From Pacific Crest Trail news: I’m thrilled to announce that a new section of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Sierra Buttes, built over the last four summers, is now open. This 6.5-mile section of trail takes PCT hikers and horseback riders past beautiful lakes and it has great camping. Plus, it avoids a long-standing road walk and gets you further away from vehicle noises.

I was out there walking the new trail yesterday and it really hit me how much of an accomplishment opening this segment is. For many of us who worked hard on this project, it’s an amazing feeling to officially be welcoming people to this new segment of trail. We did it!

Opening the new PCT in the Sierra Buttes has been nearly a decade in the making
This project really started in the summer of 2008, not long after I began working for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Mike Dawson, PCTA’s director of trail operations, told me about this section of the PCT in the Tahoe National Forest. Yuba River Ranger District Public Services Staff Officer Joe Chavez, a passionate trails manager, had concerns about various user conflicts in the area—some legal and some illegal. Mike and I committed to spending time with Joe and other Tahoe National Forest staff to consider this section of trail and evaluate how to solve the problems. We spent two and a half days studying maps and conducting field work with the agency staff, and we all felt this section of trail warranted a deeper analysis.

Download the Map HERE. In 2009, the Tahoe National Forest and the PCTA began an Optimal Location Review (OLR) to take a careful look at a 16-mile stretch of the PCT from the Sierra Buttes north to the A-Tree, a prominent road/trail junction. An OLR is joint study undertaken by the Forest Service and the PCTA before relocating a section of the trail. The objective of this OLR was to determine whether the PCT was in its best location or if there was another alignment that would offer a superior experience.

That summer, Joe Chavez and David Michael of the Forest Service and I spent many hours together pushing through brush, traversing ridges and hiking through areas to determine whether other routes for the PCT existed and were better suited for the experience. We determined the PCT experience in the original location was degraded for several reasons, including conflicts with other recreation groups and road walks. We identified the new route during this intense field work and were sure that it would provide a superior experience for future PCT users.

Of the 16 miles we studied, we agreed that realigning a 6.5-mile section of the PCT would solve the problems. That required that we build 3.9 miles of new trail and connect the PCT to 2.6 miles of existing trail.

Four years of hard, hard work to build 3.9 miles of trail
In 2014, the PCTA supervised an American Conservation Experience (ACE) crew and broke ground on the new section of trail. Each year since we managed to build one-half to three quarters mile of new trail. The terrain is rocky, steep, and downright rough to work in. And we build the PCT to a very high standard compared to some other trails. Each new piece of trail tread was hard work.

This year, we made a massive push on the project. With the combined efforts of the PCTA, ACE crews, led by our Technical Advisors Connor Swift and Tyler Lau, a Tahoe National Forest trail crew, and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, we finished the southern section of the trail from Pack Saddle Campground south to the existing PCT alignment.

The new PCT in the Sierra Buttes is simply fantastic
The new PCT route travels north of the Sierra Buttes and swings down from the ridge to Tamarack Lakes. The upper lake will provide a beautiful location for PCT users to refill water and camp for the night. Vehicle access to the upper lake will be blocked, providing a newly quiet place to visit. The trail will then travel past Pack Saddle campground, which provide more water access and facilities.

The newly built 3.9-mile section of the PCT up to Tamarack Lakes is sure to be a popular day hike and horseback ride. Of note: there is one section between Upper and Lower Tamarack Lakes that requires some technical rock work. We plan to complete that next year. Meanwhile, there is a clear and easy walk around using a dirt road below Lower Tamarack Lake that provides a continuous path, which many people already are using. This new section, including the temporary route below Lower Tamarack Lake, will be clearly signed for people to follow.
Heading north from Pack Saddle Campground, hikers and equestrians will use the old Deer Lake trail, which is now officially the PCT, and this is a continuous path that ties back to the PCT above and just north of Deer Lake. This 2.6-mile northern portion of the project still needs some improvements. Short sections need to be realigned, we need to lower the grade to PCT standards, and we need to improve switchbacks and drainage features to make the trail more durable and sustainable. We will be tackling this work in the coming year. If you are interested in being a part of this project, PCTA will be hosting volunteer work parties in 2018.

It takes a community to build and protect the PCT
As this is now a continuous path, we are excited to be opening it up for hikers, horseback riders and PCT enthusiasts to enjoy. It could not have been accomplished without the dedication of PCTA volunteers, staff, our Forest Service partners, and all the other partners and volunteers who gave their time, energy and hard work to making the new trail a reality.

We’d also like to extend our community’s gratitude to the donors who made this work possible. Thank you to all of the PCTA members and donors, the National Forest Foundation for a large grant, Wells Fargo, the U.S. Forest Service for continued funding of the trail and to all others who pitched in their dollars.

So, head out and enjoy the newest section of the PCT! Download a map of the new segment.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and the photos from the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

Author: Justin Kooyman
Justin Kooyman is PCTA’s Northern Sierra Regional Representative. He's in charge of the PCT from the northern boundary of Yosemite National Park north approximately 450 miles to Burney Falls State Park. Justin partners with seven National Forests, one National Park and one CA State Park in the maintenance and management of the PCT. His regional office is located in Portola, CA. When not working, Justin can be found exploring the Northern Sierras or looking for uncommon birds in Plumas County.

From Mary West's article in the Auburn Journal today: "The Mount Judah Loop Trail is why I am a day hiker. The five mile moderate hike is everything I love about hiking. I love the magnificent views, the profusion of wildflowers, not to mention the snow in August. The elevation climb starts at 7,050 feet and climbs 1,150 feet from there. From the top of the ridge you have magnificent views of Donner Lake into Truckee, Mount Lincoln, Anderson Ridge, Anderson Peak, Tinker Knob, and beyond.

My dog Stella can stretch her legs and greet many other happy pups with their people enjoying this portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. 

It’s well worth the hour drive up Interstate 80 heading east to the Soda Springs exit. Stay right off the freeway up Donner Pass Road. Pass Sugar Bowl Road and a couple hundred yards past the Sugar Bowl parking area you will see a small cluster of buildings that was the Sugar Bowl Academy. Turn right in the parking area and travel to the right down the narrow road that leads to the trailhead and off road parking. At the trailhead a map with several local trails and landmarks will begin your day hike. In the bottom right of the map you will find the Mount Judah Loop Trail. 

The start of the trail is decomposed granite and is nearly overwhelmed with lush green vegetation in a variety of rich greens, topped with red, orange, pink, purple, yellow, and white flowers. The climb begins quickly up switchbacks of granite steps and is exposed to the sun in many areas. The trail does level out in a forest of pines, aspen, and alder overlooking Lake Mary. I expected to see plenty of Mule Ear in bloom but I was thrilled to see so much more. Finding patches of snow was a great surprise.

A mile into the hike there is a sign marking the intersection of Donner Pass Trail and Mount Judah Loop Trail; follow the Mount Judah Loop Trail. Another sign still further in will send you to the right to continue the Loop to the peak. 
You will know when you reach the peak. The wind comes from every direction, taking an easy 10 degrees off the valley temperatures depending on the time of day you go. After taking a seat on one of the rocks strewn about the top of Mount Judah, enjoying a snack, and taking several panoramic pictures, we made our descent.

This trail has become quite popular, and dogs are welcome on the trail, but we still had the peak to ourselves. The direct sun along the peak may require another application of sun block. A hat and sunglasses are also advisable. The loose granite also makes walking sticks helpful. 

The hike makes its way down the mountain side and wanders through forest and lush greenery once again before you come to the end of the loop at the first intersection that returns you to the granite steps toward the trailhead. 

Day hiking is like a great short story; you want to read it in one setting, but you never want it to end. 
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Photo credits: Mary West
Mary West is a retired radio personality and news reporter with a longtime love of the outdoors, sharing her favorite day hikes in Placer, Nevada, El Dorado and Yuba Counties. Learn more about local trails by following Mary on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The last steps to the summit of Castle Peak, the 9,103-foot conical mountain in Tahoe National Forest not far from Donner Pass, involve a short scramble over a series of volcanic crags. You emerge on a small perch overlooking the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, some of California’s greatest recreation lands.
To the north are more rocky peaks that give way to green valleys and shape the Pacific Crest Trail. To the west is a swath of 50 miles that extends from the high Sierra crest downslope to the South Yuba River. You’re sitting atop the crown jewel of Northern California’s high country.
All around is Nevada County.
The slopes here, which flank Grass Valley and Nevada City and run up the hill, as we say, to the high country north of Truckee and Tahoe, have a historic feel. After all, not long ago they were prospected and panned during the gold rush era. Today, they represent one of the state’s best outdoor playgrounds.

You don’t have to look far to discover some of Northern California’s most rewarding day hikes and burly, brand-new mountain bike trails. Paddlers and boaters have their pick of the pristine Donner and Independence lakes. And modest development in the area means private campsites and funky lodging options abound.

