Treks Program - 2013
As always, we have an exciting lineup of treks for 2013! We're still firming up dates and guides, and we're adding more treks to the calendar all the time. Check back frequently for updated information.
If you have a question contact Treks Coordinator Melony Vance by email at melony@bylt.org or by phone at 530 272 5994 x 200.
Spenceville Bunkers
Saturday/Sunday, February 9th & 10th : With the outbreak of WWII a huge section of land was acquired by the government for what we now know as Beale Air Force Base and Spenceville Wildlife Area. However, at the time there was no Air Force so the Spenceville area was used for ground assault combat tank training. There are numerous structures that are tucked away and off the beaten track – wartime remnants and history from approximately 65 years ago – in this popular wildlife preserve. On this 4.5 miles moderate trek amateur historian Clarence Motter will lead us to 10 military bunkers, the “Cabbage Patch” cemetery, and the strange structures known as the “Dragon’s Teeth.” This is a very popular Land Trust outing, so register early! Level: Moderate. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Canyon Creek/N Fork Yuba
Saturday, February 23rd: Join the Land Trust on this moderate (7 miles r/t) trek along the North Fork of the Yuba River to lovely Canyon Creek. Lead by California Naturalists Rick Ramos and Susan Sanford, we hope to see newts and lady beetles as well as emerging wildflowers. We’ll hike through infamous “Shenanigans Flat” as well as other mining sites to get to Canyon Creek (which holds almost as much water as N Fork Yuba). This will be an interesting and beautiful (trekking along the Yuba River – how could it not be?) outing – not to be missed! Hiking Level: Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details...
Naturalist Tracker Skills: Fox Walkers for Adults
Saturday, March 10th: Come experience a day in the life of a Fox Walker: see what‘s being done on the land at Burton Homestead, discover “the story of the day” as a spontaneous adventure in Tracking and Earth Skills through keen observation and nature awareness. Learn about building a fire and shelter. Practice the Art of Questioning. Explore nature with new eyes and senses. Rick Berry and Scott Woodland, trained by Tom Brown Jr., teach Earth Skills to kids through their 4EEE programs (www.4eee.org) and will lead us on our own intimate exploration of the natural world – an introduction into what it is like to be a “Fox Walker.” Level: Easy. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Black Swan Diggins
Saturday, March 16th: – Bear Yuba Land Trust recently acquired a portion of the Black Swan Diggin’s and Pond near Smartsville. This historic site offers us views of Deer Creek, the Yuba River, and open rolling oak woodlands, as well as relics from past mining operations. Join us as we explore this soon-to-be-developed-with-trails-for-public-access property with former owner Brian Bisnett. Level: Easy. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details...
Sutter Buttes: Shaeffer Ranch
Saturday, March 23rd: The Shaeffer Family will host us on this trek through their family’s holdings (the ranch has been in their family since 1860) on the north side of the Buttes. We have not been to area for quite some time, if ever. We’ll have views of North Butte, Peace Valley, and the old Titan Missile site. Sutter Buttes are the lone volcano in California’s Great Central Valley. More closely aligned with the Coastal Range, the “Smallest Mountain Range in the World” is a fascinating geological and ecological anomaly – if you haven’t hiked it yet, don’t miss this opportunity to explore them with the BYLT and the Middle Mountain Foundation. Level: Moderate to Difficult. Cost: $55 BYLT Members, $55 Not-Yet-Members (SORRY, NO TREKS PASSES). Details...
Table Mountain Wildflowers
Sunday, April 7th and Thursday, April 11th
Walk on the Wild Side: Chalk Bluff - Members Only!
Saturday, April 20th
Beekeeping with Randy Oliver
Sunday, April 21st
Bear Valley with Grayson Coney
Sunday, May 19th
NC Cemeteries and the HEW Building
Sunday, June 2nd: Clarence Motter & Dennis Cassella will introduce us to the final resting places of some of Nevada City’s most interesting citizens, as well as give us the history of the “infamous” HEW (Health, Education, and Welfare) building.
Garden Bar on the Bear River - POSTPONED due to high temps & fire danger
Saturday, June 8th: Jim Gates’ (Nevada County Free Range Beef) family has been in the cattle business in Nevada County since the late 1800’s. A natural raconteur and crusty character, he will lead us on a walk and talk through the beautiful Garden Bar Preserve. Jim’s description of the outing: “It’s wild country out there – you can’t be squeamish.”
Joining Jim will be Erin Tarr, Stewardship Program Manager for BYLT, talking about the Land Trust’s vision for this amazing 652 acres along the Bear River.
Level: Moderate. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Rome Powerhouse
Saturday, July 15th: Dale Johnson, former PG&E employee and amateur historian, will lead us to California’s first electricity generating powerhouse – right here on the South Fork Yuba River! Our tour involves a variety of stops that culminate at the site of the original powerhouse – the origins of Pacific Gas & Electric. Local history buffs, this trek is for you!
Level: Moderate. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Blue Lake - Annual John Skinner Memorial Trek
Sunday, July 28th: Join Treks Coordinator Melony Vance, on this very popular outing to Blue Lake and beyond, in the Grouse Ridge area. This trek has it all: vistas, historic mining ditch, petroglyphs, and swimming! This is our fourth annual trek in honor of John Skinner, a great outdoorsman and friend of BYLT. Level: Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Train Tunnels of Donner Summit
Sunday, August 4th: As you drive up Highway 80, do you wonder about the sheds and tunnels up on the summit? On this trek we will learn some of their fascinating history - why they were built and how they were constructed. We'll explore a tunnel and conjecture about the men who had to blast it out of solid granite. Sue Graf and Clarence Motter lead this popular tour which explores sites over and around old Hwy 40. Level: Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Colgate Powerhouse
Saturday, September 14th: Join the Land Trust on this historical tour which begins in Camptonville where we visit Lester Pelton's first functional water wheel. We then travel to the Colgate Powerhouse near Dobbins where we will see the largest Pelton-style waterwheel in the world - and 18 foot, single casting wheel! Our final destination will be to have lunch at the base of the 635-foot high Bullard's Bar Dam, which will include a short visit inside the base of the dam. We don't do this often, so don't miss it!
