Auburn State Recreation Area
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Windy Point Trail Auburn State Recreation Area |
April 2, 2022
This is another "hunt for a new trail" day, and I read about this one recently. I have been on Iowa Hill Road previously, but I have no recollection of this trailhead.
There is room for just three cars on this angled slope. Placing a rock behind a tire, I set off on what looks like an easy stroll at first.
Getting started
The route becomes more interesting
Silverpuffs
Mountain Dandelion
Smooth Hawksbeard
Lupine
The flowers are welcome, but the frequent rough sections of trail are not. Already I am seriously regretting the decision not to bring along a walking stick. Perhaps one day I finally will acknowledge that old people can benefit from the added convenience and safety of a stick. Oh well, these difficult sections should be less problematical on the uphill return.
Around the next corner is my first human encounter of the day. The last time I observed a trailside artist was over at Round Top Lake in 2015.
This is the scene being painted
A substantial scramble is in order here
Rock Phacelia
Scarlet Campion
Eventually, I run out of trail, as expected. Getting down to the water's edge is a challenge, because the easiest routes are blocked by poison oak, including bushes up to four feet high.
North Fork American River
Downstream (south)
Upstream (north)
Reaching behind to remove my pack, my hand touches what can only be my wallet. What? Once again, I have neglected to zip up the pocket after including some snacks in it; and that is utterly unacceptable. I already have lost the thing twice, getting it back only because of blind luck and nice people.
In the olden days, I merely left my wallet in the car; but times have changed. Perhaps I need to rethink my packing setup.
Tooth Crusted fungi
Having walked but a mile and a half, I don't feel like a snack just yet; so I might as well start back.
Blue Dicks
Globe Lilly
On of several helpful stairways cut into the dirt
I surprisingly encounter quite a few hikers coming my way on the return, as well as a very friendly cocker spaniel puppy.
Tufted Poppy
Purple Owl's Clover
The Northern Crab Spider is but a quarter of an inch across
Poppy fields adorn the canyon slopes
Kellogg's Monkeyflower
California Chicory
Back at 'artist's point'
Right beside the spot where the painter was set up is a little wooden bench, upon which is a little bag of mixed nuts.
Omigod! Those are my nuts!
Yes, they were packed in the same pocket as my wallet, but fell out halfway down the trail. Perhaps I have them to thank for not having lost the wallet itself. In any case, it is time to sit on the bench, eat the nuts, and contemplate both my luck and my stupidity.
Frolicking Fritillaries
The railroad cut is visible on the distant hillside
Not far from the trailhead, a couple has just negotiated the first rough spot on the route, with some difficulty. It seems that the woman is not at all comfortable on this sort of trail. As I pass by them, he is holding her hand, guiding her, even on a relatively flat stretch. Admittedly, that path is but a foot wide in places.
I don't think she'll be going much farther
Recent spring-cleaning. This park does a good job with trail maintenance
§: Well, I violated Ted's First Rule of Hiking: "Always take a walking stick
on an unfamiliar route". Later, I discovered that I also had violated Ted's Second
Rule of Hiking: "Zip up the pocket containing the wallet". That precaution probably
should be elevated to #1. At the least, it behooves a man to learn to control his
nuts!
Anyway, nothing bad happened; but this shorter climb of just 600 feet virtually wore
me out. Frequent 20-25% gradients do take their toll, and it was becoming
a bit warm in the sun toward the end.
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