MudNCrud Forums
Climbing and ... Climbing => Everywhere Else => Topic started by: Brad Young on April 15, 2020, 07:34:56 PM
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Yeah, maybe it has.
We’ve never seen times like this - a lucky generation to date.
But this virus is serious and may be really, really serious. We weren’t well prepared and have had to take some crash steps to avoid medical overload. This means staying home, or close to it. Walks mostly.
So here’s a trip report about a “walk” Katie and I did today. All within six miles of our house, and all totally routine. Even boring in more “normal” times.
It starts like this: many of you have heard of the now-retired logging railroad grade that starts a third of a mile from our house. It’s a great resource for hiking, biking, running, blackberries and, in a few select places, wild strawberries. Some of you have walked this grade with us, or parts of it.
It goes all the way to Lyons Reservoir, our local county water supply.
What those of you who have walked the grade might not know is that that water supply comes from the reservoir by way of a Gold Rush-era ditch system. It was built in the mid 1800s to channel Stanislaus River water to the Columbia area for hydraulic gold mining (a short lived and very destructive method of strip-mining).
Anyway, over the years we’ve walked and biked the grade itself to the reservoir and beyond. Many, many times. We’ve also walked the ditch many times. In fact when the girls were younger, I’d walk/jog the ditch while they floated it on hot days (not sure about that being legal, but hey, who besides the select few here knows?). But we’d never walked the two and a half miles of the ditch that are closest to the dam.
Today, wanting to recreate, but to also stay close to home, Katie and I decided to walk from Highway 108, down to Lyons and back along the ditch to the road and then home (Tricia had school work to do - they’ve gotten things up and running on some classes remotely).
It’s better than nothing. And you, dear reader, get to spend ten minutes semi-entertained by something new, different and only slightly boring.
Vicki drove us up the road (closed this time of year to cars due to snow):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778519913_9f36006830_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778520238_f4cd1f3a92_c.jpg)
There’s actually climbing right off the highway on this road. Or maybe “climbing” is a better way to say it. I’ve never been very interested in bouldering, I’ve never quite gotten the point. But I know others who love it. Anyway, there are some interesting boulders close to the highway. Some medium sized, some quite small. Here’s a photo of me standing in front of a V-1 called “Mantle.” On “First Arete Boulder" (this one must require a sit-start):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778521163_804f9409fd_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779053966_15bf30d5ec_b.jpg)
Don’t believe me that this is a climb? Here’s the link, complete with a photo-topo:
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/118358940/first-arete-boulder
Anyway, down the road we went. We live in beautiful, forested country, and sometimes I lose sight of how nice it really is:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778522243_7871aa2ded_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779059421_01f48d2390_c.jpg)
The dogs like it here too. They dashed to the nearest snow they could find:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779385187_48e6779272_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778523078_b46755947f_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779387787_cf3c872fbf_c.jpg)
And pools of ice water:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779388302_e20c4a28de_c.jpg)
And there are bigger bouldering boulders too (I think that the scrubbed streak to the left on this boulder is a route):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779386087_e9c998a253_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779056211_7bf146825a_c.jpg)
Soon we were almost to the reservoir (two miles down the road):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778528758_3407177fae_c.jpg)
A gorgeous girl catching up after a quick dip:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779060096_bc4f56792f_c.jpg)
The railroad grade is at the same elevation as the top of the dam. A grated metal stair leads down to the base of the dam and then the start of the flume and ditch system:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778529088_f5f01925c6_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779061046_5c12c33417_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779392247_7bf4a7c9f7_c.jpg)
And then we were off. We found out that the ditch starts out as a flume for its entire first mile:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778531193_ac47ce6dfb_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779394022_da4c70772e_c.jpg)
Lots of larger rocks nearby have potential for actual climbing routes (anything would be nice right now - I plan on going up and doing some bouldering soon):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778532453_a0b964fb21_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778532938_c211a605ee_b.jpg)
Where the ditch system is a flume it’s a flume for a reason - too many in and out side canyons. As a result of these side canyons, the flume uses some pretty big trestles:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778533303_bd05e4239a_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779396062_2eb9ca9058_c.jpg)
