Whiskeytown

Northern California is a treasure trove of beautiful lakes, rivers and mountain vistas, and the Whiskeytown area is certainly no exception.  Whiskeytown Lake was formed by the damming of Clear Creek, completed in 1963, and is also fed by the Trinity River via Lewiston Lake.  Whiskeytown Recreational Area   The dam was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy in September 1963, only two months before his assassination in November that year.  The lake is surrounded by walking trails, and there are four waterfalls with relatively easy access in the surrounding areas.  I recently participated in a free kayak tour that the Ranger District offers during the summer months, and subsequently made the decision to buy a kayak of my own.  During the tour, our guide told us that Whiskeytown Lake is home to four pair of nesting eagles, as well as numerous Osprey.  I was fortunate to spot one of the eagle nests when kayaking with Wilma and Donnie out of the Oak Bottom area. 

                                                                                  

The "Glory Hole" allows for water to drain from the Lake when levels reach capacity. 

The road over the top of the dam takes you to Brandy Creek, a popular recreation beach, and access to camping, hiking trails, and the Brandy Creek Falls. 








My friend Mike recently treated me to a drive on the southwest side of the Lake, via the Carr Powerhouse Road and south on South Shore Drive.  Though the road name sounds like a resort, this is a trip best taken in a four-wheel drive vehicle, as you climb a steep, winding dirt road to an amazing overlook of the Lake and surrounding mountains. 

A view of the channel from above the Carr Powerhouse looking south.

Along the way, we made a stop at Boulder Creek, a beautiful little creek with a park-like setting.

Boulder Creek

Continuing south, we took in amazing views of the Lake, including the Oak Bottom Beach and Marina.
 

Oak Bottom Beach and Marina

Highway 299 is visible on the other side of the Lake

The road we followed eventually took us back down the mountain, past Dry Creek Campground, and into the Brandy Creek area. 

This pedestrian bridge crosses Brandy Creek, and links with a trail that leads back to the Dry Creek Campground. 

Brandy Creek

Our initial "plan" for the day was to head back toward Redding from Brandy Creek, but we made a spontaneous decision that (since we were so close), we would just take a drive up and do the "short" hike up to the Brandy Creek Falls.  We followed Brandy Creek Road for about 3.5 miles to the start of the Trail up to the Falls.  This is a moderately steep 1.5 mile hike to the upper falls, but it's well worth the effort.

Trail to the Falls

Lower Brandy Creek Falls

While this wasn't the most difficult hike either of us had done by any means, it was late in the day by the time we started out, and I think we were both relieved to see that we were almost to our destination at this point.

As we made our way closer to the upper falls, the trail gave way to the terrain, and we made use of the hand rails placed along the side of the creek to help us on our way.

This bridge crosses the creek just below the upper falls, and offers some great views of the creek and pools below.

The stairway seen at the left of the picture is the last one in place before you reach the pool at the bottom of the upper falls. 

 

What a treat when you arrive!

Brandy Creek Upper Falls

We were determined to cross over the pool below the falls in order to sit on the boulders at the edge of the pool, but to do so, we had to cross the creek and climb a bit of a rock wall.  Mike was brave and jumped across on the rocks, but I chose to remove my shoes and wade through.  The water was cold, but really refreshing after our hike up, and we stayed for a while for some rest and photos to prove that we actually were there!

Just a side note, this is a view of the Falls in August following a severe drought,  It takes some imagination to picture how they would appear in the early Spring after a healthy winter of rain and snow. 



We were tired after our hike, but not quite ready to call it a day, so Mike took a right turn after crossing over the dam, and we headed down to the Whiskeytown Cemetery.  Don't know if I can really describe our initial reactions as we approached the entrance to the Cemetery.  I think we were both a bit speechless at first, and that is highly unusual for either of us.  To say that this is a unique cemetery really falls short of describing what we saw there.  A short history:  the cemetery was originally located where Whiskeytown Lake is now, and the existing graves were moved in 1960 prior to the building of the dam.  The cemetery continues to be a gravesite of choice for many, as the majority of the burials have taken place since the cemetery was relocated.

There was just no end to the zany decorations that have been chosen by family members and friends to recognize and remember their loved ones interred here.

Yes, that really is a gas tank  from a motorcycle, filled with plastic flowers!

 

This was a great end to a really wonderful day, and though we had some laughs about what we saw at the Cemetery, I always appreciate when people chose to follow their own path rather than simply sticking to the traditional, and sometimes boring, ways of doing whatever it is we do.

I found this post about the Cemetery, and loved the video the author included.  It seemed so appropriate!  One man's interpretation of the Whiskeytown Cemetery experience







There will be additions to this post, as there are more waterfalls to climb to and more backroads around the Whiskeytown area to explore.....stay tuned!

