Are You That Woman

California waterfalls

The adjectives:  awe-inspiring; breathtaking; spectacular; mesmerizing.  The verbs:  plunging; plummeting; crashing.  The metaphors:  like a thundering curtain or the roar of a hurricane; or like the sound of  bells or murmuring voices. 

Waterfalls. They are mystical and magical. Their size and strength are often times terrifying; their beauty: tranquilizing and hypnotic.  Who hasn't dreamed of showering in their chilling spray or swimming in an emerald pool; or longed to track the water's ancient origins in search of a quiet resting place?  In California, there are memorable waterfalls to match any you have imagined.

Abundant winter rains and a melting snow pack have California waterfalls exploding with water. Springtime is generally the best time to view these natural wonders as many  falls dry-up in the summer heat due to decreased water flows. But during the right winters, waterfalls come crashing back to life. The Native Americans called them "laughing waters."  This year, California waterfalls are giggling, chortling, screaming, and lifting their voices in tumultuous laughter. 

In Siskiyou County McCloud Falls (upper, middle and lower) are 5.9 miles east of the town of McCloud and can be reached by following the signs to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Fowlers Campground located on the Uppler McCloud River.  The three falls are within two miles of each other and Upper McCloud Falls is accessible by car.  There is fishing and a natural swimming hole on Hwy. 89. Near Mount Shasta city, Ney Springs Canyon Trail and Faery Falls are easily accessed. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Faery Falls passes through the 19th-century ruins of Ney Springs Resort. Located near Dunsmuir are Hedge Creek Falls and Mossbrae Falls. Hedge Creek is well marked and has a picnic area near the base of the falls. The trail leads visitors beneath the falls and, a short distance away, to views of the Sacramento River. Mossbrae is fed by melting water from the glaciers on Mount Shasta. Considered one of the most scenic waterfalls in California, hiking to the falls is trespassing with fines as much as $300. 

Burney Falls, once called "the eighth wonder of the world" by Teddy Roosevelt, is fed by spring flows of  200 million gallons daily.  Much of the water from these underground streams actually spouts from the rock.  The divided falls rumble down a 129-foot cliff into an emerald pool before flowing into Lake Britton.  Trails that almost anyone can manage lead down to the pool on both sides.  For the best view, hike the 1/2-mile trail that traverses the hillside.  You can cross the top of the falls most of the year, but waters run heaviest in the Spring.  McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is located mid-way between Lassen National Volcanic Park and Mt. Shasta.

Approximately 41 miles east of Redding, Potem Creek Falls empties into the Pit River.  A gentle, winding trail makes the falls accessible to hikers. 

Located 25 miles east of Oroville in Butte County, the Feather Falls National Recreation Trail will lead you to 640-feet high Feather Falls.  The trail, located within the 15,000-acre Feather Falls Scenic Area, winds through the foothills 3.8 miles to Feather Falls.  Water flows at Feather Falls are heaviest during the spring months.  

Yosemite Falls, the tallest falls in North America (and fifth tallest in the world), drops 2,425 feet to the valley floor.  The Upper Fall plunges 1,430, feet, connecting with the 320-foot  Lower Fall by a 675-foot cascade.  Follow a 3.6-mile trail, which includes a 270-foot gain in elevation, to reach the top of Yosemite Falls.  Start at Lower Yosemite Falls for a 1/2- day hike with excellent views of Half Dome.  The best views are about two thirds of the way up, so don't feel as if you're missing out if you don't make it to the top.  Impressive views of the falls are seen on the path to the base.

The Merced River flows from the snow fields in the Sierra Nevada, spills over the 594-foot Nevada Falls and then plummets another 317 feet over Vernal Falls.  Known as The Mist Trail, the hike starts uphill through the mist sprayed by Vernal Falls.  When the light is right, hikers are rewarded with rainbows in the mist of Vernal Falls.  The climb to the top of Nevada Falls is difficult; the last 900 feet of elevation gain are up steep polished granite.  The half-day round-trip up the falls is 3.4 miles one way.

Yosemite Indians called the 620-foot  Bridalveil Fall, Pohono, or "spirit of the puffing winds."  Strong winds often lift the thundering water and blow it sideways.  Bridalveil is visible from the road, but an easy 10-minute walk will take you to its foaming base.

