|
|
|
|
Biscuits & Gravy - A Great Time of Year |
|
Written by Don Chaddock
|
A Great Time of Year
NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – A beautiful Saturday found most of the Chaddock clan on the Lake Clementine Access Trail. We prepared the usual picnic lunch – peanut butter sandwiches, apples, oranges, cheddar cheese and trail mix. We also carried at least 20 ounces of water for each person. To get there, take Foresthill Road from Auburn, cross the Foresthill Bridge, turn left on Lake Clementine Road, and turn into the first dirt parking area located on the right. Behind the small sign at the back of the lot, there is a trail going down. If you take this, it crosses another trail that goes left and right. Stay on the trail going down until it hooks up with a wide, nicely graded access road. To the right is a green gate, but that way would only take you back to the main road. Turn left and follow the access road down. The grade is steady, ranging from 8 to 14.5 percent, and the trail is rated as easy down and moderate up, 1.5 miles each way with about 900 feet of elevation change. The kids and I read about it in the hiking book and agreed this sounded like a nice Saturday afternoon hike. About a quarter of the way along, my 15-year-old daughter, Madison, was the first to voice concern. “Papa, this trail feels steeper than the book said it was.” Despite her concerns, we continued. The shadier parts of the trail are gorgeous and provide nice breaks from the sun. The trail winds its way down the hillside, eventually ending in a small clearing at the lake’s edge. We found places to sit in the shade and at our lunch. A goose swam to the shore, keeping a careful eye on us. The view of the lake is somewhat obscured by the floating porta-potties in the cove, but they are easily overshadowed by the area’s natural beauty. A cyclist, the first person we’d seen since leaving the car, pedaled into the clearing. “How did you guys get here?” he asked. Informing him that we hiked down, he shook his head. “That’s some hike. Have a nice lunch. Good luck,” he said, turning around and returning to the trail, beginning his own trek back uphill. We packed up our trash and began the hike back to the car. I can tell you that a “moderate” 14.5 percent grade is very different when reading it in a book while sitting in your air-conditioned car, than hiking it with a pack on your back on a warm afternoon. What took 45 minutes to hike down, took us about an hour and a quarter to hike up. Parker, my 8-year-old daughter, struggled with the 90-degree heat, getting sick at one point, so we took it slow and steady. Madison chimed in again. “This is not ‘easy to moderate,’” she complained. My advice for walking this trail is to bring extra water, liberally apply mosquito repellant and avoid hiking it during the heat of the day. I will return, but it’s definitely a morning hike for me.
SEEKING HELP – The Placer County 4-H summer camp is in need of help
after the tents at the campgrounds at Woodchuck Flat were damaged
during the heavy snows earlier in the year. I’m told the cost to
replace the tents will run about $4,000. To pitch in, call 530-889-7385.
GOING TO THE DOGS – Auburn’s Shana Laursen will be in Sacramento this
weekend for the first “Dogs on Parade” happening Sunday, May 3 at 2100
Front Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which will feature
plenty of animal rescue groups, is sponsored by the City of
Sacramento’s Animal Care Services. Laursen’s group, Greyhound Friends
for Life, will be on hand to discuss their organization. For more info,
or to volunteer at Shana’s booth, e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
,
visit www.greyhoundfriendsforlife.org or call 530-320-9144. Admission
to the event is free.
ODDS & ENDS – Michael Otten informs me that the Friends of the
Auburn Library will hold their book sale on Wednesday, May 7 from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the annex
on the hill next to the library at 350 Nevada Street in Auburn. He says
this month’s sale will feature special collections on maritime and
Western Americana. For more info, call 530-888-7837. ... Letter
carriers on Saturday, May 10 will hold their annual Stamp Out Hunger
food drive. Locally, it’s the 16th annual food drive to help restock
the shelves at the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet, Salvation Army and
Seventh-Day Adventist Community Services. To participate, leave bags of
nonperishable food items by your mailbox early on Saturday, May 10 and
your letter carrier will pick them up. ... I love this time of year
with so many options of things to do. Go green at Colfax’s Spring Fling
on May 3. Karfluki Fest is May 3 and 4. On Monday, May 5, head to Old
Town Auburn for a top-notch Cinco de Mayo festival. Auburn Placer
Disposal’s annual Dinner at the Dump, a swell affair, is Thursday, May
8 (open to Auburn Chamber of Commerce members and invited guests). That
same night, Jazz at 808 returns to The Arts Building at 808 Lincoln Way
in Auburn. If you live in the Lincoln area, stop by the Lincoln
Business Expo on May 8 (details available at the Lincoln Chamber of
Commerce). What I most look forward to is CruiseNite, which kicks off
May 9 on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn. While I’m not necessarily into
classic cars, I am a people watcher (I think it comes with the job) and
it’s a great way to reconnect with friends over a cold brew. As always,
keep your eye on our calendars of events on Stepping Out (A2-3) and
community news (A5 this week) to get the lowdown on local happenings.
FLIPPIN’ FLAPJACKS – Volunteer Fire Prevention Officer Bob Roth is busy
promoting the Newcastle Firefighters annual pancake breakfast. The
flapjack feast is slated for Saturday, May 10 from 6 to 11 a.m. at the
Newcastle Elementary School gymnasium. Expect pancakes, French toast,
eggs, ham, hashbrowns, fruit salad, coffee and orange juice. Adults are
$6 and children under 12 are $4 each. If your kid is under 3, admission
is free. This is a great event to meet and greet the candidates running
for local office. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Doug Ose at
the breakfast. He’s running for the Fourth Congressional District seat
and he’s been spotted at just about any gathering of more than a dozen
people in Placer County including mixers hosted by the Lincoln and
Rocklin chambers of commerce.
Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column,
“Biscuits & Gravy,” publishes weekly. He may be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by calling 530-823-2463.
 |
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed