Ironhorse at New Melones

Went back to New Melones for our first RV camping of the new year. We were at site 21, which is towards the end of the one peninsula at the Ironhorse campground there at the Glory Hole side of New Melones Reservoir. 

It was a beautiful warm January day with highs about 70. After setting up camp and eating our lunch, we head off to hike the Frontier trail that parallels the road and comes to a junction at the smaller parking lot a the end of the road. 

As we approached the bridge, we could hear the water running down the hill. There was one other stream that's a seasonal one, but this is the larger stream that seems to run most of the year (minus the drought years). 

The picnic table is still just up from the bridge. Last time we came here we could barely see the top of the picnic table. When we arrived at the Buck Bush parking lot we decided that we had time to hike the Angels Creek Trail. 

We took the shorter route by traversing up the hill and over to the other side, which cuts off a small portion of the trail.  Manzanita is in bloom already. It smelled so sweet!

Since it was getting late and we had at least two miles of travel back to campground, we decided to walk the road. We could see a portion of a halo around the sun as we were heading back. The sky now had clouds and a portion of a rainbow formed because the ice crystals in the clouds were refracting the sunlight. This is also a sign of weather change. 

When we got back to camp a group of Scouts had set up their camps near to us. At first I thought they would be loud since it was a group of teenagers with older adults, but I was wrong. As darkness came, they got quiet. We had a quiet and peaceful night. 

The morning sky proved to show that there was a change in the weather with what looked to be snow clouds forming. No rain was in the forecast for the day or the next couple of days; just a change in the sky with clouds. 

We took a walk around the campground. Walked down to see if the osprey were building a nest or had one. Instead we found a turkey vulture sitting on the tree that once housed the osprey's nest. I do hope the osprey find a better location this year for their nest. We will find out in future visits!

 

Ironhorse 19

Headed back to New Melones before the weather gets too hot. We got lucky with a site that has a view of the lake. 

A turkey and...

came to our site to check us out, while the opsrey and bald eagle observed us from above. We could hear the woodpeckers and see lots of turkey vultures. It was a birder's paradise. 

We did one of our favorite loops, the Tower Climb. It was nice seeing the lake full again.

Most of the time the trail is just dirt and rocks with occasional pretty flowers. We were surprised to see a rib cage from some animal long gone. The turkey vultures must have enjoyed that meal too. 

Second day's hike was around Angel's Creek trail. It was a long moderate hike that day, 8.3 miles. Happy to be back at camp to relax and enjoy the views. Did I say how quiet the campground was both nights. First night, Saturday, had tired fishermen, while second night, Sunday, was just one person next to us. 

Where's the Water

We went to New Melones Lake to check out if the Osprey were back and nesting at the walk-in sites at the Ironhorse Campground. Yup! They were there. Always fun to watch them from our site!

What we also discovered was that the water level is decreasing. We could barely see the water from our site. The park ranger informed us that they have to release water for the community downstream that depends on the water from New Melones when their lake is running low.

The water is super low. All that green up to the brown looking ring was once under water. That finger of the lake is now looking like a pond. I hate to see what it will look like come this summer.

After our regular hike of Carson Creek Trail and up to Tower Climb (first day's hike), we headed over to the Angels Creek Boat Launch (second day's hike). We hiked along the Frontier Trail, over to the boat launch area. Sadly, this area is now closed because there is no water close to the boat launch. 

Looking down at the very end of the launch, there is only plants. From this point, we decided to walk along the remaining water's edge to get back to camp. 

Basically we were walking in the area of the lake that should be well under water. The water at one time went up to the trees on the hill.

This was once a fence. All that is left of the fence is the rusty metal poles. This too was once way under water. 

We walked from the launch, right top, to the tip of the water, center left, and then up the slope, left, to the campground.  It was fun exploring an area that is normally under water. 

Back at camp enjoying my matcha tea and watching the Osprey!