LAKE CLEMENTINE LOOP March 9, 2008

In need of some hiking, and with a few new items to test, I headed eastbound on Interstate 80 and motored through Auburn, CA. To the Old Foresthill Road, I quickly found parking to start my hike by 12:05 p.m. Plenty of users were about. The weather was nice, and the river flowed well.

Taking the Lake Clementine Trail, I sought to see the trail conditions. A few wet spots and slight mud might bar less determined hikers from proceeding further. From only a few hundred yards up, then, of this, the trail was dry and clear, aside from damp stretches.

Looking for wildflowers, I saw a few poppies, and tiny, other flowers, here. I did some close-ups as I could get to them, and then decided to hike my full loop over the Foresthill Divide. I expected lots of mountain bikers, but I encountered only maybe 20 or so.

A sign at the start of the Fuel Break Trail showed the dominant sport, on these trails. I was concerned about impeding speeding cyclists, so kept looking in back of myself, and certainly, a music player might drown out any sounds of approaching cyclists.

Many new rocks, ramps, and bumps had been constructed for jumps, and I snapped pictures of the potential photo ops. It seems that hikers may now wish to stay away from these trails, as I often stepped aside for the mountain bikers. They come by with momentum, and they cannot brake while in mid air.

With so many new single tracks, I wondered if I was on the Culvert Trail, then came to the tunnel, and then to the ORV area side road. Rangers were on duty, and I sauntered to the upper end of the Confluence Trail. This descends back to the trailhead and river.

I got a good view of the Quarry across the canyon. I normally do this hike in mid-winter, when the light is lower and thusly backlights the scene. More flowers appeared, but not yet the tens of thousands that will be starting to bloom, later.

Some small rockslides crept across the trail, and then I was closer to the Middle Fork of the American River. Families were enjoying the rocky beaches and sights of the rapids, and I declined many shots or movie clips. Back to the highway and car by 3:05 p.m., I chose to get home early. Gas on the way home was 3.449 on the Rocklin Road.

I count this as 6 miles, with 1,000 feet gain. I used my light pack, with a shell parka over my T-shirt. Wearing light pants, my old, worn, low cut boots did fine, with no sticking mud, or much dirt, at all. No great number of bugs, and I shot 130 images and movie clips.

Traffic on the Interstate was moderate, as it was a weekend. Turned on my a/c for the first time this year. I drove only 75 miles round trip. This is a longer way for people from the Bay Area. The bigger California cities don't have such beautiful, rushing rivers, close by. The water was clear, and the grasses were green. Too bad there isn't mass transit to serve the foothills, as I'd imagine many commuters would love to ride up here, and enjoy these glorious river canyons.

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