On a strenuous 9-1/2 mile walk from the Tuolumne Meadows area, you can view the exuberant Tuolumne Falls.  Other falls such as the spectacular Waterwheel Falls, are a short distance beyond, near Glen Aulin Camp in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

Other lesser known falls include:  Cascade Falls, Chilnualna Cascades,  Wapama and Tueeulala Falls.  After the winter snow melt, Yosemite is easily accessible by Hwy. 120 and 140 from the west and Hwy. 120 from the east (Mono Lake Area). 

Just five miles from the south entrance to Yosemite, along the 3.7-mile Lewis Creek Recreational Trail, lies a hidden treasure -- Corlieu Falls.  The trail follows the route of the historical Madera Sugar Pine lumber flume past the 80-foot waterfall, and the smaller Red Rock Falls.  With  no signs to publicize their existence, Corlieu Falls can be enjoyed in a kind of quiet solitude not possible at some of the better known falls. For additional information, contact: Yosemite Experience.

On the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada is Rainbow Falls, located in the Inyo National Forest south of Devils Postpile National Monument.  Along a 1.3-mile trail the San Joaquin River plunges 101 feet over volcanic rock into a box canyon.  Multi-colored rainbows are clearly visible in the mist of the mighty falls.  Devils Postpile is a brief walk from parking lots and shuttle stops.  The trail to Rainbow Falls is a short 1-1/4-mile hike from Devils Postpile.

Drive around the Mammoth Lakes Basin -- Lake Mary, Twin Lakes, Mamie, George and Horseshoe (there is no Mammoth Lake).  Spilling down from Lake Mamie west of the town of Mammoth Lakes is Twin Falls, which cascades 300-feet along a granite bed into Twin Lakes.  It can be viewed from the overview at Twin Lakes.  For additional information, contact:  Visit Mammoth.

The diminutive Indian Falls in the Plumas National Forest is just 20 feet high, but creates a dramatic affect falling on Indian Creek. Large sun-bathed rocks, swimming holes, and sandy shores beckon. The 0.5-mile round-trip hike is easy but can be icy in winter months. Well-placed interpretive panels provide insight into the lives of the Maidu tribes who inhabited the region. Ten miles west of Quincy, the falls are two miles north of the intersection of Highways 70 and 89. 

The Bay Area has been blessed with a number of beautiful water falls.  At a height of 70 feet, Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, may be the Bay Area's most impressive waterfall.  A fairly comfortable hike, take the Skyline to the Sea Trail to the falls and back for an 8-mile round-trip. 

Twenty-five miles from Foresthill in Placer County is Grouse Falls, one of California's most scenic waterfalls.  Cascading down several hundred feet, the falls are hidden at the head of an isolated box canyon.  The falls were largely inaccessible until 1992, when a trail constructed to a deck perched along the canyon wall allowed the falls to be seen.  The trail is an easy, 1/3-mile walk.  The best time for viewing the falls is in the spring when water flows are high. 

Truly an oasis in the desert is Darwin Falls, with its sparkling stream and year-round 30-foot cascading waterfalls.  Just off Hwy. 190, leading into Death Valley National Park it's an easy half-mile hike to lower Darwin Falls.  Another short hike ends at the rushing waters of the upper falls. In sharp contrast to this water wonderland is Fossil Falls, located 45-minutes north of Ridgecrest.  The trail is a short 1-1/2 mile, round-trip hike and leads to a sculptured and polished 40-foot dry waterfall.  Black lava cliffs were smoothed and shaped over thousands of years by the now-dry Owens River.  The graded dirt access road to Fossil Falls is accessible with a two-wheel drive vehicle. 

If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

Snow

Snow is falling down,
Covering all the ground.
It covers the earth like
  a tiny white mouse,
Touching everything,  
  roof and house.
Do you like snow 
  in the face?
Sure, I like it anyplace.

Barbara S.
January 30, 1966
Grade 4
Room 214

 

 

A short story: People often ask me how I came to be a writer. The fact is, I've been writing my entire life. Mostly poetry when I was younger, but also journals. Keeping every little piece of lined notebook paper and pencil- and pen-written to paper napkins and place mats from restaurants where I often spent time writing. My Tin Box of Poetry & Prose which contains so many things from my childhood and teen years, is witness to this truth. This prized possession from 1966 - 4th grade at Little Run Elementary, Fairfax, Virginia - clearly speaks to my love of snow and the photo taken in the Eastern Sierra circa 2006, 40 years later. Either my mother or I - or both - believed this early attempt at rhyme was something to be saved. So very glad!