Draft Horse Classic: Behind the Scene
Friday, September 20th: The very special annual trek will once again be lead by Eleanor Roberts, a former teamster, who travels from Missouri to participate as one of the announcers for the performances. For many years Eleanor and her husband, Larry, had a beautiful Percheron hitch and exhibited at the Classic. Eleanor is a consummate horse woman and highly respected as a driver/teamster. She will lead us through the barns, introduce us to the different draft horse breeds and their owners – she’ll discuss harnessing, the equipment, what it takes to create a team of horses, etc. Eleanor is a delight and has a wealth of information that she will generously share with us. Limited to 24 participants. Level: Easy. Cost: $30 BYLT Members, $35 Not-Yet-Members.
Trini's Grove - the Aspen of the Basque sheepherders
Sunday, September 28th: The Aspen Groves in the High Sierra are known for their brilliant fall colors, but did you know about the amazing Basque tree carvings? Lonely sheepherders , in the 1930’s, left an interesting record of themselves carved into the bark of the trees. Come see them before they peel off and are lost forever.
Level: Easy-Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
Spenceville Full MoonWalk
Saturday, October 19th: Come out for an evening stroll as we watch the sun set and the moon rise over the open meadows and oak woodlands of Spenceville Wildlife Area, where we’ll see natural “tombstones” and listen for the call of the Western Screech Owl. We’ll hike in the dark with only the moonlight to show us the way. We’ll pack in our dinners (bring an extra something yummy to share with the group). This trek has filled up in the past, so register early. Level: Easy-Moderate. Cost: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members.
PAST TREKS -
Here is a sampling of some of the treks we took in late 2012...
Sutter Buttes
Saturday, November 3rd: Join BYLT as we partner up with the Middle Mountain Foundation for one of our most popular outings - only accessible in the Spring or Fall, and by special arrangement. We will be going off-trail as we climb up towards the top of the Buttes, where we'll have magnificent views from the "Smallest Mountain Range in the World" of the Central Valley and up towards the Sierra Nevada. Thought to have been the center of creation by native peoples, the Sutter Buttes have been a sacred place for over 10,000 years. Come feel the wonder, see the beauty, and experience for yourself the specialness of the “Middle Mountain.” Level: Moderate to Difficult. Cost: $55 BYLT Members, $55 Not-Yet-Members.
Historic Ditches of the South Yuba Canal Company
Saturday, September 29th: The SYCCo was the largest water company in California in the early mining days, with over 500 miles of ditches. This “car Trek” will start at the historic company’s office in downtown Nevada City and then visit its first reservoir—Manzanita. We will visit sections of six abandoned ditches and two still in operation after more than 150 years, including a visit to the “Mother of all ditches,”—the South Yuba Canal, which was completed in 1858, then the largest water project ever in California. Level: Easy. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details....
Historic Lakes of the South Yuba Canal Company
Saturday, September 8th: This “car Trek” will visit the earliest lakes created by the SYCCo. Hydraulic mining became an industrial enterprise in the mid-1850s and required a large and continuous supply of water. Local streams and creeks would go to low flow or dry up in the summer. The owners of the SYCCo were very visionary and capable of creating a year-round water supply. The company was formed in 1854 and carried out a two-part plan of building the “South Yuba Canal,” a large canal from what is now Lake Spaulding to the major mining areas. The second part was to create storage reservoirs at the higher elevations so that water could be delivered to the mines all year long, which are the lakes we’ll tour on this outing. Level: Easy. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details....
Downey Lakes
Sunday, August 26th: On this trek into the Grouse Ridge backcountry recreation area, with BYLT Treks Coordinator Melony Vance, we will hike around the many ponds and “lakelets” that surround Downey Lake. There will be time for photographs, admiring the views, and enjoying a leisurely lunch. Level: Easy-Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details....
Deer Creek Falls - Hike and Swim (for BYLT Members Only)
Sunday, August 19th: Escape the heat by spending an afternoon on Deer Creek playing in the falls and pools of this amazing spot, with hiking trails nearby, and a fabulous view of the Sutter Buttes. This event will be taking place on the private property of our hosts, Craig & Laura Rohrsen. These slick-rock falls are very unique, and we’ll have geologist David Lawler along to tell you why. Grayson Coney may also join us with his stories of the indigenous people who occupied this land. Limited to 20 participants. NOTE: Due to the slick nature, and steepness, of these rocks, no children please. Level: Moderate. Cost: $12 for BYLT Members. Details....
Train Tunnels and Highway 40 History with Sue Graf and Clarence Motter
Saturday, August 4th: History buffs this trek is for you! Sue Graf and Clarence Motter will take us back in time to the Big Four and the amazing feat of blasting the railroad through the Sierra Nevada. Learn how they did it, explore a tunnel, and travel a bit of old highway 40. We’ll also see some petroglyphs and the Chinese Wall. Hiking Level: Easy-Moderate. Suggested Donation: $12 BYLT Members, $17 Not-Yet-Members. Details....