07/08 - Tilden

 

It was a morning so wet from fog that there were puddles and parts of the trail were quite slippery. We started from the upper parking lot near the steam train and walked out Seaview Tr to Lupine Tr and then down to Volmer Peak Tr. Lupine trail was challenging to say the least. But the area is botanically rich and we just took our time. The only problem came when we got toward the end. Vollmer Peak Tr should have led us back past the EBRPD fire station, but we missed the turn and ended up down on South Park Drive. Close to 2.5 miles, tho everyone's activity tracker said more like 3.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ZF251629k1

Caples Week 06/28-07/2

Here are the pictures from Caples Week 2026.

It was little chilly (that's putting it mildly) especially in the evenings and early morning, but great hiking weather. We had a wonderful time with friends and flowers.

Around the Lake

Arrivals were quite staggered. Chuck, Lee and Robin went up on Friday the 26th. Karen and Donita, Linda J, Susan and Becki arrived around 4 on the 28th; Linda V arrived at dinner time. Jennifer and Wayne and Sally arrived on the 29th, and Leslie joined us for the Wednesday and Thursday hikes. The moon was full on the 29th and those in the lodge had great views of it rising over Round Top.

06/29/2026 Charity Valley

There was lots to see on our first hike even though the onions were finished and there were few blossoms on the mule's ears and balsam root. We spotted lots of peony plants, but none with fresh blooms. The calochortus were more plentiful than we have ever seen. Distance approximately 3.25 miles for most.

06/30/2026 Old Highway 88 from Red Lake

It doesn’t matter how many times we walk this trail there is always lots to see and appreciate. Chuck and Lee had walked this route before the rest of us arrived, so stayed at Caples. Jennifer, Wayne and Sally chose easy walks around the lake and campground as it was their first day at altitude, so that left seven of us. Susan and Linda V walked on to the pass (Becki picked them up there) rather than making it an out and back and Robin returned in Karen's car with Linda J and Donita. Then there was a short visit to Kirkwood to see the Snow Plant and the red penstemon that Lee had discovered. Under 2 miles.

07/01/2026 from Schneiders Camp

The climb up to the ridge is always slow for many of us but there was lots to engage our attention. Lee and Chuck turned around before the up-hill zig-zags. We had lunch at the rocks on the ridge – it was really windy! Some did additional exploration before returning. Again, mileage is approximate and altitude has to be considered (the ridge is 9100'); about 2.5 miles to the lunch spot and back with more for the group which wandered on the ridge.

This was our night to eat out at the resort restaurant so we all had time to shower and relax.

07/02/2026 Frog, Woods, Winnemucca, etc.

One group started from the pass parking lot and walked to Frog, around the lake, then continued to Lake Winnemucca. The others started at Woods Lake and walked up the trail to Winnemucca. Everyone went down to Woods and the folks who started at the pass got shuttled back up. That's the simplified version! 
It was a day full of flowers and marvelous clouds. Mileage was all over the place from 2 to almost 5 miles.

So that's the story. Enjoy the pictures!!

6/24 - Redwood RP

 

13 of us started from the old fish ladder along Redwood Creek and took Bridle Tr, then Chown down to Stream Tr. We went as far as the tables where the foxgloves grow, then returned via Stream Tr. 3 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/S4fPYwb39K

6/17/2026 - Alder Creek/McCosker

 

Today a dozen of us revisited the Alder Creek area of Sibley RP walking a CW loop. It was a foggy morning to start; very good hiking weather. Tho it is just under 2.5 miles, it felt longer with all the long up hill sections. 

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/164622835d 

 

Catching up

 06/10 - Lafayette Community Park and Linda's Garden

There were 15 of us on a day which got almost too warm for comfort as the morning progressed.

Jennifer told us lots of the history of the Community Center and the park as we walked a CW loop of under 1 mile, mostly under the shade of oaks.

Linda lives relatively near by and invited us to visit her garden after the walk and share some light refreshments. What a garden! And she continues to develop it, adding natives to replace portions of the more traditional plantings. We also enjoyed a tour of some of the marvelous art in the house - works by her husband, her mother and father and Linda herself.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/u710wvg071

06/03 - Tilden Botanic Garden

I couldn't be there, so no pictures

05/27 - Pine Canyon

There were 9 of us today. Nearly perfect walking weather. Lots of birds, sufficient flowers and nearly dry creek crossings. The clouds were magnificent. about 3 miles

Only one of the stream crossings had any water and it was shallow and slow moving.

The Salvia spathacea is still there and using binoculars, we could see multiple plants

The oak which has supported the monster grape vine for so many years has fallen and appears at least partially dead; there is weak new growth at the base of the trunk tho.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/986E3M7878

05/20 - Springhill

There were just 6 of us today. We enjoyed the mostly shady walk from the Springhill TH to Briones. Lots of birdsong, a fair number of butterflies and a nice patch of Red Ribbon Clarkia. 1.75 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/t40N0pA7cq

05/13 - Pt Pinole

 

7 of us walked a CW loop of just under 3 miles at Pt Pinole. The weather was perfect, clear, warm in the sun but cool in the shade with a nice breeze. There were lots of birds, some butterflies and enough flowers to satisfy us. The highlight was the newish native plant garden at the south end of the parking lot, tho many of the plants aren't actually "native here".

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/cR6568jW72

05/06 - Devil's Elbow

 

There were 11 of us today. It was a lovely day for hiking after a cold, gray Tuesday. We saw flowers we expected, didn't see others; and there were some we had not seen in bloom before. I had focus difficulties with many of the smaller flowers, so just because I didn't include a picture, doesn't mean we didn't see the plant.

The map says this is a 2 mile hike. Everyone felt it had to be longer than that.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/E3TFU57116