Social distancing in Lassen National Forest

Another day of isolation and lock-down during Covid-19, Hardly! We have been so blessed to live in rural Butte County. Close to back roads and beautiful escapes. Heading north from Chico on Highway 32, we are quickly above the valley floor surrounded by forests. Some burn areas are being logged, but in other places we look out into deep canyons and over tree-lined ridge tops. More than once we pull over to allow others to pass. They are driving at breakneck speeds to get - well, to get somewhere. We are in no hurry and happy to be a speck in their rearview mirrors.

Locating the perfect stream-side picnic spot requires diligence. And, in these days of social distancing, passing more than one possibility because others beat us to the finish line.

Perseverance pays off and we find our oasis in Tehama County's Lassen National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service's Elam Campground is gated and all amenities are locked. Other vehicles parked outside and occupants proceeded onto trails. We parked in a roadside lot and followed a short trail outside of the campground to our alfresco lunch spot along Elam Creek.

Flashes of black as Raven swooping above and beyond greets us graciously - the welcome mat is out! The gentle flow of water riffling just above our vantage point. A giant bumblebee falls headfirst into our basket exploring the contents. Perhaps the smell of fresh apple and pistachio butter was too much to resist. We delight in the butterflies dancing on the sand and a breeze so delicious and sweet imagining the bumblebee was tasting that too.

Feet at rest on a river rock ottoman. The heart and rhythm of the planet beating around us. Wild lilacs. Forget-me-nots. Surely, we won't.

Crab Outpost

Distant from where land meets sea,
Human trappings seem faraway.
Restless thoughts keep sleep at bay,
Rise! Watch! Hear the break of day.
In predawn light a masked invader, indeed,
Uncovers a treasure trove of oiled seed.
Lid unlocked for this morning graze,
Is undisturbed by human gaze.
Cardinals he, cardinals she,
Mourning doves and chickadees.
All have come to play a part,
A serenade of Dawn's symphony.
Three decades here brought lasting rest,
On a hillside blessed by Nature's hosts.
Witnessed the seasons migrating through,
An island peace on the greenest coasts.
You can never tire of deer at play,
The hummingbirds hum, a distant cow moans.
Rise-up. Rejoice. Greet the day!
In shrouded mist, this Blue Ridge home.

Barbara L. Steinberg
Bluemont, Virginia
June 24, 2007
Back story: This was about my brother's home in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the small village of Bluemont - once known as Snickersville. More than once we sat around the kitchen table elbows deep in our favorite hard shelled blue crab. And so, the mountain retreat came to be called the Crab Outpost. 

Sharing a ray of hope from Mono Lake Commitee Executive Director

Dear Mono Lake friends,

I'm writing to you from my desk at home, and due to the COVID-19 virus it's likely you are reading this at home too.

I'd like to provide three important updates from the Mono Lake Committee.

First, we are doing our part to flatten the curve and following all state and local orders. We have suspended our public programs, closed the Information Center & Bookstore, and canceled our field education programs through April.

Second, I am proud to say that thanks to strong member support we are keeping all of our staff employed at this challenging time. We are all working from home, learning new tools for digital connectivity, and continuing the essential work of the Committee. For example, water exports are underway today in the Los Angeles Aqueduct and we know you count on us to make sure that the export rules are followed so that Mono Lake and its tributary streams stay protected.

Lastly, we are making extra efforts to share Mono Lake, the arriving birds, springtime flowers, and scenic views with all of you. We are fortunate to be sheltering in this remarkable place where the ancient rhythms of life continue in plain sight. When Committee staff are safely and appropriately outside, we will capture experiences to share with you through a new series of online Mono Lake Moments. A snowy boardwalk visit is already available with new live and recorded events happening every Wednesday and Friday at 2:00pm PDT.

This crisis is urgent. This is a time to support each other and nurture our communities. It challenges us to come together and sheds new light on our core values—indeed they are more meaningful than ever. Stay well, and thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey McQuilkin
Executive Director

Nation's 40th National Park celebrates 40 years

From the National Park Service:

Forty years ago, on March 5, 1980, Channel Islands National Park was established by Congress as our nation’s 40^th national park. This act expanded the former national monument to include five islands— Santa Barbara, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands and the waters within one nautical mile of each island.

Critically important to the biological diversity of southern California, these islands and their encircling waters are home to thousands of species of plants and animal—nearly 150 of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley will deliver two lectures on the state of the park and future management actions on Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 pm and on Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 pm.