It doesn’t take long for the river to be way down below our elevation:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778533978_6a7a0d2e43_c.jpg)
Eventually the flume ends and the ditch part of the system starts:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779396992_1f69cb36c4_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779066416_a25c49f1bc_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779066876_8f34bff8f6_c.jpg)
Here’s a “normal” part of the ditch:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779067756_c3993f12b3_c.jpg)
Our younger dog Halifax is pretty energetic. And today she wanted in the water. First thing. The only problem is that this first part of the ditch becomes a channel quickly (this part of the system was still new to us). And then it re-enters a flume. Hallie’s enthusiasm meant that she got stuck in the channel and then got dumped into the flume and had to ride that for 100 yards (the dogs don’t like this, but each has learned the hard way to look out ahead a bit):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779068306_7110af6e85_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779399977_8d0f1827aa_c.jpg)
Anddd… there she goes into the flume:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778537588_80dcbce3d8_c.jpg)
It’s no big deal since it’s all smooth metal and water. But like her siblings before her, Hallie was nervous. Until we caught up to her and called out as we walked above her. Here’s a shot of her in the flume (close-up shows it better):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779070126_9a59026033_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779401267_bbd63e4840_c.jpg)
Eventually she got dumped out, back into another channel. But that quickly became normal ditch again. Now she was safe (in her own mind). So she stayed in the water:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779070471_ee898bb496_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779070926_51fc2f1bc7_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779402532_bcfdec717c_c.jpg)
Charlotte got her turn:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779402867_335c0f6426_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778540938_899312d3dc_c.jpg)
Parts of the ditch have been lined with Gunnite to help reduce water loss:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779403157_d6cf7a7022_c.jpg)
Lots of swimming and floating downstream equals happy retrievers:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779072501_1ba44a704d_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779073286_d17dda659c_c.jpg)
It really is beautiful out there:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779073791_e662b2f426_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779405637_4e9997aefb_c.jpg)
Some of the flumes have boards to walk on instead of grating:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779074536_d89d8949a1_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779075151_5cf8052b60_c.jpg)
Eventually we took a side road up to the railroad grade itself. This let us get a little uphill/cardio and, bonus, took us past the secret summertime wild strawberry patch (they’re the size of a fingernail, but when they are ripe - holy wow, one tiny strawberry has more flavor than a huge store-bought):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779406467_8d937f4313_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778576468_dccb061d83_c.jpg)
Here’s the “normal” railroad grade, about a third of a mile from its paved-road end (that end is about a third of a mile from our house):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779439442_f9b46b2c89_c.jpg)
We’ve always loved the views across the Stanislaus River canyon (the big, snow-covered plugs are The Dardanelles):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778576823_2ca886489a_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49779440582_174ed65a3e_c.jpg)
And then there were these. We see them every year in the last puddles out there. Some sort of black, poppy-seed size insect larvae. I figured a photo would be enough - in a video the whole floating mass slowly and slightly wiggling might be just too gross:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49778577458_084d69e739_c.jpg)
A wonderful day really. The hike followed a nice morning of working from home and was followed by a wonderful, vegan dinner prepared by that same daughter.
We’re all safe, healthy and doing OK. I’m happy that we’ve been this lucky. And I’m good with a little boredom, if that’s the price we need to pay for our health and the health of others.
I hope you all stay healthy. And sane.
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Cool, thanks for being so interesting! All you Young's, two and four footer's.
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Thanks
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Very nice! It's amazing sometimes what dogs will or won't do.
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Yes, for me it's been taking my 2x headaches out to my childhood stomping grounds for hiking. We have knocked off just about every trail in the Stevens Creek park. I am too cheap/ lazy to dive up to skyline to hike up there.
Gotta save the gas$$. Rancho San Antonio, 2nd childhood place I can imagine being a F***G zoo, so I have stayed away.
I need to work them up to 6-10miles.
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That one trail that comes up the back side of Black Mountain from San Antonio is an ass kicker. Especially the last part that's kind of like a fire road.
