Tahoe National Forest
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Lake Spaulding Tahoe National Forest |
September 17, 2021
Stymied by the ongoing Caldor, Tamarack and Dixie Fires among others, I have
have done almost no hiking for six weeks. Today, Eileen and I head for a new
trail in a burn-free area, only to be turned away by a backroad closure.
It seems that contruction work at the Fordyce Dam requires that the route be reserved
for heavy equipment.
I know of another spot just fifteen miles away, however; so we head over to a
PG&E day-use area, pay the five-dollar fee, and set out across
the Fuller Lake Dam.
The road-trail parallels a big diversion ditch for a while, until it disappears into a tunnel; then we follow signs to the Spaulding Trail. Soon we reach and walk underneath a big penstock.
The pipe goes down, then up. Most unusual
At the bottom of the down-and-up pipeline
There is a great deal of noise to our left, from running water. There alse is a signpost warning us of the dangers of sporadic flow from above.
Plenty of noise, but not much to see
I manage to trip on a tree root and fall here, but the forest duff is soft and no damage is done.
The spillway that is making all the noise
Turning left at an unmarked trail junction. we encounter another section of penstock coming down the hill from our left. After having to virtually crawl underneath it to get by, we discover a bridge on the other side that could prove useful later. Presently our route abruptly ends at a hydroelectric facility overlooking Lake Spaulding.
Rim Powerhouse
There is no place to cross
There isn't much else to see here. The reservoir itself is particularly
unattractive, being so depleted, and the air quality sucks as well. We have
not seen the sun all day long — only smoke from the fires to the north
and south.
Heading back to the bridge
There is, of course, a trail of sorts beside the penstock, so we must check it out.
Steep, but doable
The wording is obscure, but the meaning is clear
A couple of brief rest stops are in order, partially because we have been out of action for so long.
Almost there
What we find at the top is delightful — some easy going for a change.
The handrails are most welcome
The falls that are making all the noise
I get it. The flume empties into the penstock, which feeds the powerhouse generator(s). Excess water in the flume overflows down the hill and directy into Lake Spaulding.
A catwalk maze through a facility of unknown function
Back beside the flume
The down-and-up pipe reappears
On a maintenance building
Near the end of the walk are the only flowers seen today.
Woolly Mullein
§: Well, this was a typical Ted-Hike — off-trail exploration,
new discoveries, and a successful conclusion. This lollipop loop was
sufficiently interesting to warrant another visit sometime.
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| Flowers |  |
