TR Camping, hiking, fly fishing on the Carson River
It wasn't exactly the destination we had planned on but it is where mother nature let us go. you have to listen to her or pay the price.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Normally I go Lone wolf on these trips however for something completely different not only did Ruth and our three dogs come along, but our friends Pat and Carolyn joined us in their Lance.
To make room for Ruth and her gear I put the rack and cargo box on the roof. 2 fly rods, two sets of Waders, one float tube, two vests, and two sets of wading boots
With the rest of our gear nicely stowed inside we headed out Friday morning for our breakfast rendezvous with Pat and Carolyn at the Black Bear diner in Tracy
The plan was to head up to hwy 88 in the Sierras and Boondock somewhere around Silver or Capeles lakes.
Ruth had this flash of brilliance out on hwy 5 and realized that we would pass through Lockford at the intersection of 88 and 12, the front door of Lockford Meats home to the words best selection of fresh made sausages.
That little stop set me back $70.00 in sausages and Tri Tip and gave the camper that fresh meat locker smell every time we opened the fridge for the rest of the trip. I think pat spent the same.
As we gained elevation the temps kept dropping and the winds kept increasing and the colors kept changing
At Caples Lake the temperature at noon was 28 degrees and the winds were gusting to 50mph, no bueno. We made the decision to drop down off the ridges to the West Fork of the Carson River near Hope Valley and maybe get out of the wind as we weren't interested in sitting about stuck inside a rocking TC. Carson Pass is at 8,574 feet and Hope Valley is in the lee at 7300 feet We were right it was much better with wind gusts only hitting the mid 20s but staying mostly around 18 mph and the temps were in the high 50s
We pulled up right on the river with our nearest neighbor in sight but out of hearing distance. Pat and Carolyn got to work leveling their rig.
we set up nose pointing to nose with a nice gap in between
Hmmn fresh sausages for lunch
the Doggies were interested
Not a bad riverfront campsite
Time to hike up river
We came across a beaver dam
the Beaver Pond
The beavers were spotted by Pat and I got two nice photos
Me and Watson
The Gang
our home in the woods
At night you really were amazed by the stars
It got downright cold Friday night although we were warm and toasty in the Lance's. The dogs rousted me at first light to go for a walk so it was fleece pants, down jacket and beanie, with a hot cup of coffee. The thermometer read 16 degrees
nice sunrise over the meadow
the river was steaming
and Ice had formed on the banks
Funny thing about weather. It changes rapidly, Saturday there was no wind and it rapidly warmed into the 70s so we decided to really put Ruth's artificial knee to the test and go off trail scrambling. Two hours of hiking later she had no swelling or pain ( no flair up the entire trip for that matter)
Cedar
we were camped out by the meadow in the distance
yeah we could feel the 8000' eleveation as we hiked
big pine cones from the sugar pines
Ruth and Watson
post hike tired doggies
So post hike I went fishing after seeing a huge mayfly hatch
This guy was a toughie. I must have drifted the fly by him 30 times. I could see him dart up then back off. When I hooked him it was so cool. I watched him dart up out of the depths of the pool from an eddy behind a clump of grass and take the fly from the surface. He danced across the surface for two runs before I netted and released him
this is the fly that got him it's a number 16
Sunday we awoke to 20 degree temps, no cold water in the shower. It iced up as I forgot three things. Need to keep the cabinet doors in the bathroom open and I forgot to re-stuff the batting into the outside shower compartment and lastly turn off the pump and open the faucets and spigots. I don't remember when we last used the outside shower but it still had water in the handle. The ice split it wide open. note to self, make sure the dang thing is drained. We drove up to Blue Lake at 8000 feet and went hiking around the lower lake. Hey the shower is working again. no harm no foul.
the feeder stream from upper blue lake
Heading home
We pulled off I5 for that last on the road treat
Hot fudge Sunday
great end to a great trip
We head back out in three weeks for parts unknown
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Normally I go Lone wolf on these trips however for something completely different not only did Ruth and our three dogs come along, but our friends Pat and Carolyn joined us in their Lance.
To make room for Ruth and her gear I put the rack and cargo box on the roof. 2 fly rods, two sets of Waders, one float tube, two vests, and two sets of wading boots
With the rest of our gear nicely stowed inside we headed out Friday morning for our breakfast rendezvous with Pat and Carolyn at the Black Bear diner in Tracy
The plan was to head up to hwy 88 in the Sierras and Boondock somewhere around Silver or Capeles lakes.
Ruth had this flash of brilliance out on hwy 5 and realized that we would pass through Lockford at the intersection of 88 and 12, the front door of Lockford Meats home to the words best selection of fresh made sausages.
That little stop set me back $70.00 in sausages and Tri Tip and gave the camper that fresh meat locker smell every time we opened the fridge for the rest of the trip. I think pat spent the same.
As we gained elevation the temps kept dropping and the winds kept increasing and the colors kept changing
At Caples Lake the temperature at noon was 28 degrees and the winds were gusting to 50mph, no bueno. We made the decision to drop down off the ridges to the West Fork of the Carson River near Hope Valley and maybe get out of the wind as we weren't interested in sitting about stuck inside a rocking TC. Carson Pass is at 8,574 feet and Hope Valley is in the lee at 7300 feet We were right it was much better with wind gusts only hitting the mid 20s but staying mostly around 18 mph and the temps were in the high 50s
We pulled up right on the river with our nearest neighbor in sight but out of hearing distance. Pat and Carolyn got to work leveling their rig.
we set up nose pointing to nose with a nice gap in between
Hmmn fresh sausages for lunch
the Doggies were interested
Not a bad riverfront campsite
Time to hike up river
We came across a beaver dam
the Beaver Pond
The beavers were spotted by Pat and I got two nice photos
Me and Watson
The Gang
our home in the woods
At night you really were amazed by the stars
It got downright cold Friday night although we were warm and toasty in the Lance's. The dogs rousted me at first light to go for a walk so it was fleece pants, down jacket and beanie, with a hot cup of coffee. The thermometer read 16 degrees
nice sunrise over the meadow
the river was steaming
and Ice had formed on the banks
Funny thing about weather. It changes rapidly, Saturday there was no wind and it rapidly warmed into the 70s so we decided to really put Ruth's artificial knee to the test and go off trail scrambling. Two hours of hiking later she had no swelling or pain ( no flair up the entire trip for that matter)
Cedar
we were camped out by the meadow in the distance
yeah we could feel the 8000' eleveation as we hiked
big pine cones from the sugar pines
Ruth and Watson
post hike tired doggies
So post hike I went fishing after seeing a huge mayfly hatch
This guy was a toughie. I must have drifted the fly by him 30 times. I could see him dart up then back off. When I hooked him it was so cool. I watched him dart up out of the depths of the pool from an eddy behind a clump of grass and take the fly from the surface. He danced across the surface for two runs before I netted and released him
this is the fly that got him it's a number 16
Sunday we awoke to 20 degree temps, no cold water in the shower. It iced up as I forgot three things. Need to keep the cabinet doors in the bathroom open and I forgot to re-stuff the batting into the outside shower compartment and lastly turn off the pump and open the faucets and spigots. I don't remember when we last used the outside shower but it still had water in the handle. The ice split it wide open. note to self, make sure the dang thing is drained. We drove up to Blue Lake at 8000 feet and went hiking around the lower lake. Hey the shower is working again. no harm no foul.
the feeder stream from upper blue lake
Heading home
We pulled off I5 for that last on the road treat
Hot fudge Sunday
great end to a great trip
We head back out in three weeks for parts unknown