From atop Castle Peak, you can see Highway 20 cutting across the landscape, from Nevada City east to Interstate 80 near Truckee, like an artery of access. And yet, if you peer down from your perch to the I-80 corridor, you’ll see one car after another — 26,000 per day, according to Caltrans — sail right on past, en route to north Tahoe and Reno.

Highway 20 provides the launch point for the Pioneer Trail — some of the best mountain biking in California. From the Omega Overlook (with a view of the South Yuba Canyon), the route extends 24 miles one-way to Five Mile House. Like so many sites in Nevada County, it captures the area’s rich history. Gold seekers originally established this route in the 1850s.
Another former gold-mining route is the South Yuba Independence Trail. This trail runs along the gorgeous South Yuba River, with easy access at a bridge and hairpin turn along Highway 49 seven miles out of Nevada City. It’s gorgeous right from the parking lot. Or you can walk as far as 4.5 miles out and back. Most visitors walk a mile or two, find a swimming pool and wade out to cool off.

The Spenceville Wildlife Area in the foothills near Smartville is another place I find myself going back to, again and again. For hiking, wildlife watching and exploring, the best access point is the old (and closed to vehicles) wood bridge at Dry Creek on Spenceville Road. This marks the start of a hike along a creek corridor chock full of wild turkeys and deer in the fall, plus a pretty stream and a surprise waterfall at a small spring.
From miles around you can look up through the trees and spot Castle Peak, rising above, anchoring this vast scope of land. Whether you’re sitting at its summit or trundling across the land below, it’s not hard to imagine what is possible here, and how these adventures can transform your life.

Exploring: Carpenter Valley
A few miles north of Donner Lake as the crow flies, behind a subdivision, a jeep trail heading toward the Sierra Crest plunges into a dense forest of pines and firs. Threading granite boulders that were stranded 10,000 years ago by melting glaciers, the trail leads to an expanse of golden grasses and a slow winding creek. Migrating birds flit through willows, and the primordial calls of sandhill cranes crack the stillness.
This is Carpenter Valley, a long-fenced-off landscape that has recently — and for the first time ever — been opened to the public. There are plenty of meadows in the western Sierra, but not many of them remain this pristine, having been plated with homes or foraged by cattle and sheep.
This summer, a 1,317-acre parcel of the valley’s lower section, long held by three families as a private retreat, was purchased for $10 million by San Francisco’s Northern Sierra Partnership, the Nature Conservancy and the Truckee Donner Land Trust. “The Lower Carpenter Valley is a little bit of heaven,” says Lucy Blake, president of the Northern Sierra Partnership, a San Francisco nonprofit group working to preserve lands north of Lake Tahoe.
The valley links a constellation of nearby protected areas, including Webber and Independence lakes, Perazzo Meadows and Webber Falls — all of which are clustered west of Highway 89 between Truckee and the Sierra Valley. Buying it is part of the Partnership’s broader mission to dissolve a checkerboard of parcels stamped on the mountains in the 1860s during construction of the transcontinental railroad.
“It’s amazing to see the landscape come back together again,” Blake says.
Twice a week this fall, through the end of October, as well as next spring and summer, trained docents are leading hikers on a 5-mile route along the North Fork of Prosser Creek in the valley. The apex of the tour is a natural spring at the flank of Carpenter Ridge that produces startling gardens of hillside color.
The valley is a haven for migrating birds, including willow flycatchers, of which only 200 pairs remain in California, says Helen Loffland, a meadows species specialist at the Institute for Bird Populations. “They perch on the tallest branches of the willows, and throw their heads back when they sing; their white chins look like cotton balls.”
Book a Truckee Donner Land Trust guided tour of Lower Carpenter Valley at http://tinyurl.com/yatwnvqo.
— Laura Read

Hiking: Castle Peak
The name says it all: the 9,104-foot crag is a treeless fortress fronted by rock turrets.
From the summit of Castle Peak, on days with crystalline clarity, you can get glimpse of Lake Tahoe 20 miles southeast. Turn around and you may be able to pick out Lassen Peak, far to the north.
The moderate, 7-mile-round-trip trek up Castle Peak is a popular one in midsummer, but as fall approaches, you can often have it to yourself — particularly on weekdays. To find the trailhead, exit north off of I-80 at Boreal/Castle Peak and look to your right.
The hike starts easy, from an old jeep road, then traces a ridgeline toward the backside of the peak, but the end is grueling: a 1,200-foot elevation gain in the final mile and a half. That last leg includes a stretch of switchbacks, which allows you to get into rhythm, through rock and scree. You then circle around the back of the mountaintop, and make the scramble on small crags to the summit pinnacle.
— Tom Stienstra

