Uh, that’s STEEP!

With a nice spring day, (yes, Spring comes end of February here in California!), we set out for a hike in nature. Again, we went to the Auburn Recreation Area (which would have been covered under 1000 feet of water if the Auburn dam would have been built like planned). 

This time we set out on the “Pointed Rocks” trail, which we found out is more known as the “Training Hill” where runners train for marathons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trail starts out nice and easy enough, but soon turns STEEP!  Actually, one of the steepest trails in California.  It rises 1000 feet in elevation in just under one mile.

 

 

We kept thinking we were almost to the top. Nope. Are we to the top yet? Nope. Not quite yet. Keep going up. and up.  and up.. and up.. And finally at the top is where the lake shore would have been if the dam was completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We originally thought this trail was a “loop” trail, that went around to where we started, but instead it was an “out and back” trail. You go to the end, and turn around and come back.  We did find a variation coming back down, on the “Pig Farm” trail that winded around and ended up near an old Pig Farm.

 

We did find three geo’s during our hike, and here we are finding one under some rocks.

 

And this one was very cool. It was hanging in a mossy covered tree and as you can see, very camouflaged, but our trained geo-eyes found it right away.

 

Quarry Trail

Time for another hike.  (We actually took this hike last Spring, but for some reason, it didn’t get posted to the blog). This time we took the fairly easy, Quarry Trial in Auburn.  The first part of the trail follows the river and is the old railroad track bed for the Mountain Quarries Railroad which back in the day, carried limestone from multiple limestone quarries in the area. 

The railroad was built in the early 1900’s to replace a 13 mile long flume that was used instead.  Of course, we found several geocaches along this hike as an added bonus.

 

 

 

 

Along the trail, there are many remains of old track and flume  pieces.

 

 

 

There is a pretty deep cave, now gated off, called Hawver Cave.  In 1906, an Auburn paleontologist named Dr. Hawver discovered this cave and found many species of animal remains from the Pleistocene Age, including the mastodon and ground sloth.  Later, human bones were discovered as well, leading to the understanding that Native Americans had used the cave as a burial chamber.

 

 

 

 

Further up the trail, you finally come to steep canyons and walls that are popular with rock climbers and the remains of the quarry.

 

 

 

Look close below to see Shelley and Meghan

 

 

 

One Last Visit

 

So, the year has come to an end. Time for where else? Six Flags!  One last visit for the year.

It was COLD!  Only 50 degrees, but we knew that and came prepared. Jackets, gloves, hats. And the best part? Nobody was there!  All the rides were walk-ons!  Even the water rides..Oh wait, they were closed.

 

Anyhow, we had a great time and the best part? Meghan was with us!  One big happy family again!

 

 

 

 

 

Brrrrr!! This ride was freezing!!!!!