sheepshepherdess

Again

, originally uploaded by "See The Light".

Back into Canyon Creek with my son. This time it was a bit depressing. First of all the upper part of the trail is thrashed from the fast a furious snow storms we have had, making the trail very difficult with piles of fallen trees. We had to crawl through fallen trees while I pushed my backpack through the tangled branches with a half foot of snow on the ground.
I packed light thinking no way I was getting down to the bottom of the first fall, and my son was bonsai, we made it down with no problem just a slow go as it always seems to be in these canyons.
I had the wrong lens being that I packed light, I had left my wide angle at home to lighten the load knowing I was going to be walking a couple miles in the snow. Usually a 24-70 or a 70 -200 is fine for this area being most of the falls are hard to access especially in wet slippery conditions.
Then my great idea was to exit the falls via the drainage and it was a bad choice straight up slippery stuff and going back down was not an option, my son was pulling me up by my backpacks shoulder straps. I can't wait to go back again there is so much to see in this beautiful canyon.... Thank You God.

Learning New Photoshop Tricks

N.F. N.F. Stream

North Fork Of The North Fork American River.

 

South Fork Yuba.

 

Back Into Canyon Creek...

Loaded with a tripod and my 5DMKll... I will need to wait for some spring run off to get this one the way I want.

 

Notice the muddy water?

The Gate Keeper

I finally made it into the "Pool Of Cold Fire". It was just as amazing as I thought it would be. Good enough for a second trip in 3 days later.

 It's always with Chris on my heart... I miss so much what we did not get to share. The Gate keeper comes at the time when fall is in the air and my heart is heavy with sorrow, as we should be celebrating my beloved husbands 39th birthday.  God had other plans.  I am thankful I am able to have the courage and strength to endure and enjoy the beauty around me with only my memories.  

"Pool of Cold Fire"

Entering the Gate Keeper. Fulda Creek is the small fall in the distance.

Past the Gate Keeper into the "Gorge of Many Gorges"

The Prize!

Thank You 

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Kind woman, I give you my all, Kind woman, nothing more.

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of loves lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong,
together we shall go until we die. My, my, my.
An inspiration is what you are to me, inspiration, look... see.

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad.
If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Robert Plant

 

Revisiting University Falls

I got a call from a good friend to go for a hike.... Destination University Falls.  I have been very reluctant to go back to this very beautiful and spiritual place since the early 80's.  All that I have heard is true.  To many people for the fragile environment, granted we had about .5 hours of peace till about 50 or so people showed up.  There are now two wrecked vehicles in the canyon, heart breaking to say the least.  Human feces here and there,  and a roll of toilet paper spread all over the last fall making any photo a disaster as well as an eye sore.  So the hard part of this whole hiking and backpacking thing is "Leave no Trace"  this is something the younger generation is not being taught.  The rules of protecting the wilderness for future generations.  There are fire rings built on granite rocks leaving the rocks permanently charred black, cans and bottles strown every where.  It amazes me to see the overweight beer belly crowd trying to navigate the steep rocks before they even drink, I am glad I was not there to see them leave their beer cans because they can hardly get their selves out.

I made reference to this area here.

University Falls

I found this on a blog.....

Hi guys!! We have 28 yes peeps meeting at the park and ride tomorrow, a small handful meeting at the trailhead (approximatley 10:30), and a total potential of 43 if all of the maybe peeps show. It should be a fun day, and no worries, there is plenty of space at the falls to stretch out and have a relaxing day without it feeling too crowded. Don't forget your shorts to wear over your swimsuit ladies! Please be @ the park and ride by 9am, leave by 9:15, people will be waiting for us @ trailhead.

The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual. 
John Muir

Lets just get big Meet Ups together for a low impact Leave no Trace hike...(NOT)

Fall #1

Fall #2

Fall #3

Abstract 

abstract

Abstract

I knew this would be a sad trip for me and a rant.  I try and look at the good in people for the most part, but who are these people that go to these most beautiful places and trash them for generations to come?  The chances of those vehicles being taken out of that canyon are about as good as hell freezing over.     

   

North Fork American River

Full many a glorious morning have I seen 

Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,

Kissing with golden face the meadows green, 

Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy; 

~Shakespeare~

A small but beautiful little gorge.

The emerald depths of beauty.

 
Amazing depths of gold and green. 

Private Paradise.

Brandon and I enjoyed the day...

When you swim in the North Fork you share the pool with these guys...

Gazing the emerald depths.

Heading back to the trail the light was beautiful on the river.

Joshua on the foot bridge.  This picture was taken the day we took my mom into the North Fork canyon being tis is one of the easier trails.