Parked at Alpine Road one day crossed over 35 at Skyline ridge, went over Black Mountain, down the quarry trail on the other side and came back. It was the coming back.....
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Yes that is the trail. Dumbass I was when I found it running one day, I followed it a bit, but not to the top of Black Mountain.
Still on the to do list.
Now I have two unwilling accomplices.
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I thought we walked that 20 plus years ago, but from the downstream to upstream within a stones throw of the dam? With Katie as a little kiddo?
I should do this hike. Its all downhill right? Lol
Nice TR!
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Munge you are alive!
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I thought we walked that 20 plus years ago, but from the downstream to upstream within a stones throw of the dam? With Katie as a little kiddo?
I should do this hike. Its all downhill right? Lol
Nice TR!
Nope. When you were with us we walked the railroad grade (in the "upstream" direction). All the way to within sight of the dam.
We've been doing a version of this walk almost every day. The dogs are in heaven out there!
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BTW, in this time staying at home and finding stuff to do?
I've decided to reread a book called The Emerald Mile. Without question one of the three best books I've ever read about outdoor adventure (in this case the Grand Canyon). Actually, it's probably among the top 20 books I've ever read, with its blend of adventure, history, water, politics and geology. Fantastic read.
I first read it only three years ago, but it's just an incredible book - really hard to put down.
In between walks.
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The book blends together all aspects of the history of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Centered on the never-beaten speed record descent of its whole 277 miles... in 37 hours (that is not a typo). Done ilegally, in a wooden dory, in cataclysmic flood conditions that actually killed other people on the river.
One nearly unbelievable side-story is the fact that they almost lost the Glen Canyon dam during this flood.
Yeah, right. I read the introduction and thought, yeah, right, that's a bit overdramatic, "losing" a huge, huge concrete dam. I can picture J.C. saying these words to himself right now.
And yet the author reduces complex science into plain English. And yes, through a poorly understood process called "cavitation" they were losing house-sized chunks of the insides of the dam's drainage tunnels. Tunnels through massive sandstone cliffs. It came very, very close to total failure.
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DAM!
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Somebody must've been climbing on the dam thing.
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Munge you are alive!
Rumors of my demise are greatly exagerated!
BY, show me on the map sometime the difference.
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Dam
Rumors of my demise are greatly exagerated!
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That was one rumored method of demise! But alas the road to Donnell was closed.
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Well they just re-opened much of the Stanislaus National Forest. So maybe we can get going on some real stuff for a while. Thinking about some climbs near the highway. Or a short and wet backpack in to Kennedy Peak... I haven't summited it and it looks like a steep, steep scree slog (I'll take it right now).
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Donnells, munge we have business there.
Sounds like the gate is closed.
Hope it opens soon.
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It's so obvious why he's nuts. F#$%ing nuts. Unquestionably over the edge.
Two adult daughters? Words fail me. Raised correctly? Oh my fuc#ing God. And I'm stuck with them.
He's stuck with six of them. My sympathy. Oh? And I'm envious.
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Probably should have posted the non-Pinnacles stuff here, but the similarities between my gorgeous dogs and Noal fit there.
Katie loved the dog colored lichen (or is it lichen colored dog?):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49872844252_7dce9922a8_c.jpg)
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How about that road to Potters Rock?
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Closed.
All roads up here are closed unless you're local.
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Ha! That is a nice photo. The dog's hair look better than mine. I need a haircut!
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I need a haircut!
Yep, me too. At least I can shave off my own beard (and did).
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I need a haircut!
I think we may see a style change as a result of the stay at home order. Covid hair. Brad may soon be sporting founding father hair.
JC was already sporting the long hair, (he is such a trend setter) with a ponytail.
A west coast Paul Revere. If we are invaded he will warn us by riding the unicycle if they come from the land to the East or his bicycle if they come from the sea, pogo stick and a parka if by the North and roller skates, knee-high socks, cut off jeans and a tank-top if from the South.
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Noal, skip the haircut.
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Ugh I am seriously in need and want my wife to buy clippers and try cutting my hair.
