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Rambler Hikes 2025 Page 3 |
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Rambler Hikes 2017 Rambler Hikes 2018 Rambler Hikes 2019 Rambler Hikes 2020 Rambler Hikes 2021 Rambler Hikes 2022 Rambler Hikes 2023 Rambler Hikes 2024 2025 Page 1 2025 Page 2 |
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Balsam Forebay Jeff Scroggins, an extraordinary bluegrass banjo player, made a CD called "Ramblin' Feels Good." On October 20, six young-at-heart senior citizens set out on a Sierra Nevada trail to test the validity of that claim - and at the end of our adventure, we agreed that we all felt good. This was the 137th Ramblers hike, and after more than ten years hiking we were delighted to welcome a new Rambler, Patrice White, who most of us worked with at the Department of Social Services. Also along on this outing were Sue Wirt, Don McClellan, Charlotte & Pat Tilkes, and me, Dick Estel. Our destination was Balsam Forebay, a part of the Southern California Edison hydroelectric project, about half way between Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake. It had snowed over a foot at Huntington about five days earlier, and there was still snow along (but not on) the entire trail. However, the weather was warm enough that a t-shirt and light sweatshirt were almost too much. |
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| Ramblers at lunch: Don, Dick, Pat, Charlotte, Patrice, Sue | Don, Patrice, Charlotte and Pat enjoying the snow-lined trail |
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The trail is a loop with only a few very moderate uphill sections, and the return half is a dirt road that provides access to the lake, but is closed to public traffic. The snow, the evergreens, and the granite rock formations along the way made this a very scenic and pleasant hike. We spent probably a half hour at the lake, sitting on some moderately comfortable rocks and discussing various important topics, none of which have stayed in my mind long enough to be part of this report. |
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| A nice patch of snow with dark evergeens beyond | This area had several dozen young pine trees |
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Sue has some mobility issues and chose to wait at the trailhead, sitting in her chair and reading, and moving between sun and shade and enjoying amazingly nice temperatures at this 6,600 foot elevation. Although our hike was just a little over a mile, the effort and the fresh air gave us a good appetite. When we're in this part of the mountains, we usually eat at a restaurant in Prather, about 35 miles from our starting point in Clovis. This time we chose the Pizza Factory, a chain with outlets in many small towns throughout California, featuring not only excellent pizza, but delicious sub sandwiches. |
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| Sue on guard at the trailhead | Only a very few leaves on this black oak have begun to turn |
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We felt fortunate to be able to hike at a fairly high elevation in October, and hope our luck continues for our November outing, which will also take us over 6,000 feet (of course, we have a Plan B if needed). --Dick Estel, October 2025 |
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| Photos (Click to enlarge; pictures open in new window) | ||
| Balsam Forebay | ||
| Balsam Forebay | ||
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| The dam and the forebay | The rocky shoreline | Snow against greenleaf manzanita |
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| Young black oak near the trailhead | Last summer's flowers | Rock outcrop across the highway |
| Related Links | ||
| Google Search Links | Balsam Forebay | More Photos & Info |
| Black Oaks | Mid-October Snow Storm | |