Stevens Trail

Last Sunday, David and I decided to check out a local hiking spot, Stevens Trail. This trail in the Sierra Nevadas was originally created by gold miner Truman Stevens in 1870. It begins in Colfax and drops in elevation as it winds northward through the mountains down to Secret Ravine and the north fork of the American River. The trail is over 4 miles long, and somewhat treacherous in areas, as the canyon walls are steep, and there are the occasional rock slides here. The scenery along this foot path is beautiful and varied. There is lush vegetation, tall trees, grassy slopes full of wildflowers, waterfalls and mountain streams that cut across the path, and huge rock formations. Old mine shafts still exist along some parts of the trail. But the most awesome views are when the American River is visible. Calm in some spots, and violent whitewater in others, it's clear and cold and awesome to behold (unintentional rhyme).

The trip down to the river wasn't bad at all. Mostly downhill, we even jogged a bit without getting winded. The spring sunshine was upon us, but it wasn't too hot, and around every bend, we found ourselves in the shade of the mountains for at least a few minutes. When at last we found our way down to the river's edge, we just stood and watched the water rush by. After a while, we even tried our hand at gold panning, without the pans. David found at least one flake, so we know this will be a good place to try again later when we're better equipped. Soon though, the shadows were growing longer, and we knew we had better begin the trek back, or else risk the narrow trails in the dark. Hiking the 4+ miles back to the car was considerably more tiring than the hike in, as it was virtually all uphill. But the late afternoon air was getting cooler, and slowly but surely, we made it out. I wouldn't recommend this trail in the middle of summer, but for springtime, it was a very nice hike (and my legs are still sore 2 days later).

A mountain stream


The American River


Fairy's Lantern

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Manatees Attack

Image
A warm Saturday with no foul weather in sight begs for a kayaking excursion.  So Dave and I started paddling north on the St Johns, enjoying the calm water, the abundance of ospreys, and the manatees.  At one point, Dave pointed out a manatee that was only a few feet to the right of his boat.  Intrigued by the huge gray lump with stark white propeller scars on its back, Dave slowed and paddled a bit closer.  "Don't spook it," I instructed.  As a kid growing up on the river, I've witnessed what happens when you spook a manatee, and it's no joke.  Most people have this image of manatees as docile, slow-moving animals blissfully unaware of their surroundings.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Heeding my advice, Dave backed off of the manatee, and it slowly swam away. We continued our track north, paddling under the multitudes of private docks stretching from the shore to the drop-off beyond the sand bars.  The water was only about 3 f...
Read more

Leaving Nature in Nature

Image
As a reptile enthusiast, I used to love to collect the animals I found in the wild. There was something rewarding about finding the animal, successfully capturing it, and then maintaining it in a miniature version of its natural habitat. But more rewarding was being able to sit and study the animal for hours on end, just watching it peruse its glass prison, mistakenly thinking that I was giving it everything it needed. These days I have an entirely different outlook on the same hobby. I've experienced the dark underbelly of the reptile trade, the side that thrives on money and recognition, not the love of the animals. I've seen starving cobras languishing in their cages. I've seen dehydrated vipers fresh off an airplane from Africa, destined for a freezer or backyard burn pile. I've seen perfectly healthy rattlesnakes taken from the wild, crammed in pillowcases and thrust into the pet trade, where they quickly died from stress, or contracted disease in someone...
Read more

Survival

Image
The young Eastern Diamondback that I discovered basking on an abandoned golf course in February of 2009 is still alive and kicking. Just this past February, David and I made another attempt to find him, and there he was.....only about 10 feet from where he was found last year, and even within the same month as last year. This time however, it was a cool cloudy day, as opposed to a cool sunny one, and he had taken refuge under a square piece of hard black plastic. I suspected right away that this was the same snake. He was the right size, in the right area. I wouldn't know for sure until comparing photos, but sure enough, the proof was in the pics. My baby Eastern from last year had made it through an entire year without falling victim to human expansion. It was great to know that he had been eating well, staying warm, and most importantly, that no one with ill intentions had discovered his home base. Sadly, this snake may not survive the next year. The area he resides is now a d...
Read more