The public is invited to celebrate the park’s 40^th anniversary at an event on March 7, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center. The free event features scientific lectures, Chumash storytelling, film showings, kids crafts and interactive programs, dock tours, and a native plant sale.

The event starts at 9:00 am with a California native plant sale plant sponsored by the Channel Islands Park Foundation and supported by volunteers from the Ventura County Master Gardeners. The sale is from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and proceeds support the park’s native plant garden.

At 11:00 am, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Paleontologist Dr. Jonathan Hoffman will provide a lecture on the recently-discovered sea cow fossil on Santa Rosa Island. At 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, Channel Islands descendent Julie Tumamait-Stenslie will share Chumash storytelling.

Throughout the day, segments from the 2016 documentary, West of the West: Tales from California’s Channel Islands, will be shown. Produced by Sam Tyler and written and directed by Peter Seaman and Brent Sumner, the documentary provides an in-depth look into intriguing stories of island inhabitants and history.

Dock tours will be available for the public to have an up-close look at the National Park Service vessels. Biologists with the park’s kelp forest monitoring team will demonstrate the long-term monitoring techniques they use to better understand the health of the marine environment.

During the event, biologists and rangers will provide opportunities for children to learn about different careers in the National Park Service. Children’s activities will be available throughout the day, including a button-maker station and fish prints. A junior ranger station will allow children to complete activity booklets and earn junior ranger badges.

Channel Islands National Park preserves San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands and one mile of ocean around each island. Established by Congress in 1980, the park protects a rich array of natural and cultural resources. Often called the North American Galapagos, the islands are home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, including the diminutive island fox, the rare Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, and the island poppy. The park is essential in the lives of 99% of the sea birds of California and over 100,000 seals and sea lions. The largest animal ever to live on the earth, the blue whale, is a summer resident in the cold waters of the park. For more information, visit nps.gov/chis.

Channel Islands Park Foundation is the only nonprofit, philanthropic partner of Channel Islands National Park. In cooperation with the national park, the Foundation funds education, protection, and preservation efforts. For more information, visit ciparkfoundation.

Alerts in affect! Please check online.

Other stories from Are You That Woman
Anacapa Island Who Says It's Not for Kids
In My Next Life

Wineries of the Sutter Buttes: Escape to another place and time

More and more I find that great getaways really are in my backyard. Once again, this was proven too true on a recent journey in and around the Sutter Buttes. The back road excursion includes three small Sutter County communities and their up-and-coming wineries and tasting rooms. Locals may want this to stay a well-kept secret, but the Wineries of the Sutter Buttes are waiting to welcome you. 

Open to the public, these three intimate wine tasting rooms radiate hospitality. You won’t find anyone but the wine-makers or their families and friends behind the pour. These are truly Sutter County’s family of “first” commercial wineries: Cordi Winery the county’s first commercial winery. Munger Family Vineyard the first in the town of Sutter. Sicilia Vineyards the first in Yuba City. 

Take a chance on unexpected places and the roads less traveled. A stress-free day trip, create your own wine trail adventure. Depending on your approach, the Wineries of the Sutter Buttes are 45-60 miles north of Sacramento and in proximity to Yuba City, Marysville, Chico, and other foothill communities. You’ll likely need GPS to help find your way. That’s a good thing. However, what I advise is that you wander, get lost, find a longer way around, and breathe in the views! 

The Sutter Buttes, unknown to most, emerge like a mythical ship that appears and disappears as you circumnavigate the 40-mile base on North, South, East and West Butte roads. A small circular complex of eroded volcanic lava domes that rise above the flat plains of the Sacramento Valley in Northern California’s Sutter County, the Buttes are situated just outside Yuba City. Recognized as “the world's smallest mountain range,” the Sutter Buttes has as their highest point the summit of South Butte, at 2,122+ feet, which is also the highest point in Sutter County. 

 “Every season in the Buttes is different,” remarked Sicilia co-owner Sandie Adams. “Lush green hillsides and wildflowers in the winter and spring give way to golden hills in the summer and fall.”

Privately owned, the Sutter Buttes are only accessible through Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes and events. There are a series of county roads that circle the Sutter Buttes; Pass Road goes through them on the south side. The loop is about 45 miles. A driving and wine tasting tour is a tranquil way to enjoy the locality. Fill your wildlife and nature senses and then your wine glasses at nearby wineries. The Sutter Buttes are also a much-loved destination for local cyclists.

           Read the entire story....

In my next life

There are many things
I’ve thought to be:
A squirrel, a duck, 
   a graceful tree.
But gazing down
On Anacapa’s teal blue,
I know at last…
   A lioness of the sea.
 
Barbara L. Steinberg
July 16, 2006
Anacapa Island
Channel Islands National Park

Wildflowers adorn California landscapes

Springtime can be missed in a blink, however those with open eyes won’t miss the orchestra of colors that carpet California hillsides, meadows and landscapes with wildflowers.  With thousands of varieties and numerous habitats, climates and terrain, the blooms are as varied and unique as California itself.

With most of the state experiencing an unusually wet winter, these “uncultivated flowering plants” should be bountiful in coming months. Early spring (February–April) is the opportune time to view desert blooms. Red Rock Canyon State Park is a juxtaposition of rock formations with vivid blossoms amidst beaver tail cactus and white blooming Joshua trees and yuccas. Early spring trekkers will be treated to desert candles, lilies and asters, wooly sunflowers and Indian paintbrush. The Coachella Valley Nature Preserve, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Death Valley National Park also showcase their share of seasonal color and are already flourishing.

Wildflowers generally peak March through early June, however an abundant snow pack will extend the Sierra Nevada wildflower season into the summer months. San Mateo’s Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve in the San Francisco Bay Area flourishes with blue larkspurs and lupines, pink shooting stars, white fairy lanterns and red paintbrush. Marin’s Chimney Rock at Point Reyes National Seashore showcases yellow goldfields, blue irises, poppies and Point Reyes chocolate lilies. Other popular locations in the Bay Area include the Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve near Novato and Napa’s Missimer Snell Valley Wildflower Preserve, where onlookers can appreciate the vibrant hues from the road. To be immersed true California color, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve near Lancaster in Los Angeles County consists of seven miles of trails through 1,745 acres of golden petals.

For late spring through summer viewing, head to higher elevations. Fish Slough and Lake Sabrina in Bishop are popular viewing areas in the Eastern Sierra. North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in Butte County transforms into an endless sea of color and is one of the region’s premier viewing areas. The paths that lead you there (Highway 70, Cherokee Road), are equally spectacular.

Discover more great wildflower adventures at California State Parks
and Jepson Prairie Preserve in Solano County.


If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!I

Wildflowers Arrive at Jepson Prairie Preserve

Wondrous Wildflowers & Amazing Aquatic Critters at Jepson Prairie Coming Soon in 2022   

Wildflower season is coming, and Solano Land Trust’s Jepson Prairie docents are getting ready to share the first wave of vernal pool flowers. Weather permitting, there will be two-hour guided walks starting in the spring.

A vernal pool is a world of exceptional diversity and an ecological system of great complexity, and Jepson Prairie Preserve is one of the best remaining examples of vernal pools in all of California. Enjoy an easy, meandering walk under wide-open skies with knowledgeable docents while exploring the bunchgrass prairie and walking alongside the claypan vernal pools. The prairie is transformed by winter rains into fields of stunning wildflowers including white meadowfoam, yellow carpet, and miniature lupine. Docents will also introduce you to the rare aquatic animals, all on the Endangered Species list, that live in the ephemeral pools, including vernal pool fairy shrimp, Conservancy fairy shrimp, and the larvae of the California tiger salamander.

Jepson Prairie Preserve, a designated National Natural Landmark, is located on Cook Lane, off Highway 113, about ten miles south of Dixon and eight miles north of Highway 12. Stay tuned for details about dates, times, location, price, and contact information. Participants should bring a backpack with plenty of water, and snacks or a picnic lunch. They should wear boots or sturdy closed-toe shoes, layered clothes, and protection from the elements. It is often windy at Jepson Prairie, and they should be prepared for wet trails and the chance of fog. Rain may cancel. Visitors should bring drinking water and may also want to bring a hand lens, binoculars and a camera. For directions and additional details, visit solanolandtrust.org.

Since its founding in 1986, Solano Land Trust has permanently protected more than 20,000 acres of working farms and natural areas in Solano County.  Learn more, see a full list of outdoor adventures, and become a member at www.SolanoLandTrust.org. 

What: Docent-led tours of the Jepson Prairie Preserve
Who: Solano Land Trust & Jepson Prairie Docents
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to noon - dates and days to be determined. 
Where: Jepson Prairie Preserve, Intersection of Highway 113 and Cook Lane, 13 miles south of Dixon. Go straight at flashing light onto Cook Lane, gravel road.
Why: See the wondrous wildflowers and amazing aquatic invertebrates of Jepson Prairie.