North Idaho

North Idaho  holds a special place in my heart, as I spent 31 years living there from 1976 until 2007, when I relocated to Oregon.  I moved to Idaho with my first husband, Randy, to the small town of Clark Fork.  We purchased 5 acres of land outside of town, and lived in tents while we built a log cabin.  After his death in 1979, I remarried and raised my two  children, first in Clark Fork and later in Coeur d'Alene.  I eventually pursued a career with Kootenai County, and worked there for 20 years until 2007.  My children still live in Idaho, so I visit there frequently. 

 

Post Falls was our home for the first 12 years, and the Spokane River was just blocks away from our house.  Post Falls was named after Frederick Post, who established a lumber mill in the area.  You can still see remnants of the mill along the River at the Washington Water Power Dam and hydroelectric system.                                                                 

Spokane River Dam at Post Falls
 

High Bridge designed by Washington Water Power Co in 1929.  Provides access to the island for maintenance and operation of the Post Falls Hydroelectric Development

Corbin Ditch Headgate
 

The Corbin Ditch Headgate and Spokane Valley Irrigation Canal provided water to the Spokane agricultural area from the Spokane River, and the portion of the Canal in Falls Park was listed to the National Historic Register in 2003.

One of the most beautiful scenes I have found in North Idaho is the overlook at Bayview on Lake Pend Oreille, located at the north end of Farragut State Park.  Pend Oreille is the largest and deepest lake in Idaho, and is the home of the Farragut Naval Training Center.  The population of base was 55,000 at it's peak, making it the largest city in Idaho at that time.  

 

 

View of Lake Pend Oreille as you enter the town of Bayview

Bayview is a unique and quiet little town, with not much happening aside from activities associated with Farragut Park and the lake.  There are a number of float homes moored at the edge of town, and some were at one point "grandfathered" so that they will always be able to stay in place.  Some very picturesque and look like they would be great fun to stay in. 


 

I will never forget the first Fall season that I spent in Idaho, noticing the orange trees that began to show in the mountains around Clark Fork.  I learned that they were Tamarack trees, which are of the larch species, and one of the few conifers to turn color lose it's leaves in the Fall.  The result is a beautiful tapestry in the surrounding hillsides. 

Yosemite May 2011

My sister Wilma and I took this trip in 2011, which proved to be an exceptional year for the waterfalls in the Park.  The previous winter had provided an abundance of rain and snow, which meant that visitors to the Park were treated to a display of full cascading waterfalls.  I deemed this our "Thelma and Louise" adventure, although neither of us were trying to escape bad relationships and the trip certainly didn't have a tragic ending.  We entered the park at the north entrance on Highway 120 and continued south to Yosemite Valley, where the greatest concentration of visitors and facilities are found in the Park.

Wilma (Louise) at the Swinging Bridge

Yosemite Falls from the boulevard

Yosemite Falls from a distance

Sheryl at the foot of Yosemite Falls (getting wet!)

Lower Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls viewed across the Merced River

 From the Yosemite Village area, we followed the Wawona Road through the Valley and south to our lodgings.  Along the way, we were treated with some magnificent views of the valley.

The Merced River winds through Yosemite Valley.  Bridalveil Falls in the background.

El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls

Sheryl (Thelma) at Tunnel Vision, a viewpoint on the Wawona Highway overlooking Yosemite Valley.  El Capitan is to the left, with Half Dome and Bridalveil Falls in the distance.

 

We stayed at the south end of the Park in the Wawona Hotel.  This Victorian structure was built in 1878 after the original building was destroyed in a fire, and is a National Historic Landmark.  The guest room we stayed in consists of a bed and dresser.  Guests go from their rooms to an outside landing and a short walk to the bathrooms and shower area.  We had a very nice dinner one evening in the hotel's restaurant.

 

 

Wawona Hotel

 The site of the Wawona was initially the location of Clarks Station, established by Galen Clark in 1855.  Clark built a number of buildings, including a general store, sawmill and blacksmith shop, with the intent to provide services and provisions to visitors to the Park.  Many of the original buildings still exist on the original site, just north of the present-day Wawona. 

Chuck Wagon

Two-wheel China Cart



Re-enactment of Clarks Station activities in the 1800's

From our lodging, we spent several days exploring the various parts of the Park.  The Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoias to the south of the Wawona was a great experience.  Some of the trees in this grove are estimated to be over 3,000 years old.  We spent a couple of hours walking through the grove.

The "clothespin tree"

The California tunnel tree

The Sequoias are huge!

We left the park at the south end via Highway 41 and on home via Modesto and north on I-5. 

Yosemite is a magical place that everyone should visit at some point.  Even after spending a few days there, I am still in awe every time I revisit through the pictures I have of our trip.  The adventure was made even more special because I was able to share it with my dear sister, Wilma, who enjoyed and appreciated it as much as I did.