Mountain Biking: the Hoot Trail  (Photo by Mason Trinca, Special To The Chronicle: Jeremy Benson rides down the Hoot Trail near Nevada City.)
Last spring, when trail builders finished constructing Nevada City’s new Hoot Trail, a 1.4-mile multiuse path featuring 438 feet of curves and banked turns, mountain bikers flocked to the area, further cementing Nevada County as a destination for the growing sport. (Note: this trail is multi-use and please be aware of other users.) The trail-building organization Bicyclists of Nevada County estimates that the trail sees roughly 50 to 100 riders a day, making it the most popular ride in the area.
Located 5 miles from downtown Nevada City off Highway 20, the Hoot is part of an exceptional and growing network of trails that also includes the 3-mile twisting downhill of Scott’s Flat Trail, the beginner-friendly rolling Pioneer Trail that parallels the highway, and the more technical Miner’s Trail and Taxi Cab, which descend precipitously into town. With more offerings bringing more grinders to town, no longer is the sport confined to the bike shop.
“Nevada City has long been a mountain bike destination, but recently, a growing mountain bike culture and community have taken it to a whole new level,” says Truckee mountain biker Jeremy Benson, author of a new guidebook, “Mountain Bike Tahoe.” “Not only is the Hoot Trail ridiculously fun, but it’s perfectly situated to link up with other nearby trails to create any length ride you want.”
Don’t have a bike? You can rent a full-suspension mountain bike — and get maps to the local trails — from the Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop in downtown. From $65 a day; www.tourofnevadacity.com
— Megan Michelson

Camping: Peter Grubb Hut
In 1937, the Sierra Club named its new Donner Pass hikers hut after a teenager who had scrambled all over the Sierra studying glaciers, counting bighorn sheep and skiing the untamed cirques and meadows.
Today the Peter Grubb Hut, tucked in a valley beneath Castle Peak, is one of the club’s most popular daytime and overnight destinations. It is one of four similar structures built by Sierra Club volunteers more than 50 years ago to support multiday backcountry trips between Castle Pass and Desolation Wilderness west of Lake Tahoe. The northern three huts — Peter Grubb, Benson and Bradley — are a day’s hike or cross-country ski apart. The fourth is 20 miles south of the Bradley Hut across rugged terrain.
The 3-mile route to the Peter Grubb Hut traverses the 7,880-foot-elevation Castle Pass. The A-frame cabin resembles a supersize gnome house. Its main floor dips into the ground, and an exterior ladder reaches to a second-story entrance. Inside you’ll find mattresses, wood stoves and enough space for 15 people.
While rates are cheap ($20/night by reservation only), responsibilities are high. Users are the caretakers, and volunteers stock firewood in the fall.
For reservations, call (530) 426-3632 or email info@clairtappaanlodge.com
— Laura Read
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Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicle’s outdoor writer. He is the author of “Moon California Hiking.” E-mail: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom
CLICK HERE to see all the photos and read the original article by By Tom Stienstra in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper published on September 17, 2017

Summer vacations are over. Kids are back in school. Nights are getting cooler. But that doesn't mean it's the end of warm weather outdoor fun for you and your dog!
September and October can still hold wonderful opportunities for outdoor adventures.
A favorite for many dogs is anything to do with water.
This is especially true for "water dogs" like Newfoundlands, Portuguese and Spanish water dogs, Irish and American water spaniels, and all the members of the retriever family — although my Joey is a peculiar exception to the rule.
He loves standing in the water, but that's as far as he goes. I can almost hear him saying, "Swimming is fine for those other golden retrievers, but I'm not gonna do it."
Even after this brutally hot summer, last winter's rainstorms left an abundance of water in our rivers, creeks and lakes — and now's the perfect time to enjoy them, after the crowds have departed and the snow melt waters have warmed.

This month, I'll journey into the Sierra to point out some dog-friendly alpine lakes and hiking trails; in my October column, I'll be taking you and your canine companion to a few nearby low-elevation lakes and rivers.
Before you head out, pick up some forest trail maps at the Tahoe National Forest headquarters on Coyote Street.
You can get more detailed directions and trail facts on Internet sites like alltrails.com and trails.com; you can also find a great overview of and links to hiking trails in Nevada County at gonevadacounty.com. (ADD to this list the nonprofit Mother Lode Trails, over 200 reviews of our local trails, and Bear Yuba Land Trust's Trail Portal HERE.)
What follows isn't exhaustive by any means. It's just a Joan's-eye-view of a few high-country lakeland hikes off Highway 20 and Interstate 80 to explore with your furry pal.

