Every family who homesteaded the Miami Mills area in the 1880’s has a story to be discovered. This one is about three of them helping their neighbors through some very tough times. I armed myself with a map of early homesteads to better understand where these neighbors were living as I walked through history. This week’s adventure is about Shake ...

They say that the Mist Trail’s steep granite stairway has over 600 steps but I wasn’t counting because Vernal Fall’s beauty fully captured my attention as I climbed them. Up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail. In between, I could feel the power of 2 huge waterfalls, their spray on my face and the roar of a ...

A little early for wildflowers and plenty of down trees were across this historic trail but my hike was rewarded with a lovely waterfall, pretty views along the way and a good workout. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 12.12 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 4,037′ – 5,841′Elevation Gain: 2,252′Date: April 20, 2022CALTOPO: Alder Creek Falls HikeDog Hike? No I headed to Wawona through ...

Submitted by Jack Butler, Historian, E Clampus Vitas Grub Gulch Chapter 41/49 On State Route 145, between Road 33 and Road 36, is the Cottonwood Creek Bridge. There are two rock monuments, one is west-facing on the south, and one is east-facing on the north side. They are both missing their plaques explaining the history of their placement. A blue ...

The historic Skelton Creek Trail shows up on maps in the 1850’s and walking down it was right up my alley. Tons of history in this area and I always learn something new when hiking with the Sierra Hiking Seniors, a friendly group of fellow hikers. Where: Sierra National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Private PropertyDistance: 4.62 MilesDifficulty: Easy to ...

Submitted by Lynn Northrup, Raymond Museum. These are mail bags from the River Route found by a museum supporter and donated. We have so many questions about these bags. What years were they used and when and why did they cease? Who were the local mail carriers and does anyone have any other bags from the different routes? Are there ...

Wildflower season has definitely arrived in the Merced River Canyon. And, it was a 15 newt day on the Hite’s Cove Trail! If you don’t feel like going the distance that I did on the Hite’s Cove Trail, the most concentrated area of poppies is within the first 1/2 mile or so. But that is also the most concentrated area ...

Kaleidoscopic splashes of yellow here, mounds of orange there and then a little later, oceans of purple, sometimes with some red to liven up the wildflower colors as I hiked up new trails with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy. At the top of the Ruth McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve vernal pools were especially beautiful, ringed with white meadowfoam. Where: Sierra Foothill ...

Wildflowers, miners, gold mines, an old railroad bed and a beautiful but deadly river all have roles in this week’s blog. Oh, and can’t forget about the geese!Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management AreaDistance: 13.36 miles round trip but you can go shorter or longerDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 1,001′ – 1,215′Elevation Total Ascent: 1,125′Date: March 7, 2022CALTOPO: ...

Frogs and birds were singing their tunes and turtles were basking in the sun on a beautiful day as I hiked with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC), exploring trails in the Stockton Creek Preserve. Recent land acquisitions have expanded this preserve, a partnership with SFC and Mariposa Public Utilities District (MPUD), to 700 acres and grants have improved and added ...