40 minute drive to Rancho Cordova and our hotel at Hampton Inn. We have a king size bed in room 330. We mostly relax the rest of the evening-too wet to do anything else. I get to bed at 10.

October 11, 2026 - Nelder Grove

 

 Title: October 11, 2026 - Nelder Grove

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Nelder Grove Interpretive Center

Trail:  Chimney Tree Trail and the Bull Buck Trail

Destination:  Loop

Distance:  2.38 miles

Start Time: 1:34

End Time:  3:26

Travel Time: 1:51  (1.28 mph)

Moving Time: 1:28   (1.61 mph)

Elevation Rise:  512'  ¹

Descent: 513‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,559'

Minimum Elevation: 5,250'

GPS Tracks

 ¹The elevation data from the GPS seems a bit off. I am using Google Earth’s information for the elevation. The GPS was:

• Elevation Rise: 389'
•  Descent: 462‘
• Maximum Elevation: 5,715'
• Minimum Elevation: 5,327'

Would you use this outhouse?

Description:

Today is Sherri’s birthday and she would like to hike the Lewis Creek trail. But first, we need to go to church and hear Jon talk about Revelation 20. We get back home about 10:45 and get ready to go up towards Oakhurst. Leaving Fresno at 11:30.

I drive, after all it is Sherrri’s birthday. When we get to the trailhead off of highway 41 for Lewis Creek, we find that the parking lot has a lot of cars, which is not surprising. Still it is not what we want when we hike to be in crowds. I had thought of going up to Goat Meadow and going into Mariposa Grove. Steven had suggested that we could do Nelder Grove. We have not been to Nelder Grove in awhile, 2020 to be exact, so we decided to go there.

 

 

California Tree

The question now is which one of the trails do we want to go on? I suggested the Shadow of the Giants, which is a ways down road 6S90, which is a dirt road. We met a couple of ladies walking along the road and offered a ride, which they refused. We continued on. We came to a place which I suspect we could have made it across where water drains migrates to the downside of the road. There were some boards to take us out of the mud, but there was also a pretty good dip and I was concerned we would hit bottom. So we go back to the main road. Looking at the Forest Service site, the trail was closed anyway.

We drive back to the main part of Nelder-where the Interpretive Center is. It is about 1:25 when we park. We get ready to walk the Chimney Tree Trail and probably the Bull Buck Tree. These two will make a loop. There is an outhouse right across the road from us. Its unusual feature is that a branch or something fell on it. While the outhouse could definitely use some servicing, there is no smell as its condition made for a rather airy room.

Gary and the Chimney Tree

By 1:35 we are off walking up the Chimney Tree Trail. After walking about 15 minutes, we came across a log to sit on, which was conducive for having lunch. Lunch is the usual-peanut butter and Nuitella. We sat around for about 15 minutes before taking off.

We travel a short way up the trail and come to a stately tree called the California Tree. While it is an impressive tree, it is not the most notable in the forest. It is a good start. Just ten minutes up the trail, we come to its name sake, the Chimney Tree. Why is it the Chimney Tree? Most of the lower part of the tree is burnt out, with much of the interior of the tree being hollowed out because of being burnt. Even though in the last week, I have talked about how resilient Sequoias are with its thick fibrous bark, I am always amazed when I see trees like this one. They just need a little bit of their bark and underlayer intact to survive.

 

 

Old Forester Tree

About 15 minutes later, we came to a sign which said Old Forester Tree. But the trees which are closest to us do not seem very remarkable. Why would any of them have a name? (Of course that thought raises the question, why do I have a name?) By moving a little bit, I see a tree in the background which would fit the bill as being notable. Not sure that the Sequoia is that old, but it is a tree to take note of. Wikipedia notes that this tree is The tallest tree in the Nelder Grove campground area, named after Walter Puhn, a National Forest Supervisor in the 1960s.

Bull Buck Tree

A few steps later, we come to a trail junction where we can go back to the road or loop past the Bull Buck Tree. We feel like we can continue on. Another ten minutes puts us in front of this tree. It truly is the king of this forest. As we looked up at the upper branches, we noticed clouds just drifting by. Sort of mesmerizing. We stop to have an energy bar before going on.

There are slash piles, ready for burning, all across the hillside where we are walking. The trail drops us down into the walk in the campground. We followed a road for about a quarter mile back to our car. It is only 3:20 when we get back there and another ten minutes to get ready to leave.

Do we eat in Oakhurst since it's just mid-afternoon. We would like to go for Reimer’s, but Sherri’s rule is that we need to eat something real first. So El Cid fits that. We have some burritos there. Then go over to Reimers for ice cream before heading home. We get home about 6:00pm, in time to go on Zoom with the family.