   
Sunset over the North Fork American River.  I actually had my back to the sunset but the colors in this direction were much more spectacular. 
   

  

 

Full Moon in the North Fork American River

The first backpacking trip that I have done since Chris and I backpacked.  Bittersweet for sure.  On July 25th we made our way down into the North Fork of the wild and scenic American River.  The beauty that abounds in the are is beyond belief and beyond what my camera can capture.  

 

Every hike, every step, I take with Chris in my heart and soul. So this hike is dedicated in your loving memory "Chris"and all the places the Sierra Designs took us in our years together hiking and backpacking.

I can only follow that with what I thought was my favorite picture.  I took down my Canon 5d a wide angle lens and a zoom 24-70 and around my neck my Canon G11.  I also had my tripod anchored to my Gregory Backpack where an ice pic should go.  I think Gregory made it just for me because now it is impossible to get such a great fit.

 

Amazing old growth Sugar Pine.  The Gregory photo rig on my back.

Who needs food when you have gear to carry.

There was food... Going as light as possible with Titanium... How did we do it before? The way I see it the lightness of Titanium leaves room for more camera gear.

 
Camp

  What a great camp site wood and a view.

Falls

North Fork American River just simply stunning.

 
upper view

Upper view

    
Snow Mountain.

Last morning looking down the North Fork.

Chasing Rainbows...

 
Slow river

Slow river 

Slow river

Just another view... one that is hard to tire from.

 
Cedars

Alpine Lily

Checkerbloom

Juniper

Juniper Tree estimated to be 2000 years old.

Mariposa Lily

Meadow Lupine

Mountain Hollyhock

Torreys Monkey

The Last Dance for the Snow Flower.

Looking into the canyon where I leave a bit of my soul till I return.

If some one can correct me on any mistakes I made on plant identification It would be appreciated.  I did take time and care to identify all plants as well as possible. Scientific names were left out for the ease of blogging.  I hope to compile my plant picture some day with scientific names included. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Fork American River

Location: North Fork American River:

This is another strenuous trail. This is another place where you really got to want to be there.

The trail  was very steep and slippery.  It was harder to go down than to get back up.

Manzanita, Sugar Pine and Ponderosa Pine,  line a lot of the trail. There are also many oaks who's leaves are the most slippery to walk on and the hardest tree for me to identify the type.  I have been working on plant identification much more this year and will continue to do so.

From what I can tell by looking at topo maps and reading this is a view of Moody Ridge from the Diggings.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Looking Down the canyon from Chert Point.

Grand View of Giant Gap,Sawtooth Ridge, and Monumental.

Incredible crystal formations at Chert Point.

View looking East from Chert Point.

Chert Point with a view of the quartz veins in the rocks.

The first thing we seen was a butterfly dance on the sand along the river. From what my books say for identification the yellow butterfly is a Western Swallowtail the others are Pale Swallowtail's.   

North Fork American river heading towards Giant Gap.

North Fork American River looking down from the Giant Gap.

Amazing Colors.  

Rock Formations.

 

Incredible Rocks.
  Foothill Yellow-legged Frog correct me if I am wrong.

All pics taken with a Canon G11

    

 

  

  

North Fork American River

Location: North Fork American River.  

As Gambolinman says "You really got to want to be here". I thought I had died and gone to heaven the beauty and splendor of this area only got better with each step.  I would have to think this is the reason I will always take the pain to hike where only the strong minded will dare to go, sometimes with determination beyond physical abilities.

This is a 14 mile or so round trip with a drop into a deep canyon where you pass Devils Peak and head into a canyon with a spectacular view of snow mountain,  Finally descending on the Royal Gorge. 

To read more about this amazing area and get a better written essay see this mans blog.  

http://gambolinman.blogspot.com/2009/08/royal-gorge-first-annual-russell-towle.html

Devils Peak

Amazing trail with views of the heavens.  

This trail also can become very obscure. 

Can I have this in my front yard?

 
One of many lakes we walked past

Palisade Creek

 
Palisade Creek 

Me in my world.... My friends quote after saying I want two days and nights here."This would be like staying in a five star hotel for you"  Yep ! it would and shall be.

Stairway to Heaven

Palisade Creek looking down.

Snow Mountain.

Snow Mountain with waterfalls.

Speechless View looking into the Gorge.  

How many shots does this card hold?

North Fork American River.

North Fork American River.

North Fork American River with Palisades creek flowing in. That will be my 2 night adventure later in the month.

Trail Marker. 

All trail photos taken with a Canon G11 all river photos with my Canon 5D mark11.

It would have been to hard to0 carry a full frame camera around my neck walking in or out of this canyon.