Date: 2008-07-15 01:41 Subject: Deer along trail Security: Public Location: home Mood: accomplished Music: sounds of "A&E's Intervention" TV show Tags: auburn, california, cool, deer, hike, trail, western states trail

Deer along trail
Originally uploaded by don33c

NOTES FROM THE TRAIL
by Don Chaddock

When I first ventured onto the Western States Trail (marked along the way as WST) from Auburn’s Overlook Park about a year ago, I was amazed that people would hike all the way to Cool. Athletes training for endurance runs are one thing, but an average beginner hiker like me making that seven-mile journey seemed out of reach at the time.
With one 6-mile hike under my belt, as well as a few 4- and 5-mile jaunts, I figured it was time to take the leap and hike the distance between Cool and Auburn. Harvey Roper recommended beginning in Cool, which I was reluctant to do since that was an area of trail with which I was unfamiliar.
I checked maps, scouted part of the trail the day before my planned outing, and decided to trust Harvey’s judgment.
At 7:30 on Sunday morning, Rachel dropped me off at the parking lot near the fire station in Cool, just off of Highway 49. I had packed four liters of water and two electrolyte sports drinks, the trail guidebook and the map. My heavy pack also held a small cooler containing a peanut butter and honey sandwich, an apple, a hunk of sharp cheddar cheese, trail mix and a granola bar.
There were no markers at the trailhead, but judging from my map, I had a general idea which of the four trails was the correct one.
The trailhead is across the street, on what is now a charred ranch preserve, the result of recent fires. I took the more obviously well traveled path, which meandered up a small hill. Less than a quarter-mile in, I saw the first marker, indicating that Auburn was 7.1 miles by one route (over No Hands Bridge) or 8.5 miles via the coffer dam.
The plan all along was for me to go over No Hands Bridge, so I followed the path that eventually intersected with another, which was well marked. It indicated I should follow the trail behind the sign, which I did, and ended up at another intersection, this time with no marker or sign to lead the way. I chose the trail heading north and it turned out to be the correct choice. Ahead of me was the 6.5-Mile Marker on a post sporting a WST sticker. Another intersection and more signs directed me to the Wendell Robie Trail to reach No Hands Bridge. The trail, thankfully, leaves behind the burned ground and opens into meadows of oak trees. Eventually, the trail crosses what remains of an old barbed wire fence, mostly removed for trail users.
The plant life changes at this stage and so does the trail. It drops into a wooded area and then eventually comes to another fork. A sign marked the Wendell Robie Trail Short Cut, but I chose to stay on the main path.
It winds through trees, brush and over dry creek beds (I’m sure they are running during the spring). After an hour or so, traffic sounds from Highway 49 break the silence. The roar of motorcycles, trucks and other noisy vehicles were my only companions until I reached the bridge.
Other trails connect with this one, including the Pig Farm Trail and Training Hill. The main trail finally reaches a switchback and led me to No Hands Bridge.
This point is about three miles into the hike and I felt pretty good. I had gone through 1.5 liters of water and I knew what was coming, the 4-mile uphill climb to Overlook Park.
On the Auburn side of the bridge, there is a plaque proclaiming it part of the National Register of Historic Places as well as an informational display about the bridge’s history.
The air was still and hot in many parts of the canyon that day, even at 9:30 in the morning. When a breeze kicked up, it was a godsend.
As I rounded a bend in the trail, sounds of a waterfall greeted me. Ahead, at the bottom of a fairly steep stretch of trail, is a waterfall and pond. I spotted a frog and nearby, a lizard.
Parts of the trail in this area are steep. Just beyond the pond, which crossable by a stone path, the trail climbs to an old foundation, probably once supporting a bridge. The numbers “1921” are written in the concrete.
Beyond that, the trail reaches the area my daughter and I hiked down a while back, trying to find the 3-mile marker (there isn’t one, by the way). The return trip can be tough in spots, and fairly steep, with switchbacks to help lessen the grade of the incline.
When I reached the intersection of the access road (with about 1.2 miles remaining on the hike), I stopped to eat my lunch, washing it down with an electrolyte drink.
I made my way to the Hambone Memorial Bench and came to the large fig tree. There, deer were grazing, using the tree as cover and shade. I waited for a while, snapped a photo, and apologized to the deer as I interrupted their mealtime.
When I reached the half-mile marker, that’s when a serious case of the tired legs hit me. About a quarter-mile later, I had cell reception, so phoned Rachel to let her know I’d be at the top very soon so she could meet with the car.
A woman riding a horse came by and asked how far I’d hiked. “From Cool,” I responded. “What? That’s a good pace. You must’ve started early,” she said. I started back on the trail, but quickly had to make way for another horse, this one being walked by a woman.
“I just wanted to tell you that I love reading about your exploits on the trail,” she said. “You mean the ‘Notes from the Trail?’” I asked. “Even before ‘Notes from the Trail’ became its own thing,” she said.
I thanked her and she told me she walked from the trailhead at Overlook to the bench just to see how far it was. “That’s a decent hike, especially for kids,” she said.
When I told her I started the morning in Cool, she said she was really proud of how well I’m doing and much I’ve progressed.
As I plopped down at the picnic bench at the Overlook Staging Area, my legs covered in deep brown dirt, I felt like I had really accomplished something. And for a reader to mention my steady progress with only a quarter-mile left on my milestone hike, made it that much more special.

