March 20, 2024 - Eureka-McKay Forest

 

Title: March 20, 2024 - Eureka-McKay Forest

From McKay's web site

Hike Info : Description : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: McKay Community Forest - Northridge Dr

Trail: Bob Hill Gulch Trail, Triple C  (Switchy) Trail, Perimeter Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance:  2.1 miles ¹

Elevation Rise: 431 '

Descent: 469‘

Maximum Elevation: 333'

 ¹

Start of trail

I did not turn on the GPS. The mileage is from the map and signs which McKay Forest has posted. The elevation gain/loss is from a route I plotted on Google Earth. The attached map is from McKay Forest

Description:

I am tired after yesterday’s drive, consequently I got up at 8. David and I went to Winco to pick up milk for me. David started BBQing/smoking chicken breast for tonight’s dinner. I had a breakfast of granola. Most of the morning we just talked and enjoyed each other’s company. After my peanut butter sandwich lunch, I rested for an hour until I was told they were going out for a hike at the McKay Community Forest.

McKay is only about a mile away from David’s place, but it seems like it is a whole different world. No it is not a desert, but it feels like it is shut off from the rest of Eureka. There are several short trails in this reserve. For the first tenth of a mile, we walk on a packed gravel trail which is ADA accessible. We then turn onto the Bob Hill GulchTrail. The trail starts out as a pretty wide dirt trail which descends down into the Gulch. About half way down, this wide trail turns into a single file trail and the trail turns muddy. Also it is only for hiking rather than multiple use.

David and Sherri going down into the Gulch

It should not surprise us about the mud. This is Humboldt. David says that it was a lot more muddy just a few days ago. The trail continues to descend. We see trillium and giant skunk cabbage. The cabbage we will leave behind once we leave the bottom of the Gulch, but the trillium will stay with us throughout the hike.

This trail loops around, avoiding crossing the creek. There is a connector being developed to go to Redwood Fields. David offers to pick us up there, but we decline. There is a 0.4 trail called the Triple C (Switchy) Trail. The elevation we have lost in the descent is now being made up with a climb back up the ridge. This is also muddy. And steep-jelly belly time. Oops! I forget to put them in my pocket.

Muddy trail

A word about the general environment. It is an overcast sky with no rain in the forecast-it turned out there were a few drops which fell, but nothing significant. Redwoods and other species of trees give the forest a feeling of walking through a space of earth which is primordial. Ferns grow on the side of the trail along with other bushes. There are occasional berry vines. But all are under a canopy of green.

When we have hit the top of the ridge, the Triple C Trail bisects the Perimeter Trail. This trail runs on both sides of the ridge. We go left or west. The trail continues to ascend, but at a slower rate. We go for aways when we reach another trail. David follows this trail which leads to another part of the Perimeter Trail. Eventually we get back to the original gravel trail. But not before getting our shoes a bit muddy.

 

 

 

 

David and Trillium

I am not sure what I should feel about my body. I think we went about 2 ⅓ miles, with a decent uphill, so I am somewhat pleased with my performance. But also displeased as I should be able to go much farther.

When we get back to David’s house, he gets things ready for dinner. Sherri and I go to Safeway to get some decaf coffee. David is self-sufficient in the kitchen and gets things pretty much ready for dinner. Kevin, of my Hawaii trips, drives up followed by Beth, his wife. We have a wonderful chicken breast dinner and an even better conversation about travels. After they leave, it is shower time, then into bed by 10:00pm.

 
Flowers and Plants

Skunk Cabbage

Trillium

Trillium

March 19, 2024 - Go to Eureka

 

Title: March 19, 2024 - Go to Eureka

Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons

Hike Info:

Type: Car

Destination: David’s House

Mileage: 464 Miles

Drive Time:  10:05

Description:

I got up at 7:00am with nobody else up. This means to me that the earliest we will leave is 8:15. After breakfast I start packing what remains in the house and get done about 8:30. In the meantime, Sherri (and Rachel) got up. By the time everything is ready and we are ready to press the gas pedal, it is 9:45-so much for the 8:00 start time. Sherri starts off driving so I am able to relax for a while.

In Livingston, Sherri stops at a Starbucks. We also change drivers. While Sherri’s drive was uneventful. Well, as uneventful as driving through the construction zone in Merced can be. I have to take avoidance maneuvers twice to avoid an accident. Both times a car decided that they could be in the same spot where I was at when they were changing lanes. I wonder if I have my cloaking device left on.

By 12:45, we have made it to Elk Grove which meant lunch at Leatherby’s! I had Uncle Ronnie’s Tri-Tip sandwich while Sherri had Jessie’s Classic Chicken Pesto. Mine seemed a bit sweet. But then so did the sundae we shared-Valerie’s Black and White. After that we hit the Costco in Elk Grove for gas and then were on our way at 1:45.