Lake Spaulding is one of the closest, up Highway 20 off Bowman Lake Road.
Once you crest the hill beyond the bridge over Lake Spaulding, you can stop at any number of places and easily hike back to the lake.
This quiet edge of the reservoir adjacent to the powerhouse attracts far fewer visitors than the campground, and features wide sweeps of granite boulders that march down to the shoreline.
Travelling north on Bowman Lake Road about 14 miles, on what goes from asphalt to gravel and then progresses from well-maintained to teeth-chatteringly rutted, you'll arrive at the exquisite Grouse Ridge area, known as "The Land of 100 Lakes."
This is true water-dog heaven, featuring one alpine lake after another, most of which are completely pristine and undeveloped.
Often crowded on weekends, during the week you may find yourself alone with your pup on the wildflower-bordered trails that curl through unspoiled forests, magnificent granite outcroppings, and up steep grades covered in scree and loose shale.
One of the prettiest is the Round Lake Trail, which passes Carr and Feeley lakes, Island Lake, Long Lake and Milk Lake.
For a longer hike, take the Crooked Lakes Trail spur and you'll pass at least 15 unnamed lakes on your way to Culbertson and Penner lakes. Since the elevations here range from 6,800 to over 7,000 feet, bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
You could also try the trail to the Lola Montez Lakes, which takes off from the north side of Interstate 80 near Soda Springs.
This 6.5 mile round-trip hike can be challenging in spots, but is fine for novice hikers (and novice dogs). You may end up with wet feet where the trail crosses Castle Creek, so take an extra pair of socks.
Our last trek is to another back-country area that makes for a great day hike.
From the Highway 20 intersection with I-80, double back onto westbound I-80 and take the Yuba Gap exit.
Turn onto Crystal Lake Road, then Lake Valley Road (Road 19), where your way ahead turns to dirt and gravel.
Drive four miles, passing the eye-poppingly vast 300-acre Lake Valley Reservoir, then turn left onto Road 38.
Just beyond the charming little Huysink Lake is the Salmon Lake trailhead.
All in all, about 90 minutes from Grass Valley — but the drive is worth it for the enchanting hike through lush meadows and fern-covered hillsides to Salmon Lake where you and your pup can rest and swim (but be careful of the biting catfish!), then trek onward to the three lakes of Loch Leven.
Do remember that whenever you head out for the back country, tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back, pay attention to weather forecasts, and always carry your cell phone or a GPS unit.
This is just a tiny fraction of the dozens upon dozens of lake and river hikes that traverse our beautiful Sierra mountains. Ao pack up your maps, hiking shoes, water, dog treats and trail mix, and head for the hills this fall!
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For the original article by Joan Merriam in the The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.
Photo Credit: Joan Merriam
Joan Merriam lives in Nevada County with her Golden Retriever Joey, her Maine Coon cat Indy, and the abiding spirit of her beloved Golden Retriever Casey in whose memory this column is named. You can reach Joan at joan@joanmerriam.com. And if you're looking for a Golden, be sure to check out Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.

Coloma / Pilot Hill, CA posted in the Rocklin/Roseville Today news
With our enthusiasm still bubbling over from a recent hike at the beautiful Cronan Ranch, we remembered a fellow hiker that gently encouraged us to check out the nearby Magnolia Ranch Trailhead. Seeking out suggestions and following the advice from positively impassioned people rarely fails to deliver a great experience, so it was with excitement that we gladly returned along Highway 49 for a visit to the Magnolia Ranch Trailhead. We weren't disappointed!

Due to its proximity next to Cronan Ranch, we expected a similar experience. While both hikes offer lots of common terrain, we were pleasantly surprised by the diversity in scenery and overall hiking experience.

Initially heading out for an easy stroll along the 2.5 mile Gerle Loop Trail, we missed a trail marker and before long found ourselves crossing back over into Cronan Ranch as we navigated a trickling creek and forged ahead on a mostly shaded ascent toward the top of the hills. The views were stunning.  Although we didn't see a single soul during this portion of the hike, there was a sense that mountain lions might have been aware of our presence. Fresh scat on top of rock formations is often a telltale sign and our cue to be on alert.

The afternoon heat had begun to kick in and gazing upon the cool waters of the American River in the distance far below helped make it an easy decision to begin our descent. Eventually, we found our way back to the Gerle Loop Trail and our weary legs enjoyed the flat and level trail. This shaded portion of the trail gently winds above the American River and we occasionally glanced down to watch and hear excited groups of rafters passing through the area.

