Snake Tree

Went bike riding today up at Squaw Valley with Chris. We rode almost all the way around Coyote Hills. The hill climbing was minimal and there were lots of almost level road. Well, we were on a road some of the time.

As we came around on our way back to the trucks we went past the Snake Tree. This tree is a very interesting and unique feature in this area. I have been showing it to people and visiting it for 30 years and I was telling Chris, it is virtually unchanged since the first time I saw it, so it's a slow grower. It's not a large tree, or very tall.



The clouds were building so when we got back to the trucks we found a spot where we could watch for lightning and had a couple of beers. Although there was a little thunder, way off in the distance, we didn't see any lightning or get rained on. I went through a few rain showers on the way home but they weren't wide spread. Our ride was only 14 miles but it was all good.

Cinder Cone

Life is good... what else can I say? Today I took a short drive up to Lassen Park, or the back door to Lassen Park anyway, Butte Lake Road. Butte Lake is a pretty place. There is a parking area, a rather small primitive boat ramp, a campground and a "Ranger Station." I rode my bike up there after parking down below the first campground. As I found out, you can't ride a bike on any of the trails up there so I had to hide my bike so I could hike out to Cinder Cone.

The hike to the top was not bad at all, a little soft but the cone is not that high. The views were really nice and after seeing some of the weird patterns on Google Earth it was cool to see them in real time. There is a well defined crater at the top and a trail to the very bottom. I thought about walking down there but couldn't see the sense in it.

I ran into quite a few people both on the trail and at the top. This is a really easy hike as long as a person is in reasonably good condition and you go slow and enjoy the views along the way. I chugged to the top without stopping so all my bike riding paid off well, I was never out of breath.

Poison... again

Poison Creek, that is. This picture isn't of Poison Creek but it is up in that area, where I was today when I went bike riding. Actually I tried to ride up a road where I planted trees back in the 70's. I ended up walking most of the time but it was kind of cool to go back up there after all these years. The trees are doing pretty good too, by the way. I went cross country and dropped down into the Poison Creek drainage which was an interesting adventure considering the amount of brush that has grown up between the plantation trees. I had to carry my bike down some steep brush covered hills. Tons of fun... I mean it, really! Maybe if I had been wearing boots and long pants I wouldn't have gotten so scratched up. I just love those kinds of rides.

The Flume Trail

Had a nice day yesterday riding the world famous Flume Trail up at Lake Tahoe. This trail has the most breathtaking views of any of the places I have ever ridden. Chris went with me and we rode a 23 mile loop which included the Red House Flume Trail as well. I was feeling the elevation as we climbed the hills we had to climb on this loop. Funny thing was, and

honestly it was not planned this way at all, it was one year ago to the day that I did this ride last year. I didn't even realize that until I looked at last years pictures and noticed the date they were taken. It was a beautiful clear day and cool enough that heat was certainly not a problem. After we finished the Flume Trail portion that over looks Lake Tahoe, the route follows a road for a while, then intersects with the Red House Flume Trail. That one was pretty cool but the scenery wasn't quite as nice... The hills we had to go up really proved too much for me, I had to walk up the steepest places, but Chris was able to stay on 2 wheels. OK, his bike has lower gears than mine does so that was part of it. Maybe I need a new bike to go with those new friends, huh?

Top of the world!

Well, maybe not the top of the world but the top of Diamond Mountain. OK, maybe not the top of Diamond Mountain, but near the top. Well, you could certainly see a long way from where I was, so it was the top of something.

Rode my bike out here and up into the jet stream. It certainly felt like the jet stream was going right overhead , the winds at the top of the ridge were probably in the 40-50 mph range... I could hardly stand up. Other than the wind being pretty strong, it was a marvelous day. Cool, but totally warm enough for me to go shirtless. Once I got out of the wind it was very comfortable. Much warmer down in the valley today.

Thats what I get for going up on the ridge top when it is so windy. A little wind never hurt anybody, huh? OK, well lets not think about hurricanes and tornadoes here. I'm getting ready for a little higher altitude ride I'm going to do this week, the Flume Ride. My friend Chris and I are planning on going to ride the Flume Trail on Wednesday. I rode that one last year and I was so impressed with the scenery that I wanted to take someone with me. Unfortunatley for me, Chris is the only one of my friends who is capable of riding with me on the Flume Trail. The round trip will be about 23 miles, and at 7000 feet and higher in places, it will work you. Maybe I need some more friends.

Eagle Lake!

After spending the last 2 days out in the burn by Antelope Lake contemplating the fleeting nature of beauty and taking many "after" picures to be posted on my web album soon, I took a drive over the hill to Eagle Lake today and explored the lava beds on the south west end. I rode my bike out to Wildcat Point and followed the shoreline as close as I could, going north. Most of the shoreline north of Wildcat Point is closed this time of year because of Osprey habitat. I found some conflicting signs along there, one saying the area is closed and another saying foot and horse traffic is allowed. Needless to say, Osprey's aren't nesting this time of year anyway, but the closure goes till the end of September. I went almost to Pine Creek going north and then turned and came back through the middle of the lava beds. It was pretty cool, and not a strenuous ride at all.

I never saw a soul all day till the afternoon on a really remote road a truck came along. I talked to the 2 guys in it for a minute and then they were on their way. Long ride, since I lost my GPS I haven't replaced it yet and I don't have another odometer. Fun day in a brand new area for me. All these years I had never been out in that country until today. Great place to ride a bike.

Family time

Daughter Tracey came over with the family last week and ever since I have been having family time. Well, she went home last Monday but I have my grand daughter Laura staying with me and my son Bill is over for his 20th reunion. Speaking of reunions, we had an Owings family reunion over at Trinity Lake and even though there were a few that didn't make it, we had a great time.