Where Did the Water Go!?

 New Melones Reservoir is drying up. 

Where did the water go? This section near Ironhorse campground has no water. 

This was how it looked in March. We had a feeling we would be seeing no water. 

We walked from the road all the way to the closed boat launch area.  

We did find some water, but this is so sad looking. No fish and no water birds were seen. We are concerned for the Ospreys that come here yearly. What will they eat?

Normally this is way under water. 

The cement bucket on top is for the buoy that now hangs down and is resting on the ground. Those close by hills should be under water too. 

Looking across at what should be all water. Where the green trees are is the location of the campground.  I can now say that I have walked on the bottom of this reservoir. 

Back at camp site, one can barely see some water through the trees. It's like "I spy" game. 

Some how the deer are hanging in there. These two are headed off to an acorn patch to munch on acorns before the sun sets.

A peek at the water level from the camp site across from our's. 

Sadly, California needs major storms this winter to fill up this reservoir and many others in the state. Hopefully the Sierras will get lots of snow so that the spring runoff will help fill the reservoirs. 

Pine Marten the Campground not the Animal

 After five years of waiting for a site, campground was closed for a year and then covid, we snagged a spot at Pine Marten campground by Alpine Lake in Bear Valley. 

The first night, Friday night, the campground was very quiet since most campers were coming in on Saturday. 

The sites beside us were all taken with older folks that go to sleep early. Yes, that is our campfire! 😂

To get acclimated to the elevation of 7,335 feet, we did an easy five mile hike around the lake on Friday. The water level is low, but surprisingly not as low as other lakes in California. This might be due to the fact that this is an alpine lake.

On the south side of the lake we only saw one other person and on the west side only a 4x4 coming back from Slick Rock on the 4x4 trail. 

The north side of the lake has more folks all due to the proximity to Hwy 4 and a paved walking trail. The arrow is pointing at Inspiration Point. A fun hike up to the first vista point with a spectacular view south with sight of Utica Lake, Union Lake, and Dardanelles.  We have never made it to the very top and never will due to the very narrow trail at the last portion of the trail that has many areas with loose small rocks. That last section is just way too dangerous for this old gal.

OMG! What happened to that picnic table? Heavy Snow! The picnic table was put on soft soil and a heavy snow pack sunk the table. We saw many tables like this on the north side of the lake. South side of lake doesn't have any picnic tables.

The view from south of the lake looking north gave us a peek of Saturday's hike, that high ridge.

Saturday's two mile hike up Bee Gulch trail to this point was strenuous, beautiful, and very rewarding. The elevation gain was about 1,000 feet. This was an awesome view of the Dardanelles and south towards Yosemite.

Eating lunch before taking the grueling 4x4 trail down to Hwy 4 and back to Alpine Lake.  I thought the 4x4 trail was a fire road. It might have been a long time ago, but now it is a very rocky road. Some sections that we descended were so difficult due to the soft dirt and small rocks on a very steep grade. I can't believe we hiked down that way. That hike tired me out! 

This old gal is very happy with flat trails like this! 

Fraser Flat Campground

We made it back to Fraser flat Campground; it had been three years! We snagged site 7 which is a very easy site to back into and a site away from the main loop. 

First day, Friday, we went for a 5 mile hike along the Stanislaus River on the side we had never hiked before. The Philadelphia Ditch runs above most of this trail, but a portion of the trail goes up to the ditch and the road. 

The Philadelphia ditch or canal is owned by PG&E.  The water is used to produce electric power to a number of towns in the foothills of the Sierras. 

The ditch runs for miles. We only hiked a short section of it and saw the starting point just off of this road.

Day 2, Saturday, we hiked a 10 mile loop from campground up to Strawberry and back. 

It was about 4.8 miles to Strawberry, where we rested and studied the map for the direction back to campground. 

We took the Fraser Flat Trail back to camp after hiking a bit on Old Strawbery Rd that took us by extremely large second homes. 

This monument tells of story of how Strawberry came to be named after the wild strawberries that grew here.

An easy gentle grade filled with peace.

The Wedding Trip

My daughter and fiance got married in Jackson, WY. Husband and I did a road trip across boring Nevada, interesting Idaho, and beautiful Wyoming without the RV to attend their wedding. 

Two days before the wedding, hiking along the Snake in Jackson Hole!

The Snake River is a very long river that travels from Twin Falls to Jackson-- and beyond. 

The Wedding Tree, totally gorgeous!

I could have stayed there all day taking in the views of the Tetons.

Later at Mormon Row.

The reception, the cute Old Wilson School House with beautifully planted flower beds.

The day after was a day to explore with first stop Schwabacher Landing. 

One of the branches of the Snake at Schwabacher Landing.

The moose could not be bothered with humans.

Off to Jenny Lake for a short hike; very short hike due to a bear on the trail.

My son and his girlfriend soaking their toes at Jenny Lake. 

Hunting for lunch at north end of Jenny Lake, only to find this baby grizzly munching some berries on the side of the road.

After a yummy lunch at beautiful Jackson Lake, we explored Mormon Row. 

Beautiful in summer, and I'm sure beautiful in winter. 

I'll take late spring, summer, and early fall to enjoy this beauty.

On the long drive home, a stop to check out Twin Falls.

A short but steep hike down to the Snake River.

Folks enjoying a very hot day on the Snake.

Shoshone Falls just one of many waterfalls on the Snake River.

Looking west from the Falls.

Nevada, so brown, so dry, and so boring to drive through. One day husband and I will explore the green side of Nevada.