Saturday, June 28, 2025

06/15-20 Caples Week

 


6/15/2025 Arrival and getting settled

Chuck, Lee and Robin (Lee’s sister) went up Friday, the rest of us trickled in late Sunday afternoon, with Leslie (Lee and Chuck’s daughter) and Isabella (their grand-daughter) arriving late as they had driven all the way from San Diego.

John and Delia had cabin 4; Lee and Chuck were in Cabin 3 and our “dining room” was the space between the two cabins. Susan, Becki and Linda Verobik. shared Cabin 1 and the remaining 7 (Donita, Karen, Robin, Jennifer, Leslie, Isabella and Linda J.) filled all six lodge rooms. That makes 14 of us.

We had plenty of hors d’oeuvres and wine to precede the, by now, traditional first supper of soup and salad.

 After hearing from Lee about the disappointing condition of the flora along the old highway 88 trail, we decided to make Charity Valley our first hike.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/AcL109Xe07


6/15/2025 Charity Valley

People met promptly at 8:30 to carpool to the trailhead and we were on the trail by 9. As usually happens the group spread out, forming and reforming smaller groups whose pace and interests matched. We agreed to meet at the “waterfall” and Chuck, Leslie and Isabella were soon out of sight, while the rest of us spent lots of time looking at plants along the way. John and Delia, Susan and Linda V. turned back before reaching the falls. Distance approximately 3.25 miles.

In spite of the early date and the elevation (roughly 7800’ per the USGS topo, tho phone apps registered higher) there was lots to see. The surprises were an increase in the number of peonies and masses of an uncertain species of Allium. Susan and Linda spent a good deal of time and think they finally id’d it.

Another good meal and camaraderie to end the day.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/GVHK5C9Lxs


6/17/2025 Meiss Col to hunt for Beckwith violets

8:30 found us loading into carpools and we were booted, slathered with mosquito repellant and sun screen and on the trail by 9.

It doesn’t matter how many times we walk this section of trail there is always lots to see and appreciate. This time there were also huge, persistent swarms of mosquitos which followed us until we finally got some strong breezes higher up.

It was early for the iris, there were plenty of buds, and a bit past the peony’s prime, but perfect timing for the violets!

When we had tired of looking at violets we retraced our steps and followed the posts up the western ridge to the rocky area we call the “flower garden”. Wonderful views, breezes to repel mosquitos and moderate the temperature, enough flowers to satisfy us – it would be hard to ask for more.

A bit over 5 miles (hard to calculate when we wandered about so) and the lunch spot was at over 9100’.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/zMGHb4071T

 

06/18/2025 from Schneiders Camp

The road into Schneiders was clear and we were lucky to have 3 vehicles with high enough clearance to brave the ruts. Again we were on the trail by 9.

The climb up to the ridge is always slow for many of us (we start at 8300’ and the ridge is 9100’) but there was lots to engage our attention. For lunch we went on north as far as the big log by the hemlocks with a view of Lake Tahoe. Chuck and Isabella, followed by Lee, Robin, Leslie, Linda J and Jennifer went further toward Showers Lake…just to look :-)

Again, mileage is approximate and altitude has to be considered; about 3 miles to the lunch spot and back with another half mile or more for the group which walked on toward showers. At least a mile of that was over 9000’ for everyone.

We had dinner reservation at the Caples Lodge restaurant. Karol and Will Robinson joined us, so there were two tables of 8. Very good food!!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/M41VJ61R29

 

06/19/2025 varied

John and Delia had to leave for home, Jennifer took Becki who had missed the Monday hike to to Charity Valley. Chuck tweaked his back and didn’t hike.

The rest of us divided into two groups. Lee, Leslie and Isabella started at Woods Lake and walked up to Winnemucca and then on to the spot where the trail descends to Round Top Lake. The rest of us took two cars to the pass parking lot and walked to Frog, around the lake, then made a short spur along the PCT to the base of Elephant’s Back before returning and continuing to Lake Winnemucca. The two groups met at Winnemucca. Several of the Frog group crossed the logs at the lake outlet and went hunting for the white heather (Cassiope mertensiana) and the Kalmia which Lee had seen. Robin joined the Woods group for the return and the rest of us retraced our steps (minus the walk around Frog Lk).

Again milage is approximate. For the Woods group a bit under 4 ½ miles; for the Frog group a bit over 6 ½ miles (with 1 ½ to 2 miles over 9000’)

We were all glad to get back! Supper was leftovers (you wouldn’t have guessed, there was so much good food).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6130VuYRN4


Friday morning found us packing the cars and heading back to “civilization”.

That’s the story of the 2025 invasion of Caples Lake Resort by the “flower ladies” (and gentlemen).

Lee talked to Gwen and we are on the books for the week before 4th of July (6/28-7/3) 2026!!


Thursday, June 5, 2025

06/11 - Dutra


It was cool to start, but we were grateful for the cool breeze off the fog as we climbed up the hill. There was plenty to look at: masses of monkeyflower and ocean spray with smaller things hiding below. Nine of us plus Murphy; a bit over 3.75 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7Es0k222T0


06/04 - Redwood Regional Park


It was a perfect morning for walking!! There were just 9 of us today doing the easy loop at Redwood RP. Starting from the Fish Ladder we made a clockwise loop out the Bridle Tr as far as the Fern Tr junction with Stream Tr (picnic tables and Digitalis) then back Stream Tr.  There was a lot to look at so we were not very speedy. About 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/1P4eDTK5p2

 

05/28 - Pacheco Marsh

 I didn't walk...see Phred's Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/gp/phredspix/195a4o16o0

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

05/21 - Point Pinole

 


The forecast was for hot inland and temperate by the Bay, so we headed to Pt Pinole in search of Blue and Gold: Brodiaea elegans and Calochortus luteus. We were not disappointed, both were more abundant than we could recall having seen!!  

We made a clockwise loop from the Atlas Rd entrance out to the coast and north to the pier, then back "owl alley". There were 11 of us on the 2.75+/- mile walk.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6W0K084959

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

05/14/2025 - Fernandez Ranch

 



There were a dozen of us today on a bright, warm day. There were lots of birds and quite a few flowers, too. It had been several years since we done this route in this direction and it was a reminder of what a good walk this is. It is still green in shaded areas and on north facing slopes, but the grasses are drying quickly and on west and south slopes are turning gold. Just under 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/jb6Vb7wY7r

Friday, May 9, 2025

05/07 - Birthday luncheon with Jeanne

 


Jeanne's birthday isn't until the 16th, but this was the week a group of us joined her at High Hand Nursery Cafe in Loomis to celebrate. The time together was absolutely worth the drive.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0NjD2770WW

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

04/30 - Mt Diablo

 


There was a last minute change of plans as we had originally planned to go up Hetherrington and then loop over to Bruce Lee and return via Clayton Oaks. The consensus in the small (9) group was that they would prefer the Back Cyn/Tickwood loop. That turned out to be an excellent decision as the flowers were plentiful and the shade very welcome on an 80 degree day. 
We saw lots of Triteleia laxa, Dichelostemma congestum, wind poppies, Collinsia and even Clarkia, as well as fair number of the Calochortus pulchellus.
Altho the hills to the east of Clayton are gold, the grass, etc. was still green where we were hiking. Under 3 miles.
 





04/23 - Ring Mountain
Today was Linda's birthday and she had asked if we might do this hike. It was an excellent choice...a bright, cool day with plenty to slow our progress over the 2.5 miles. We started from the Westward Drive entrance and walked up the Phyllis Ellman Tr then made a circle of Petroglyph Rock, went up the steep trail to Turtle Rock then took the fire road out past the water tank. We had snacks in the spot where there is a great view of the Bay, chosen because it was out of the wind. Return was almost the same, but we took the small side trail which branches off from Phyllis Ellman and rejoins that trail at the spot where the small water course comes very close to the trail and we often stop to look at the Mimulus (Erythranthe).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/FPM56BeLP8
 

 

Saturday, April 19, 2025

04/16 - Sunol

 


There was a group of 16. It was beautiful day for hiking and Sunol is a wonderful place to be out on the trail. Blue sky and green everywhere with lots of flowers, birds and other wildlife, too. The route (a clockwise circle up Hayfield Road and down Indian Joe Creek) was just under 3.5 miles and it took us well over 4 hours, but there was a lunch stop! We must not let seven years go by before hiking there again.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dX3g7230P6