Our next stop was at a rest stop just south of Williams. My blood meter decided to let me know that the sundae was very effective at raising my blood sugars. We continued on with Sherri working on a brain puzzle book-this would be a theme throughout our travels these two weeks.

We crossed over Highway 20 and Clear Lake. We needed to stop at another rest stop just north of Willits. It is 5:00pm by now. Even so it was light when we saw the sign for the Avenue of the Giants. We stopped for a lunch break at 6:45 there and finished off the lunch from Leatherbys.

By the time we get to David’s, it is 7:50, which puts us on the road, with rest stops, for about 10 hours. I am pretty tired. Fortunately we have packed so only a bit of stuff needs to come into the house. David and I talked for a little while. But we get to bed by 9:15.

Trail Lesson: Be Alert-you never know what will be coming after you.

March 12, 2024 - Big Meadows Snowshoe

 

Title: March 12, 2024 - Big Meadows Snowshoe

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail head: Big Meadows Winter Trailhead

Trail: Big Meadows Road

Destination: Big Meadows

Distance:  4.90 miles ¹

Start Time: 12:33

End Time:    4:12

Travel Time: 3:38  (1.35 mph)

Moving Time:  2:39  (1.85 mph)

Elevation Rise:  586'

Descent: 545‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,827'

GPS Tracks

 ¹There seems to be some discrepancies between this figure and some signposts. A sign says 2¼ miles to Highway 180 from Big Meadows and the trailhead is about a quarter mile from the highway. So we should have gone a total of 4 miles. Also Steven’s Strava is less than five miles and he went all the way to the main Big Meadows Trailhead for Weaver Lake.

Description:

The Mist of being in a cloud

Depending on the weather, today may be the last day we will be able to go up and play in the snow. The reason? First, Sherri and I are going to visit Andrea for a two week trip. Next, the promised snow in the mountains has been less than exciting. As a clue, today the snow was maybe 2-3’ deep at 7,000’. With daily temps being in to 40-55 degrees, that snow will not last long.

I slept in a bit until 7:30, of course last weekend I lost an hour, so this is really 6:30. Sherri has a doctor’s appointment, so we will leave after she gets back. She gets back home around 10, we load the car and leave around 10:45. Even though the drive is uneventful, I am eyeballing the continuous layer of gray clouds stretching in front of us. We travel through a layer of clouds and end up at the entrance station by Grant Grove.

Burnt Trees from the Rabbit Fire

Sherri on the Big Meadow Road

  We, or should I say I, talk with the entrance station lady, Jessica. I think she must not have been very busy today as we gabbed for five minutes. But that is not why we traveled up here. We moved on and get to Big Meadows around noon. Our first order of action when we get there is to eat lunch. Then get our gear together and are off.

Steven got a five minute head start-even though being on skis he did not need any advantage. Sherri and I take off at 12:45. The road is freshly groomed with only Steven’s ski tracks, Korra’s paw prints and a snowmobile print. The sky is cloudy with only an occasional peeping out of blue and even less of the sun. At times a mist floats by-wwe must be in a cloud. Even though when we left the car said we were in the 42-44 degree range, it was a cold temperature. I have my warmer gloves on.

Sherri and I make our way along the road, doing pretty decently. About every third of a mile we take a break to breathe, we are at 7,500’ after all. Really not much to see except for the gray of the clouds and the trees lining the road.

At the junction with the Rabbit Meadow road, we decide to just go on to Big Meadow, following Steven’s tracks. We start to see signs of the Rabbit Fire from last year. This was a lightning cause fire which the Forest Services decided to manage to burn some of the excess duff, so they needed the fire into areas which they wanted burnt. But there are stands of burnt trees which must have been in the path of the fire before it was brought under control. In the distance I have been hearing a bird chirp, but I could not see it. It is a reminder that even in a dead forest, there is still life.

 

 

Shortly afterwards, we see the warming hut at Big Meadows. It is the end of the line for Sherri and I. Steven’s tracks go further on. But not for long as we see a snow cat coming down. When they stop at the hut and start unloading, I know who one of the people is, Dutch. He is a recipient of my lightning report and I see many of his pictures though Wendy. I introduce myself and we talk for a few minutes and then rejoin Sherri.

Redwood Canyon in the clouds

We got to the hut right at our turn around time of 2:15. Steven comes back, with Korra. We compare our mileages. I have 2.6 miles, Steven has less even though he has traveled at least a mile and more like a mile and a half further. There is a sign saying the highway is 2¼ miles away. A continuation of the discussion from last Friday.