Mohawk cuts for the boys.
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I think we may see a style change as a result of the stay at home order. Covid hair. Brad may soon be sporting founding father hair.
JC was already sporting the long hair, (he is such a trend setter) with a ponytail.
A west coast Paul Revere. If we are invaded he will warn us by riding the unicycle if they come from the land to the East or his bicycle if they come from the sea, pogo stick and a parka if by the North and roller skates, knee-high socks, cut off jeans and a tank-top if from the South.
This is great.
However, I prefer stilts to a pogo stick and sold my Roller Blades a long time ago.
Come to think of it, I don't have my stilts anymore either.
My hair has been growing for a year and a half now but the longer it gets, the more it curls...so progress is slow...
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I just discovered that the word "nothing" is a palindrome....
Backwards it spells "gnihton", which also means nothing.
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Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.
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Brad stuck at home. Isn't there a hike somewhere. You could walk around the block a time or two.
I just discovered that the word "nothing" is a palindrome....
Backwards it spells "gnihton", which also means nothing.
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What's better than a rose on your piano?
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?
What's better than a rose on your piano?
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What's better than a rose on your piano?
Tulips on your organ. buh dum chhh...
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;)
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Marijuana is legal and haircuts are against the law.
It took half a century but the Hippies finally won.
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I tell my boys they need to only trim the front of the hair and not to worry about the back...
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I tell my boys they need to only trim the front of the hair and not to worry about the back...
Mine is pretty close to all the same length but I'll mull that thought over.
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Mine is pretty close to all the same length but I'll mull that thought over.
::)
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Fortunately our older dog Charlotte hasn't been too stressed by all this. As she gets older she seems to sprawl even more in her evening repose. Here's a normal evening at bedtime:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49916598541_d3c84deee8_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49916598681_357247fb68_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49916598901_4d5377ce0c_c.jpg)
Happy dogs make happy people.
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I miss that happy dog
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Our 17 yo cat is happy. He unfortunately caught a weasel Sunday. Now I expect twice the hunting work out of him for killing another predator. Mice, moles and ground squirrels are his normal fair. There are many birds in the yard. He doesn't hunt birds.
Many of the birds are territorial. It is constant war.
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Man, it's not like I've been climbing all that much during the last two months. Well none until two weeks ago.
But I think I just re-learned that 5.9 squeeze chimneys are pretty physical. With a touch of brutality too when the sides of the chimney are so sharp and knobby that they're like wood rasps.
Worthwhile day. Especially so as Joel P got in his first climbing since last October (shoulder finally gave out then and surgery was in December). For the record, he did not do the chimney, but some slab routes instead. I actually refused to belay him on a 5.10 slab toprope though - no way I was letting him get into a "fuckitbackup" situation.
The crowds are already starting to arrive up here....
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In other news, I might be done leading 5.9 offwidth/squeeze chimney routes with sharp, sharp crystals for the season. Even with long pants on they hurt (I changed into shorts after the climbing):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49949554571_07d0b7a6a8_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49949053948_805214b78f_c.jpg)
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Annnd now Katie's moving to Montana in a week (she's found advantageous living and economic conditions).
Why post this? I keep smiling because I know exactly, exactly what's going through J.C.'s mind after reading "the moving to Montana" part ::)
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Annnd now Katie's moving to Montana in a week (she's found advantageous living and economic conditions).
Why post this? I keep smiling because I know exactly, exactly what's going through J.C.'s mind after reading "the moving to Montana" part ::)
Too funny - I was messaging with Katie the other day and she mentioned moving to Montana and I immediately asked her if she was going to be a dental floss tycoon. I told her to see if she could find the song on line. ;D
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Annnd now Katie's moving to Montana in a week (she's found advantageous living and economic conditions).
Why post this? I keep smiling because I know exactly, exactly what's going through J.C.'s mind after reading "the moving to Montana" part ::)
Raisin' it up
Waxin' it down
In a little white box
That I can sell uptown
By myself I wouldn't have no boss
But I'd be raisin' my lonely dennil floss :lol: :blahblah: :guitar: :ihih: