Frog Camp 2008
  
Photos          Related Links          More Travel Reports
  

March 18, 2008: It’s Easter Vacation time, and while every day is vacation for me, it’s a special time for kids. Each year since 2003, my grandson Mikie and I have gone camping at Kirch Flat Campground, just above the upper end of Pine Flat Reservoir on the Kings River.

This year we’re joined by his best buddy from the Junior Falcons hockey team, Griffin Flores. My daughter told me with two friends to entertain each other, they would leave me alone and I could get lots of reading done. Ha!

Both boys are crazy for hockey, so we brought along a net, sticks, roller hockey balls, and roller blades. Since they are both big scorers on the team, they need a goalie to shoot against. Guess who gets drafted? Of course, I limit the amount of time I play, since arthritis in my lower back results in pain after a short time. But I’ve put in at least an hour total in two days, while they have probably played a total of five hours or more.

The reason it says Frog Pond at the top is that right next to our favorite camp site there is a slow-moving branch of the river that is favored by frogs. Mikie has caught several each year, and is allowed to take one home. Unfortunately, Easter is early this year, and it is apparently too early for the huge mass of frogs we usually hear (they don’t care that it’s Easter; it’s still winter to them). The boys did see one frog up by the camp, which they caught, then released, assuming there would be plenty more later.

Luck is with us however – the boys discovered a new animal to collect, salamanders. Crossing the main road that goes along the lake is a small creek that my older grandson and I named Salamander Creek, because we once saw at least 15 of the small orange creatures in the water and up on the nearby hillside. Mikie and I have walked in there in previous years, but he doesn’t remember seeing salamanders.

On our way up we parked at a wide spot just before the creek, and walked up the short trail, then down to the creek. We immediately saw a salamander, which Mikie caught. He had firm instructions that salamanders were “catch and release” only, so we left it there and continued on our way. However, when we learned last night that we were probably not going to catch frogs, he immediately began lobbying to take home a salamander.

We don’t have cell phone coverage, so we could not call and get approval, but we decided that he could catch one, call when we get to the top of the hill where there is coverage, and if the answer is a firm “no,” the creature would be released in Salamander Creek, which is on our way home.

Yesterday afternoon we drove to another nearby creek, and discovered that it was the true Salamander Creek. We immediately saw three or four, and eventually Mikie and Griffin caught and released six, and saw another six or more. We decided that this was Big Salamander Creek, and the original was now Little Salamander Creek.

Today, after breakfast, chores and an hour or so of hockey were done, we drove up the road to the east. A short way from the camp the road crosses the river, then a mile or so farther it crosses back and continues on to Balch Camp, a PG & E outpost. At the second crossing, dirt roads go up both sides of the river. We drove up the south side to Mill Flat Creek Campground, but this large stream had no visible salamanders.

We then went back to the pavement and up to the north side, until we came to a small creek. This turned out to be Baby Salamander Creek, and Mikie immediately caught a small one. Griffin soon followed with a larger one. We put them in a plastic ice cream bucket with air holes that we had prepared for the frogs, but the bigger salamander began showing obvious signs of stress, moving all around the bucket and trying the get out. We released him, but kept the other one, who seemed a lot mellower. Now it will be up to Mikie and his mom to find out what salamanders eat and how to take care of them. They are experienced reptile and amphibian keepers, and have an expert on call at the Reptile House, so we will see what happens.

After this project was completed, we drove further up the north side road, to a nice walking spot I had found last year. We made a loop hike up a hill, around and down an old road. The boys began turning over rocks looking for bugs, and their first discovery was a centipede. Most rocks proved disappointing, until Griffin turned over one that had an unexpected creature under it – a small gopher snake. After making sure it was not a rattler, we caught it and looked at it for a minute, then let it go. Further rocks proved to be uninhabited. However, during this trip the boys saw and got to touch a salamander, a frog, a snake, a caterpillar, a ladybug, and some worms. If this doesn’t sound like fun to you, you are probably not a 10-year-old boy.

Now they are down at the pond, looking under rocks in the water, finding worms, and no doubt getting their pants wet. Thankfully they don’t need my help with that, and I can read, relax, and start this report.

For me one of the great things about this area is the early spring greenery and flowers. There are lots of flowers out, and sections of some of the hills are so thick with poppies, it looks like someone dumped orange paint there. Many of the trees are leafing out, although not as much as usual due to the early date of Easter. We also see lots of birds, mostly small ones, but also quite a few red tail hawks.

March 20: Tuesday night’s pond excursion provide a little more productive than the first night – the boys caught one frog, which they released because the deal was frog or salamander, your choice. They also caught another salamander in the pond, where we’ve never seen them before. This one will be Griffin’s, pending parental approval.

We left camp around noon yesterday, and made a stop at Sycamore Creek, a fairly large creek that runs into the lake several miles downstream from where we camped. Here we saw, caught, and released one final salamander.

We had already made the phone call to my daughter and obtained approval to bring home a salamander, with a further agreement to take both of them if Griffin’s parents balked.

Once home, the boys continued their hockey activities until the arrival of my daughter, Teri, and Griffin’s mother, Leslie and sister, Hannah. Leslie was a bit squeamish about taking in the creature, stating that she liked “normal” furry pets, but Hannah went to bat on her brother’s behalf, and both boys each left with a salamander in a bucket, and an assignment to research their care and feeding on the Internet.

April 16 Update: Both salamanders are doing well, happily dining on crickets, the same food Mikie has been buying for years for his lizards, toads, frogs, and tarantulas.

--Dick Estel, March 2008

  

Photos
(Pictures open in a new window)

California poppies turn the hillsides orange
 
Poppies close up Shooting Star Bush Lupine
 
Griffin Flores & Mikie Liddle Searching for salamanders A successful catch!
 
Ready for a trip to Fresno Roller hockey at camp Wading in the Frog Pond
  

Related Links

Pine Flat Reservoir Kirch Flat Campground Street Hockey Rules
All About Frogs Salamanders Foothill Wild Flowers
 

 
Travel Reports
   
Before 2002     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012

2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023     2024     2025     Other

   
Before 2002
Early Trips Later Trips
Camping Trips Backpacking Trips
Early Stargazer Rock Camps 1961 Monterey Jazz Festival
Bluegrass Odyssey
   
Multi-Year Compilations
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
   
2002
Journey of 2002 (Ohio & Back) Logandale & Utah Parks 2002
   
2003
Arizona & Bluegrass on the River 2003 Grand Canyon & Logandale Bluegrass 2003
Parkfield & Huck Finn 2003 Early Frog Camps (2003-2005)
   
2004
Paso Robles & Parkfield 2004 Road Trip 2004 (Ohio & Back)
Bullhead City Bluegrass, Mesa, Superstition Bluegrass 2004 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2004
   
2005
Arizona-Southern California 2005 Huck Finn Bluegrass 2005
Morro Bay 2005 Stargazer Rock Camp 2005
Parkfield Bluegrass 2005    
   
2006
Huck Finn Bluegrass 2006 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2006
Rock Creek Non-Camp Stargazer Rock Camp 2006
Parkfield Bluegrass 2006 Oregon 2006
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2006    
   
2007
Bullhead City, Bakersfield, Joshua Tree 2007 Frog Camp 2007
Eastern Sierra Journey 2007 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2007
Stargazer Rock Camp 2007 Roundup #1
(Mother Lode; Kings Canyon, Yosemite)
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2007    
   
2008
Nevada-Arizona Hockey & Bluegrass 2008 Parkfield Bluegrass 2008
Frog Camp 2008 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2008
Stargazer Rock Camp 2008 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2008
Hobbs Grove Festival 2008     
   
2009
Roundup 2009
Las Vegas, Mariposa, Table Mountain, Orange County
Frog Camp 2009 Southern Journey 2009
Parkfield Bluegrass 2009 Stargazer Rock Camp 2009
Bluegrass Tour 2009
Brown Barn, Plymouth, Hobbs Grove
Hensley Lake Camp
   
2010
Mojave National Preserve & Havasu Bluegrass Roundup 2010
Hensley Reservoir, Mojave Preserve 2 & 3
Parkfield Bluegrass 2010 Lake Almanor & Mt. Lassen 2010
Las Vegas Expo Summergrass
   Brown Barn, Watsonville & Hobbs Grove
   
2011
Roundup 2011
Mariposa, Hensley, Table Mountain
Frog Camp 2011
Parkfield Bluegrass 2011 Frank, Pat, Dick & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Northern Coast Journey 2011 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2011
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Chilkoot & Stargazer Rock Camp
Kings River & Brown Barn Bluegrass Festivals Hensley Camp 2011
    
2012 
Parkfield Bluegrass 2012 Four Squaw Leap Hikes
Northern Coast Journey 2012 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2012
Stargazer Rock Camp 2012 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2012
A 3-Event Weekend
Farmer's Market, Kings River Bluegrass, Antique Fair
2012 Las Vegas CAN AM Hockey Challenge
Fall Hikes
Finegold Trail; Bower Cave
Into Los Gatos Canyon
  