Date: 2008-06-28 16:55 Subject: June 2008 update Security: Public Location: home Mood: chipper Music: none Tags: art, auburn, hiking, photography, trail

Rachel is 6 1/2 months pregnant now and everything is still going great with the pregnancy.

I've taken up hiking and have been trying to get out on the trails at least 3 or 4 times per week. Today I hiked the Stagecoach Trail from Russell Road down to the American River Confluence. According to my hiking guide book, it's 2 miles each way. The direction I traveled was all downhill for the first half and, oh boy, was it ever a killer coming back out. Whew! On Father's Day Weekend, Parker (my 8 year old daughter) and I hiked 6 miles along the Western States Trail. It was a great workout.

I've also really gotten back into photography and my art. I recently completed an 18x24 pencil sketch of a lighthouse for a friend's birthday. My photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/donchaddock

I was supposed to be on the Western States Trail this weekend to help film and photograph the 100-Mile Endurance Run, but because of two fires burning near the course and the thick smoke blanketing the area, the run was called off for the first time in its 35 year history.

Date: 2007-06-19 07:16 Subject: This Takes Endurance Security: Public Tags: auburn, endurance

Auburn has been billed as the Endurance Capital of the World, and with all the events, it takes endurance just to get through another week living here. There are so many events that I couldn't event tell you what I did last week without looking at my calendar. Recently, for example, was Party in the Park on Friday night, Father's Day weekend with my kids, Old Town Auburn's Parking Lot Party (which I didn't attend) on Monday, a grant presentation to PlacerArts by the Placer Community Foundation on Monday (which I did attend), Tuesday is dinner with friends (in Roseville of all places ... I mean, who drives to Roseville for dinner?) after putting the paper to bed, Wednesday is something that I can't recall at the moment (without my calendar, that is), Thursday is Rachel's birthday but there is a ton of stuff happening that day (from meetings in the morning, my radio gig at 9:30 a.m., lunch meeting from noon to 1:30, Boys and Girls Club hosting a chamber mixer at 5:30, to the Auburn Alehouse opening its doors for the first time), Friday morning is the city's Power Breakfast then around noon I leave to help film the Western States Endurance Run at Squaw Valley. Saturday afternoon I return so that I can then attend a party for said run, and, on top of all this, we decided to invite a few people over for a barbecue on Sunday. What was going to be just a couple and their two kids ended up with invites to two other couples, one with two more kids. With all the children who'll be here (mine won't, unfortunately), it looks like we'll have a dozen in our house and I have absolutely no idea when we're going to have time to prepare! Then, next week, it starts all over again (minus the barbecue). I'm tired just thinking about it.

Date: 2007-06-17 09:23 Subject: Hells Angels Security: Public Tags: auburn, hells angels, lorrett kinnicutt, motorcycle, sonny barger

The Hell's Angels created quite a stir in this sleepy little burg recently. A "Patriotic Paradise Weekend" (June 1-3, 2007) -- pitched to the community as a troop cheerleading, family-friendly event -- turned Auburn on its ear when it came to light that organizer Lorrett Kinnicutt invited Hell's Angels co-founder Sonny Barger to the party. The Auburn Police Department expressed concern that Barger's visit, a book signing at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, could draw a negative element to town. I found it interesting that Kinnicutt never mentioned Barger at any of the meetings in which I heard her pitch the event. It was eagle-eyed California Highway Patrol officers who noticed a flyer being circulated that marketed to "outlaw motorcycle gangs" (as designated by the State of California). They then alerted the Auburn Police Department. Kinnicutt claims that Barger makes his living signing books and he wouldn't be invited back to any of the events if trouble were to arise related to his visit. She makes a good argument. Usually, when Barger is invited to an event, organizers request added security, but Kinnicutt did not. Extra law enforcement officers were brought into town from neighboring cities and counties, saturating Auburn with cops. The event went off peacefully, but many of the things Kinnicutt was hoping for (a community barbecue cook-off with local officials as judges, a light parade and community concert) were cancelled when the board of trustees for the Veterans Memorial Hall booted her from the grounds. The board claims that Kinnicutt "misrepresented herself" and advertised events that they hadn't given her permission to host on their facility. Oh boy. She attempted to move everything to the fairgrounds and even just a few days before the event, had not announced that the cook-off was actually cancelled.

Date: 2006-07-19 07:09 Subject: camp Security: Public Location: home ... too early Mood: feeling yucky Music: sweet sound of silence Tags: auburn, battlestar galactica, chamber, eureka

KIDS -- I can't believe July is almost over. What happened to my extended summer with the kids? I have a little more than two weeks with the young ones and three with Madison, who is away at Camp Wannaupchuck until Saturday. I miss her, rude comments and all.

SCI-FI -- I managed to catch the new SciFi Channel series "Eureka" last night. Pretty good show and they included scenes from the new season of "Battlestar Galactica." The direction the show took at the end of the season didn't sit well with me. They need to do an awful lot of repairs and tinkering to get the show back on course, in my opinion.

AUBURN -- Our little burg is getting interesting lately with our city manager running around to any gathering with more than 5 people so he can discuss redevelopment plans. Oh boy. Next Friday is the town's first "Quarterly Power Breakfast" at which the aforementioned city official will discuss the future of Auburn, redevelopment, improvements, street maintenance (wait, I think I've fallen asleep). I don't want to go, that's for certain. This Thursday there is an Auburn Chamber Mixer (wait, they're called "Business After Hours Networking Opportunities" now ... sheesh!) at a funeral parlor. Not so sure I want to attend that either.