Big Meadows Road

And we all start our return journey. Steven and Korraa quickly are out of sight, followed by Dutch and his friend on a snowmobile. While the clouds are not getting less, there are breaks in them which allows us to see windows into the surrounding mountains. This is an awesome view. Clouds have that way with me. Not sure if it is because they hide and reveal, similar to how God is hidden, but gets revealed.

About halfway back I can start to feel that I have not gone this far on snowshoes this season. Another way to say that I am starting to tire. But maybe it is the uphill which I am going up-not a long one. Once we get back to the Rabbit Meadow junction, I start to feel a bit rejuvenated. Maybe because it is downhill from here? Or maybe it is like a nag who can smell the oats in the barn ahead.

We make it back to the car at 4:10 with Steven and Korra waiting for us. When I sit down to take off my boots, I can feel how tired I am. Steven is driving back-I am grateful for this. We stopped at the overlook at Redwood Canyon. I am tired enough that I left Sherri and Steven to snap their pictures while I sti in the car. We decided that Bear Mountain Pizza is a good place to get refreshed. We make it home by 6:15. I promptly lay down for half an hour-feels sooo good.

 

 

Extra Photo's

Gary going down the Big Meadow Road

Big Meadows under snow

Shell Mountain

Gary starting off

Gary

Clouds hiding a mountain

Sherri on the way back

Burnt trees on Big Baldy from the KNP Complex

Redwood Canyon

Redwood Mountain

Steven

March 8, 2024 - Shaver Lake Snowshoe

 

Title: March 8, 2024 - Shaver Lake Snowshoe
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trailhead: Dinkey Creek Road and Nevins Road

Trail:  Nevins Road

Destination:  Shaver Lake

Distance:  3.10 miles

Start Time: 10:59

End Time:    2:25

Travel Time: 3:25  (0.91 mph)

Moving Time:  2:05  (1.49 mph)

Elevation Rise: 547'

Descent: 497‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,674'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Steven likes to go to Shaver Lake. Not just to anyplace, but to go to the Nivens Peninsula. Steven took us there two years ago. It is time to revisit this area: Sherri and I on snowshoes; Steven on Nordic skis; Korra on her paws.

 

Korra, the snow dog

I get up first at 6:45. I am not really expecting anybody to be up for the next couple of hours and they do not disappoint me. Around 8:30 I start to hear noises. By 9:45 we are in the car, leaving. We head up highway 168 until we get to the town of Shave Lake. The turn onto Dinkey Creek Road. A few minutes later, Steven informs me that I have passed by the trail. So I turn around at Camp Chawanekee.

By the time we get ready with snowshoes and skis, it is 11:05. Well, we all are almost ready tp start. After walking about 15 steps, I realize that I left my phone in the car-my phone is also my camera. How am I going to have a blog without pictures?

Gary, following Steven's tracks

 

 

After retrieving my phone, I joined Sherri. Steven and Korra have already gone down the road. The road is Nevins Road, even though most maps do not give it a name. The snow is not very deep, maybe 1 foot to a foot and a half, except in a few drifts. But where the sun has been shining, the depth is measured in inches. In some ways this is to be expected as Shaver is only slightly higher than a mile up.

Shaver Lake

Sherri and I plod along at a pleasant pace for us. We are going downhill after all. We follow Steven’s tracks which are on the road. Towards the end of the peninsula, the road loops around, but Steven has taken a route away from the road down to the edge of the peninsula.

 

Steven and Korra

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we reach him, about 12:15, we find a rock to sit on and enjoy a lakeside lunch. Steven and I discuss the distance we have traveled. My GPS shows about 1.6 miles while he shows considerably less. We look at various other things, including the trail signs we have seen and map notations, but do not come to a definite conclusion. I know that with the GPS, there is a tendency for it to wander if we are slow or stopped, so when I download the GPS data I will remove readings where there is less than x mph. In this case I removed less than 0.3mph. Steven found an AllTrails which said out route was 2.7 miles while my total computation is 3.1. So I think it is whatever seems right and is in the ballpark can be used.

Sherri on the return trip

And now for the return trip. Since we came down going to the lake, we started back UP to get back to the car. It is not a bad ascent. I just like my uphills to be at the start and downhill to get back to the car. The view is mostly of trees and snow, which is a nice sight. By the time we have gone most of the way back, my legs are starting to get tired. But when we approach the gate to the start of the road, I remind Sherri, and myself, that no matter how tired you are or how slow we are, it is how we finish is what matters. So we finish strong.

We get back to the car at 2:25 with Korra and Steven waiting patiently for us. It takes up about 20 minutes to get packed up and gone. The question is where do we eat? The choice is the Shaver Lake Pub&Grub-and it is good grub. We make it home by 4:45.