2013
Silver Stick Tournament - Canada Sierra Foothills - Winter 2013
Finegold Trailhead, Hensley Lake, San Joaquin Gorge
Death Valley - Alabama Hills - Whitney Portal Sierra Foothills - Spring 2013
San Joaquin Gorge Hike, Big Creek Drive
Parkfield Bluegrass 2013 Shaver Crossing Station & Big Creek
Lake Almanor & Caribou Crossroads Mono Hot Springs
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival A Wedding in Duluth
Sequoia Park Hiking Roundup 2013
Kings River Bluegrass, Buena Vista Peak Hike, Hensley Lake Camp, North Fork Mono Museum, White Rock Road, Hockey in Denver
     
2014
2014 Winter Hikes
Millerton South Bay Trail, Clovis Trail, Hite's Cove Trail
San Joaquin Gorge Campout
Colorado Springs Hockey Tournament Lake Havasu Bluegrass
2014 Spring Hikes
Stockton Creek Preserve, San Joaquin River Trail, San Joaquin Gorge, Millerton Lake, Sycamore Creek, Buena Vista Peak Again
NORCAL Hockey Playoffs and Santa Cruz Visit
Greeley Hill Road Trip Parkfield Bluegrass 2014
Journey of 2014 Journey of 2014 Photos
Nelder Grove Hikes 2014 Sentinel Dome Hike
2014 Fall & Winter Hikes
San Joaquin River Trail South & North, Red Rock Canyon Nevada, San Joaquin South Again
California Flat Campout
Snow Day with the  Upshaw's   
 
2015
Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 2
Adventures of 2015 - February to May
(Goofy Smith Flat, Coast Redwoods & Big Sur, Pine Flat, Finegold Trail, Edison Point Trail, Nelder Grove)
Adventures of 2015 - June to December
(Lewis Creek Trail, Kaiser Pass, Kaiser Pass Again, Taft Point, Kings River Bluegrass, Shaver Logging Road, San Joaquin River Trail, Lewis S Eaton Trail, San Joaquin River Gorge, Thanksgiving at the Gorge)
Lake Tahoe & Virginia City Parkfield Bluegrass 2015
Colorado Springs Cousin Convention 2015 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2015
Stargazer Rock Camp 2015 Grand Canyon & Arches National Parks
  
2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 1
Adventures of 2016 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 2
Adventures of 2016 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 3
Adventures of 2016 Part 4 A Pennsylvania Adventure
Adventures of 2016 Part 5 Parkfield Bluegrass 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 6 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 7 Stargazer Rock Camp 2016
     
2017
Adventures of 2017 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 1
Adventures of 2017 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 2
Adventures of 2017 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 3
Adventures of 2017 Part 4 Hiking and Hockey
Adventures of 2017 Part 5 Lake Almanor
Adventures of 2017 Part 6 Northern California Redwood Hike
Parkfield Bluegrass 2017 Stargazer Rock Camp 2017
Travel Blog 2017 (an experiment) Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
  
2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 1
Adventures of 2018 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 2
Adventures of 2018 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 3
Adventures of 2018 Part 4 Parkfield Bluegrass 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 5 Northern California Journey 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 6
  
2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 1
Adventures of 2019 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 2
Utah National Parks Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 3
Adventures of 2019 Part 3 Parkfield Bluegrass 2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 4 Adventures of 2019 Part 5
   
2020
Adventures of 2020 Part 1 Adventures of 2020 Part 5
Adventures of 2020 Part 2 Adventures of 2020 Part 6
Adventures of 2020 Part 3 Adventures of 2020 Part 7
Adventures of 2020 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2020 Page 1
  
2021
Adventures of 2021 Part 1 Adventures of 2021 Part 5
Adventures of 2021 Part 2
Adventures of 2021 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 1
Adventures of 2021 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 2
 
2022
Adventures of 2022 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 1
Adventures of 2022 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 2
Adventures of 2022 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 3
Adventures of 2022 Part 4 Utah Parks
  
2023
Adventures of 2023 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 1
Adventures of 2023 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 2
Dinosaur National Monument Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 3
Adventures of 2023 Page 3 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 4
  
2024
Adventures of 2024 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 1
Adventures of 2024 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 2
Mendocino Coast Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 3
Southwestern Journey
  
2025
Adventures of 2025 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2025 Page 1
  
Other
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
Butch's Blog Walker Family Trips
Parkfield Earthquake Kim & Morgan Brown Trips & Photos
Travel Report Menu Estel Home Page
Photo Albums Slide Shows
Laurie Lewis' High Sierra Hikes Email
     
 

Updated September 14, 2020