Extra Photo's

Chimney Tree

Chimney Tree

California Tree

Autumn Leaves

Sherri and the color of Fall

Autumn Leaves

California Tree

An old tree having been left

Bull Buck Tree

Old Forester Tree

Sherri on the trail

Gary by the Chimney Tree

Gary and the Chimney Tree

 
Flowers and Plants

October 7, 2026 - Park Ridge Lookout

 

Title: October 7, 2026 - Park Ridge Lookout

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type:Lookout

Description:

It was a good night, full of stars, many of which I could make out even without my glasses. The sliver of a moon did not rise up until a few hours before I woke up at 0500. There was no lightning to report-that is what I also observed from my perch in the lookout yesterday.

PG&E Block and Tackle

By 0630 I started to move around and change into the clothes for the day. I had my normal breakfast of granola, then took what I did not need and lowered it down to the ground. From there I went on a 40 minute walk. When I returned, the PG&E contractors were there, collecting their stuff. I guess they are done with this assignment.

By this time, it is 0900 and I go and do the lookout thing to get ready to go into service at 0930. But at 0916, Porterville comes on the radio and says the command channels will be down for 20 minutes. So much for the 0930 going into service.

Morning light

This throws me off a bit. Around 0940 I realized I had not gone into service with Ash Mountain Fire (AMF). Portervilles’s issue gets resolved and I go into service. I also ask if channel 4 is available. Affirmative. A short time later, Porterville does their weather and staffing. Well sort of. There is static during the weather part. Then during staffing, I hear about 30 seconds and then it silence until the Great Western Divide staffing gets read. I missed the Hume Lake Ranger District’s staffing, which is what I wanted. Evidently, I was not the only one as Buck Rock radio’s me if I heard who our duty officer is? Negative. But I had seen that BC31 is our duty offer.

A little while later, Wendy called about a few things. She asked that I unplug the refig before I leave, so that it would defrost for the Saturday closing of the lookout. I asked if there was anything else she would want done? Yes, if I could look in the visitor log and count the number which we have gotten this season. That is what I spend most of the day on when I am not doing lookout things.

At 1230 I have my dinner of quesadillas. I then take the weather and do a scan. After that, it was time to have a rest period. I set my time for 15 minutes, then get back into scanning. I finished counting visitors at 1430.

This makes it two and half hours until I go out of service at

Park Ridge for the season. Park Ridge Lookout will be going out of service for the season Saturday and I have things I need to do so staffing again up here is not an option. So I know I will need to wait until next year to be back on the catwalk. There is an appreciation of the time I have been up here. But also a bit of sadness that I will have to wait. I will be able to do other things during that time. Still it is a sense of sadness and longing. The other two lookouts, Buck Rock and Delilah, look like they will be going out of service by the end of the month. I probably will not be able to get to Delilah either.

  

Flag over Park Ridge

Oh well, I guess that is enough mopping around. I should start cleaning up the lookout. I do not see that it is that too beneficial to clean the windows since Saturday the lookout closes. Before I can get very far, I have two couples from North Carolina. My first visitors in two days. They are suitably impressed with my babbling. But I am more impressed with one of the wives. She overcame her fear of heights and came up to the catwalk, but quickly came into the safety of the cab. She is successful on our trip down the stairs, looking at her husband’s back.

At 1600 the weather and burn indexes are reported, but it is very staticy. Not that it really matters since the lookout will be vacant tomorrow. I work on finishing cleaning up. When I do one of the final scans, to the south, there is a whole murder of crows squawking and circling around. At 1655 my final visitor, from Medford, Oregon, came up the stairs. He sees that I have packed up and is just about out to close up. We do talk for a while, enough to give him an idea of what happens in the lookout.

At 1708 I go out of service. With the rope system, I am able to get everything down in one load. With a last look, I say farewell to the lookout. An enjoyable season, all seven days I spent up here.

It turns out that I have a bit more fun going back home-good fun. On the way out, I come across my final visitor who was at the saddle. He still needs to set up his campsite, so he accepted a ride to his car at Panoramic Point. After dropping him off, I head down to the Grant Grove Village. It seemed like every quarter mile there is a car coming up. Where are all of there folks going I wonder.

When I get down to the Village, a woman flags me down. She is by herself and her rental car dows not seem to be very reliable as far as showing how much fuel she has. After my usual disclaimer on how little I know about vehicles, we talk about the symptoms. I think she is OK that it may have to do with how the gas sloshed around on mountain roads. She is pleased and calls me “cheeky”-she is English. I think she is trying to compliment me. After this, it is a normal drive back to Fresno. I get back in time for our family Zoom.