NOTES FROM THE TRAIL – As a regular guy who is soft around the middle, my goal with this segment of the column is to provide info regarding local trails that are accessible to families and those just beginning to hike. With that in mind, my wife and I set out from the staging area at Overlook Park on an early morning before work and chose to hike the Pioneer Express Trail, which branches off to the right of the Western States Trail head. It’s a gentle trail that curves around the overlook area and takes hikers through some gorgeous wooded patches (as in the photo in this week’s column). Passing a few large boulders, the trail goes through two chain link fences (just below the Overlook) and proceeds down the side of the hill at a gentle grade. Open grassy spaces finally give way to pavement that is slowly being reclaimed by nature. We passed by an area with concrete foundations, the structures (if there ever were any, are long gone), and continued down through yellowed grass and weeds. A Pacific Gas & Electric power substation can be seen from the trail, as can the old dam construction site. Eventually the trail leads to a road that turns uphill to the right, back toward the park. Once I realized where we were headed, and that we were no longer on the Pioneer Express, we turned around to find it. A keen eye can spot the trail continuing across the road, slightly overgrown and not well marked. From here, it’s a short distance to another paved roadway. To the right is the train overpass and Pacific Avenue, but directly across the road is another path, with a trail marker, that leads uphill for a short distance parallel to the paved road below. Passing through blackberry brambles, shrubs and weeds, the trail manages to end up back on the paved road. If we were more adventurous souls, and had more time before work, we’d have followed the road down to the newly opened Birdsall Takeout along the North Fork of the American River. Rather than trudge through that last patch of the weeds again (since I was stopping every 10 or 15 minutes to pull foxtails out of my socks), we opted to take the paved roadway back uphill. It was a nice gradual climb with great views of the trees, river and birds. Overall, the hike was about 2 miles roundtrip. Next week, in honor of the 100-Mile Western States Endurance Run, we’ll go farther than we ever have on the trail – six miles roundtrip.
AROUND TOWN – Randy Peters Catering, which Randy Peters owns with his wife Lisa, has been tapped to be the official caterers for the Sacramento Capitals pro tennis team. The business is based in Rocklin and they used to own Venita Rhea’s Restaurant. ... Jack Amick has been named sales manager for Windermere Placer County Properties, overseeing their Auburn and Meadow Vista offices. Amick is a former president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and was with Prudential California Realty for nine years. ... It was great to see so many turn out for Cruise Nite in Auburn last Friday. God bless the bartenders – Troy Aroz and Tomi Kiddo – for the great job they do keeping our collective thirst quenched. The usual suspects – Vance Sauter, Jerry Kopp and Curt Smith – could be found at the Auburn Promenade while Monique “Mo” Krafft, and Karla and Marty Tilley kept Dave Rosenthal company at the KAHI van. I spotted quite a few friends at the event including Marsha MacAnulty, D.J. and Kristina Hodge with baby Sydney, Daniel Eggen and Ora Zelle-Richards.
LINCOLN LINES – Local ag booster Joanne Neft is trying to spread the word about a nifty Fresh Wild Fish Fry that will be held at Persimmon Café in Lincoln near McBean Park on Wednesday, June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost per napkin is 25 bucks. Brand and Laura Little of the Little Fish Company will provide the fish caught only the day before. The meal will also include some side dishes and non-alcoholic beverages. To reserve a seat, call 916-645-3322. The dinner benefits the Foothill Farmers’ Market.
BIRTHIN’ BABIES – Sutter Roseville Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, opening this September, has tapped Justine Honsinger, R.N., to head up the new unit. The unit will serve patients throughout Placer County. She was most recently with the Sutter Davis Hospital, where she was nursing director of the birthing center. Of course, if you don’t want Roseville listed as the place of birth for your child, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital still has its own birthing center (at least for now).
WISHING WELL – Bob Bishop, the likeable guy who serves as president of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, is in the hospital. Our prayers are with you, Bob. ... Our thoughts are also with Auburn’s Marjorie Blodgett, whom I’m told recently suffered a fall.
Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel and he may be reached via e-mail at
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