Auburn State Recreation Area
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Cardiac Hill Semi-loop Auburn State Recreation Area |
April 12, 2019
After a springtime of unprecedented cloudy and rainy weather, this is the nicest day of the year to date. My aged body needs finally to get going for the season, for I am planning to foray back to my beloved southern Utah in just ten days' time.
The trail parallels the Shirland Canal for a while
Today's route cuts off down the hill. One could drive down on the paved road instead, but what fun would that be?
Cardiac Hill Trail
Blue Dicks
Rainbow Iris
Maintenance required
Avoiding the roadway
Silvery Blue
The trail cuts left here, down toward the American River.
That road leads to a rafters' pullout
Pipevine Swallowtail
The only pond on the route
The Lake Clementine Dam is just a few miles upstream
Shortly after the trail reconnects with the roadway, an elusive waterfall appears across the river. The cascade is much too high to capture in a single photograph.
Knickerbocker Falls
That pool looks inviting, but getting over there is impossible.
North Fork American River
Miner's Lettuce
Powder-back Lichen art
The road ends at a little parking area. Another quarter of a mile on a gravel path gets me down to a picnic table overlooking the river.
Oregon Bar
A trail continues southward
Rim Lichens
Canyon Liveforever
Hunting for a stopping place
The pretty orange stuff is Poison Oak
Lunch time
It feels really good here right now — just me, and the flowers, and the butterflies, and the rushing water. While munching on some grapes and a pumpkin seed bar, my bare feet are connecting directly with the earth, just in case that 'grounding' might actually count for something.
Horsetail Rush
The boaters' takeout is just beyond the far bend
Bracket Fungi
Globe Lilies
Starting back
The trail is quite steep in places
The bypass trail switchbacks more, which is best for bicycles
From here, the Cardiac Trail continues uphill and provides a complete loop
outing; but I opt to turn off here to see what else there is. This option
adds some additional down-and-up going and some extra distance as well,
but it's all in the interests of exploration.
Finally, going uphill again
The view from Oregon Hill
My loop route ends here
From here I opt to remain on the pavement for the remainder of the walk. I've had enough excitement for today.
§: Well, this was a good start on my spring conditioning.
The weather was perfect, and the river looked great; but the flower season
seems not to have arrived as yet.
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