As we descended further, a trail to the river's side beckoned and we eagerly obliged. We arrived at Greenwood Creek River Access point as seasoned kayakers made final preparations to begin the 9 mile, Class 3+ wilderness excursion. The beach also marks the ending point for beginning and casual rafters heading down from Coloma along Class I & II Rapids. The beach access was perfect for a quick stop to cool down and watch the adventure seekers enjoying the river before we called it a day.

Magnolia Ranch Trailhead, specifically the 2.5 mile Gerle Loop is an easy, mostly flat trail ideal for almost any ability. Rolling hills and bright sunshine give way to plenty of shade, river views and waterside access. For a more ambitious workout, explore The Connector Trail which ties into Cronan Ranch's network of trails.

CLICK HERE to see original article and loads of good pictures in Rocklin/Roseville Today

A rarely seen stretch of green space in Folsom will soon be open for all to enjoy along the newly constructed Johnny Cash Trail. The city of Folsom is building a 148-foot bridge across an area known as Robber's Ravine to complete the trail (see KCRA video here). The bridge will provide views 50 feet above the oak woodland, with views of Folsom Prison, the American River and the ravine below. It provides a necessary link between federal land and city land, to complete the trail that connects downtown Folsom with Folsom Lake.

The bridge was built and designed in Oregon and delivered piece-by-piece to Folsom, where it was assembled. One of the largest cranes on the west coast was called in to lift the 80,000-pound bridge into it's final spot spanning the ravine.

The trail is named after Johnny Cash ahead of the 50th anniversary of his historic concert at Folsom Prison, which happened on January 13, 1968.

When the trail finally opens on Oct. 14, the trail will be the latest addition to an extensive network of nearly 50 miles of trails throughout the region. "It is making a linkage from the historic district of Folsom all the way to Folsom Lake, where you have options to go up to Placer County and El Dorado County within our multi-jurisdictional system," Folsom parks and recreation director Robert Goss said.

The third phase of the project includes eight art pieces that will be added along the route, all a tribute to Cash and his music.
"It is something very unique and very different you are not going to find anywhere on a typical bike trail in a community," Goss said. The artwork and installation is expected to cost around $650,000. Proceeds from the opening day events will be set aside to fund the artwork.

Opening day events on Oct. 14 include a community bike ride, a 10K run and a 4.2-mile run, along with a dinner on the bridge.

For more information on the Johnny Cash Trail and upcoming events and maps, click here.
To see the original video from KCRA-News CLICK HERE.

Neither the mountain bikers or the pedestrians are happy with the decision to change the pedestrian-only nature area to add bikes on part of it. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors voted 3-1 at its meeting Thursday night to keep the New York Creek Trail pedestrian only in its narrowest section by Jackson Elementary School but permitting bikes from the power lines to St. Andrews Drive. It was a decision EDHCSD General Manager Kevin Loewen calls “a compromise,” yet the most vocal proponents on both sides say slights their positions.

To read the rest of the article by Julie Samrick n the Mountain Democrat newspaper  CLICK HERE.

Earlier this year the CSD sent notices to 20 homeowners who live between Jackson Elementary and Falkirk Way that the district would be widening the trail to 8 feet to safely make it multi-use while retaining its wooded characteristics.
Although a “no bike” ordinance has been in effect since 1986, many cyclists use the trail, including recreational mountain bikers and children who use it as a safe route to travel off main roads. After the  CSD sent out the notice, neighbors argued both for and against a multi-use trail. Those in favor said bicyclists and pedestrians had been peacefully coexisting on the trail while others said they thought the clean-up would encourage more bicycle use and threatened lawsuits if the CSD performed the work (some of which was recently done by a contractor).
Since then the CSD held a stakeholder process to get the community’s input, which included two public meetings, an internet survey (Flashvote), emails and handwritten letters, as well as comments received during public meetings.
On Thursday Loewen told the board that his recommended action is: 1. Support continuation of the New York Creek Trail Interpretive Signage Capital Project, excluding trail widening to accommodate multi-use and 2. Uphold and support the pedestrian-only status of New York Creek Trail from St. Andrews Drive to Brackenwood Place.

“While the subject matter expert hired to assist the district with the stakeholder process has made a recommendation for permitting bike use in the form of walking bikes from the paved commuter connector (under the PG&E/SMUD power lines) southward, such an accommodation would further distort an already difficult pedestrian-only rule,” Loewen wrote in the report ahead of the vote. “Further, the benefits portrayed by multi-use proponents for permitting bike use (e.g., safe route alternative; healthy recreation activity in a unique setting) would not be realized by this compromise to the pedestrian-only status. In the event that a compromise be considered in which actual riding of bikes is allowed, then the Falkirk trailhead is the most viable option in which such a compromise could be made.”
Director Billy Vandegrift made a motion to approve Loewen’s recommendation to keep the trail pedestrian only, but it failed for lack of a second.
Director Noelle Mattock then made a motion to approve the first portion of Loewen’s recommendation — to add interpretive signage on the trail. The signage would be educational for the public and would include a list of concepts including, but not limited to, the New York Creek Watershed, oak woodland ecosystem, wildlife, human impacts to creek, trail etiquette at each trailhead and cultural resources and history of indigenous people to the area, including Miwok-Nisenan inhabitants.
Mattock also made a motion to make the New York Creek Trail pedestrian only from Brackenwood to Falkirk Way, the one-mile stretch described as the most “pristine,” “with the densest vegetation” and the subject of debate.
The two motions were seconded by Director Allan Priest. It was opened to discussion and Directors Mattock, Allan Priest and Ben Paulsen voted for the compromise. Vandegrift voted against. Director Wayne Lowery was not at the meeting but Loewen said he would have abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest because his home backs to the portion of the trail in question.
The following day neither pro-bike nor pedestrian-only advocates said they were happy with the decision." Click on the article to read comments.

Today, the community is starting to respond with op-eds and letters to the Board, so far only from the pedestrian-only advocates...here is one written to Village Life:
"Noelle Mattock, Ben Paulsen and Allan Priest:

On Aug. 10 you voted to proceed with the El Dorado Hills Community Services District’s plans to allow a mountain bike trail in the southern half of New York Creek. This area was deeded to CSD 30 years ago after CSD publicly promised to preserve this area as a pedestrian-only nature preserve.

This year the CSD held a six-month stakeholder process on this issue only after overwhelming objection to its ill-conceived plan to force through a previously undisclosed multi-use alteration of the nature path. The stakeholder process confirmed majority support to keep this are pedestrian only. The CSD received hundreds of emails and letters from residents with 85 percent in support of keeping this area pedestrian-only. In an internet survey, 73 percent of respondents did not support alterations to allow mountain bikes in this area.
The decision made by you to turn your backs on an overwhelming majority of affected residents in favor of a very small minority of mountain biking advocates — many of which don’t even live in EDH — is the worst form of local government. CSD General Manager Kevin Loewen went through extreme steps to find out what the majority of concerned EDH residents wanted and presented the results to you in his recommendation. You then proceeded to concentrate on a compromise, which was supported by a small minority of mountain biking advocates that did not come close to the overwhelming response in favor of a strictly pedestrian nature path, as it has been for 30 years."

And, to read another letter by Ed Dorado Hills resident, Eric Hildebrandt CLICK HERE.

Plans to build a 16-mile trail re-creating the original wagon route west over Donner Summit are closer to taking shape with the approval today of an agreement for construction and management of the Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail through Donner Memorial State Park. (Photo from SouthTahoeNow.com)

The earth trail will stretch from Kingvale through Donner State Memorial Park in Truckee, following the original Overland Emigrant Trail but away from its remnants to protect its historical artifacts.

“The Overland Emigrant Trail is such an important piece of our history, and the new trail will help us connect with that history and the incredible natural beauty of its surroundings,” said District 5 Supervisor and Board Chairwoman Jennifer Montgomery. “I couldn’t be happier to see it moving forward.”

The portion of the trail through the park will also help form the planned Donner Lake Rim Trail being developed by a number of agencies. West of the park, Sugar Bowl Ski Corporation has already provided a half mile of completed trail and Placer County is working with the U.S. Forest Service and Truckee Donner Land Trust to secure an additional 3 miles of trail across the Royal Gorge resort property.

Under the memorandum of understanding between Placer County and California Department of Parks and Recreation, approved today by the county Board of Supervisors, Placer County will take the lead on planning and design of the trail. California Department of Parks and Recreation will oversee permitting and construction of the trail, as funding and resources allow. The park will maintain and manage the trail within its boundaries. California Department of Parks and Recreation approved the agreement July 24.

Placer County has contracted with Stantec Inc. to complete environmental studies for the trail and design its alignment through the park, expected to be completed by summer of 2018. Public workshops are planned and will be announced as they’re scheduled.

CLICK HERE to see the original article at the Placer County website.

The Pioneer trail is 25 miles long. It begins at Hwy 20 near 5 Mile House a few miles above Nevada City and ends at Spaulding Lake Trail. The Pioneer Trail is suitable for equestrians, hikers, joggers, and mountain bicyclists.

Difficulty Level: Easy, west end - Difficult, east end Use level: Moderate  Closed to all motorized vehicles
Closest Towns: Nevada City, CA

Directions: Trailhead Access: There are many places where you can access the trail, including Harmony Ridge Market, Lone Grave, White Cloud Picnic Area, Gold Country Trails Council Equestrian Staging Area, Washington Overlook trailhead, Upper Burlington Trailhead, Chalk Bluff trailhead, Omega Rest Stop, Ziebright Mine, all along Highway 20, and at Lang crossing on the Bowman Lake road.

Topo Maps:  Washington 7.5’ & Blue Canyon, 7.5'

Trail description: From Five Mile House to White Cloud, the trail parallels Highway 20. Just west of the campground, the trail crosses the highway and goes deeper into the forest. From White Cloud to Skillman Campground, the trail is often located on abandoned ditches and roadbeds in dense timber. From Skillman to Chalk Bluff, the trail enters tree plantations where wildfires killed most of the older trees. East of Omega Rest Stop, the trail crosses to the north side of the highway and follows an old pioneer road to Steephollow Creek. The trail climbs then, descends toward the highway on the old Tahoe-Ukiah highway route, the predecessor of Highway 20. Now on the south side of the highway, the trail descends into Bear Valley, where it meets the Bowman Lake Road on the east side of the valley. The trail then follows the Bowman Lake road to the South Yuba River, crossing the bridge at Lang crossing. From the crossing, the trail climbs through nearly solid rock, then into live oak woodlands and finally into a mixed conifer forest until the trail joins the Spaulding Lake trail at a penstock that provides water for hydroelectric power at Spaulding Lake.

Turning left and traveling ¼ mile, the trail returns to the Bowman Lake Road; turning right on the Spaulding Lake Trail, you can access the Grouse Ridge Trail and the many trails within the Grouse Lakes area.

The Pioneer Trail is suitable for equestrians, hikers, joggers, and mountain bicyclists. It is closed to all motorized vehicles. Volunteers constructed most of the trail, a twenty-year project undertaken by the Gold Country Trails Council with supervision by the Forest Service. The Trails Council maintains the trail, with participation by other trail users.

In 2003, the Pioneer trail was designated as a National Recreation trail.

For More Information:
Tahoe National Forest
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-265-4531

For complete information go here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tahoe/recarea/?recid=56012

From Pt. Reyes National Park: Yellow jackets (Vespula species, Vespa species and Dolichovespula species) are considered beneficial around home gardens and commercially grown fruits and vegetables at certain times of the year because they feed abundantly on insect pests such as caterpillars and harmful flies.

However, in late summer and early fall when their populations peak, the yellow jackets' normal insect diet disappears and their feeding habits become a problem to park visitors. At that time of year, the yellow jacket has an appetite for the same food and drink as those consumed by humans. Also, yellow jacket stings can result in a life-threatening situation, if the person is allergic to yellow jacket venom. Persons highly sensitive to yellow jacket venom should always carry a sting treatment kit during outdoor activities.

Nests are often located in a soil cavity such as an abandoned gopher hole, mouse nest, or hollow tree. Other possible nest sites are in buildings, including attics, porches, eaves, or sheds. Disturbing ground nests or trees can cause yellow jackets to attack.

If you do disturb a yellow jacket nest, general guidelines are to slowly walk away with both hands covering the face to protect the more sensitive body areas. It is best to walk toward dense vegetation or enter a vehicle or building to avoid the stinging insects. Swift movements will only attract more yellow jackets.

Horse riders should always be alert for yellow jackets and their nests, particularly in the late summer and fall. As a horse passes near a yellow jacket nest, it can shake the nest. Yellow jackets will then swarm out to defend the nest. If you are on a horse that is being attacked by yellow jackets, you will definitely want to promptly move out of the area.
[From Mother Lode Trails, "RUN your horse as fast as possible away from the attacking wasps, yelling "BEES! This warns other trail users.] Some horses might panic upon being stung and may start bucking and bolting. Use your knowledge of your horse's temperament and your best judgment to resolve the situation.

Allergic reactions to yellow jacket or bees stings may cause shock and life threatening conditions. Those with known allergies should carry sting treatment kits and be prepared to seek prompt medical attention if stung. A yellow jacket does not leave a stinger in its victim, so it can therefore sting multiple times. Companions of multiple-sting victims should watch the victim and be prepared for emergency medical response and evacuation.

To see the original article, CLICK HERE.